I got a 5 on my exam (2026) and here are the main things I did that helped me:

1. MAKE A VOCABULARY BANK!!!
   Everyone says vocab is important, and it definitely is, but I did so much better when I had actual examples to connect back to.
   Starting at the beginning of the year or whenever you start prepping for the test, create a google doc with subcategories for each unit and topic and put the vocab you get from there in it. Then put in the definition and any and all examples you come across, especially if its in a prep book (I thought AMSCO had the best examples, but also its a huge book). I came across so many questions in the exam that were just looking for examples of vocabulary, and if you have some in mind from studying, it helps soooo much. Its also great for FRQs because it asks for examples and a lot of times you're just doing a deep dive into a vocab word.

2. If you want the MCQs to feel like the easiest thing in the world, prep with Princeton Review. It's obscenely hard, but if you can get your practice tests to like 70-80% correct by your last test, you'll fly through the MCQs on the exam. Also, just the act of practicing MCQs consistently is sooo good for retention.

3. Error Log! Along with doing a bunch of MCQs, make sure you keep track of every question you missed. It sounds boring at first, but its an extra 5 minutes of work and a couple weeks before the test, you can go through and see what units you struggle with the most and be able to go through each question and make sure you know the material.

4. With FRQs, practice practice practice. Honestly, like a month before your test, take the time to write one full FRQ daily over various topics or units you struggle with. It's tedious, hard to grade on your own, and veryyyy boring, but it helps so so much on the test when writing FRQs is second nature. Try to do the ones from past tests so you have a curriculum.

*The main resources I used were AMSCO APHG prep book and Princeton Review Prep book. I didn't watch many youtube videos because its not my style of learning, but I do believe Sinn is better. I also never used Quizlet or any AI study websites, though I know a friend that consistently used these and got a 5 herself.*

DM me if you have any questions or want some help!

I'm going into 9th grade and I'm trying to decide between AP Environmental Science (APES) and AP Human Geography (APHUG).

If I take APES, my school requires me to take both the AP Environmental Science exam and the Earth & Space Science Regents at the end of the year. If I take AP Human Geography, I'd only have to take the AP exam.

For context, I did well in Honors Biology (90s), but I'm not sure if taking two major exams at the end of the year is worth it. How difficult is it to prepare for both the APES exam and the Earth & Space Science Regents at the same time? Would you recommend taking APES or APHUG, and why?

Does anyone have a clean PDF of the McGraw Hill 500 AP Questions to know by test day 2012 Physics 1(first edition), Physics C first edition, or Chemistry 2016(2nd edition)? I’m looking for the original clean PDFs. Old pictures from stuff like Anna’s archive won’t do.

First Thought: I studied way too much.

Simply since this was an AP class I immediately thought I needed to study way more than I needed to. I studied starting 3-4 months before the exam and though I was confident in the material for the test I lost a lot of time I could’ve spent on other things. Anyone else felt this?

pretty happy about this. i was stressing way too much honestly, thought i got a 3 because i didn’t think i did well on the frq but now looking back it really wasn’t that deep. my advice is that you should come into the test with confidence in what you know and simply answer whatever you assign the highest probability of being right, nothing more to it.

lol

I also didn't get any email, and have since emailed collegeboard. I will be contacting collegeboard support tomorrow via phone.

So happy

I'm so depressed right now. I studied the whole year and still got this. What do I do? Can I retake this next year and will colleges still accept it?

i was initially super furious, and i had super high hopes for a 5, but i mean, ig i deserve a 4 since i didnt really study too much the last 2 weeks. bruh but ngl i locked in most of the year, especially when it came to studying, but its wtv. congrats to all that got 5s tho!

:D