5 Steps to a 5: AP European History 2024 - Bartolini-Salimbeni B., Petersen W., Arata K. 2023

STEP 1 Set Up Your Study Program
2 Determine Your Test Readiness

IN THIS CHAPTER

Summary: To do your best on the AP European History Exam, you will need to prepare. Your preparation plan will depend on the time you have available and the way you like to study. This chapter maps out three plans; choose the one that you can most easily adapt to your needs.

Key Idea:

Create a preparation plan adapted to your needs.

Three Approaches to Preparing for AP Exams

What kind of preparation program for the AP exam should you follow? The answer depends on two things: how much time you have and what kind of student you are. Obviously, if you only have one semester or four to six weeks before you intend to take the exam, you can’t choose the full-year program. So first decide how much time you have. Then consider what kind of preparation works best for you. No one knows your study habits and learning style better than you do. Consider the three profiles below to see which one most closely describes you and your situation. Then, choose one of the three programs of preparation.

Full-Year Preparation: Approach A

You are a full-year prep student (and should follow Approach A) if:

1. You have a definite love of history.

2. You like detailed planning and preparation.

3. You feel more comfortable and confident when you are thoroughly prepared.

4. You can’t wait to get started.

5. You have been successful with this approach in the past.

One-Semester Preparation: Approach B

You are a one-semester prep student (and should follow Approach B) if:

1. You are fairly interested in history.

2. You like to plan but feel there is such a thing as being overprepared.

3. You feel comfortable and confident when you feel you have prepared sufficiently.

4. You have more than one exam you are preparing for and feel one semester is enough time to prepare.

5. You have been successful with this approach in the past.

Four-to-Six-Week Preparation: Approach C

You are a four-to-six-week prep student (and should follow Approach C) if:

1. You are only fairly interested in history, or you are interested only in the exam.

2. You feel like you get stale if you prepare too far in advance.

3. You feel well prepared already and are just looking to sharpen your focus.

4. You are prepping for several exams.

5. You have been successful with this approach in the past.

Detailed Calendar for Each Plan

Calendar for Approach A: Full-School-Year Preparation

September to October (Check off the activities as you complete them.)

____ Read the Introduction and become familiar with the 5-Step Program.

____ Read Chapter 1 and become familiar with the AP European History Exam and procedures.

____ Become familiar with the College Board AP website.

____ Read Chapter 2 and confer with your AP European History teacher about your preparation program.

____ Read Chapter 3 and get into the habit of thinking historically.

____ Take the Diagnostic Exam and get an idea of what you’ll need to know to succeed in this course.

November

____ Read Chapters 5—8, and learn strategies for success for each of the four types of questions asked on the AP European History Exam.

____ Complete the “Further Practice” sections in each of these chapters.

December

____ Read Chapters 9—12, along with relevant outside readings and course materials, and become familiar with the events, processes, and key concepts of modern European history covered in those chapters.

____ Complete the Review Questions at the end of each chapter.

January

____ Read Chapters 13—16, along with relevant outside readings and course materials, and become familiar with the events, processes, and key concepts of modern European history covered in those chapters.

____ Complete the Review Questions at the end of each chapter.

February

____ Read Chapters 17—20, along with relevant outside readings and course materials, and become familiar with the events, processes, and key concepts of modern European history, covered in those chapters.

____ Complete the Review Questions at the end of each chapter.

March

____ Read Chapters 21—24, along with relevant outside readings and course materials, and become familiar with the events, processes, and key concepts of modern European history covered in those chapters.

____ Complete the Review Questions at the end of each chapter.

April

____ Review Chapters 3—24.

____ Take the Practice Exams included in this guide.

____ Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses based on your performance on the Practice Exams.

____ Study the appropriate chapters and readings to address the areas about which you still feel shaky.

May (First Two Weeks)

____ Make a list of topics about which you still feel shaky and ask your instructor or study group to help you focus on them.

____ Answer additional practice questions offered online.

____ Evaluate your performance.

____ Review your incorrect answers.

____ Get a good night’s sleep before the exam.

____ Go to the exam feeling confident; you have prepared well.

Calendar for Approach B: One-Semester Preparation

January (Check off the activities as you complete them.)

____ Read the Introduction and become familiar with the 5-Step Program.

____ Read Chapter 1 and become familiar with the AP European History Exam and procedures.

____ Become familiar with the College Board AP website.

____ Read Chapter 2 and confer with your AP European History teacher about your preparation program.

____ Read Chapter 3 and get into the habit of thinking historically.

____ Take the Diagnostic Exam and get an idea of what you’ll need to know to succeed in this course.

February—March

____ Read Chapters 5—8, and learn strategies for success for each of the four types of questions asked on the AP European History Exam.

____ Complete the “Further Practice” sections in each of these chapters.

____ Read Chapters 9—24, along with relevant outside readings and course materials, and become familiar with the events, processes, and key concepts of modern European history covered in those chapters.

____ Complete the Review Questions at the end of each chapter.

April

____ Review Chapters 3—24.

____ Take the Practice Exams included in this guide.

____ Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses based on your performance on the Practice Exams.

____ Study the appropriate chapters and readings to address the areas about which you still feel shaky.

May (First Two Weeks)

____ Make a list of topics about which you still feel shaky and ask your instructor or study group to help you focus on them.

____ Answer additional practice questions offered online.

____ Evaluate your performance.

____ Review your incorrect answers.

____ Get a good night’s sleep before the exam.

____ Go to the exam feeling confident; you have prepared well.

Calendar for Approach C: Four-to-Six-Week Preparation

April (Check off the activities as you complete them.)

____ Read Chapters 1—24.

____ Take the Practice Exams included in this guide.

____ Evaluate your performance and review as needed.

May (First Two Weeks)

____ Answer additional practice questions offered online.

____ Evaluate your performance.

____ Review your incorrect answers.

____ Get a good night’s sleep before the exam.

____ Go to the exam feeling confident; you have prepared well.

Setting Up a Study Group

One of the most effective strategies in preparing for the AP European History Exam is to study with other students preparing for the exam; however, not all study groups are equally successful. Here are some important considerations to assist you in the successful planning and implementation of your study group:

Why?

____ Take advantage of others’ strengths and abilities. Different students will have different insights.

____ Lessen the individual workload by delegating specific topics (a time period, an event, an individual) to each member to present to the group.

____ Increase your likelihood of following through by making commitments to others.

Who?

____ Keep the group small. Study groups tend to work best when there are relatively few participants, usually somewhere between two and five people. Groups that are too large are less efficient and more easily distracted.

____ Consider the composition of the group. Close friends do not necessarily make the best study partners. All members should be committed to the success of the group. Think about students who are interested in the material, willing to ask questions, and are prepared and well organized for class.

____ Consider, too, how much flexibility members have in their schedules. Students with many commitments may have trouble accommodating the study group sessions.

Where?

____ Select locations with minimal distractions, where conditions allow for discussions.

____ Provide seating that is comfortable, preferably with a table for notes and books.

____ Some libraries have specific rooms for this purpose.

____ Turn off your cell phones.

____ Remember that this is a working group, not a potluck. By all means, bring something to drink or eat if you need to; just don’t make socializing the focus of the group.

When?

____ Plan for sessions to last two to three hours. Any longer and students will lose focus and be more likely to become distracted. Much shorter, and it will be difficult to cover material with any degree of depth.

____ If possible, try to plan study sessions for the same day and time. A regular schedule will help the group remember to meet and make it seem more of a commitment, like a class. It also gives members time to prepare in advance.

How?

____ For maximum efficiency, have a defined goal or purpose for each session, and ensure that it is clearly communicated to each member in advance. Assign each member specific tasks or responsibilities before meeting. These could include chapters, eras, or historical themes. By doing so, you increase the participation of all members.

____ Consider assigning a member to be the facilitator, responsible for managing the time and keeping members focused.