The Advanced Placement United States History or the AP US History (APUSH) was recently conducted in May. It has been reported that a total of 3,99,676 students appeared for the test, of which six students scored a perfect 140 points out of 140. If you have taken the APUSH test in the past, you would know how rare and impressive a feat that is.
This is because the difficulty level of AP US History is way too high, and there are a few reasons behind it. First of all, the syllabus is vast, and there’s a ton of information to learn. The course covers American history from just before European contact with Native Americans to the present day, which is 1491 to date.
With such an extensive time period being covered as part of the AP US History course, it’s not easy to score well on the test, let alone score a perfect 100 percent. However, some tips will help interested students score better on their APUSH test. The next APUSH test is scheduled for May 2022, and if you start early, you can also be among the perfect scoring students. Let’s take a look.
Be Organized
This is probably the most cliche suggestion or tip to have ever existed; however, it does have its merits. It would be best to keep online or digital records of your notes as it’s so much easier to index and organize files on a computer than into a binder or notebook.
Type out your notes on a personal device of your choice, including a laptop, computer, or tablet. Create nine folders on your device named the nine APUSH periods and sort your notes in the relevant folder. This will make it easier to access correct notes when you need them and help you study chronologically.
If your teacher insisted on taking notes the old-fashioned pen and paper way, you can either type them yourself or scan your handwritten notes to save on the laptop or tablet to sort. Additionally, you can get history homework help online with notes on every single event. You have to look for a specific topic and chances are you will find it.
Look at the Context Instead of Dates and Facts
The entire APUSH syllabus is based on years and dates and, like every other history course, contains a ton of dates, people, and events. While these are important to remember, you don’t have to stress about them. The APUSH test focuses on the context of the events to develop historical thinking skills and conceptual thinking about US history from 1491 to the present.
Therefore, to score well in the AP US History (APUSH), you will have to understand the main themes and trends of each of the 9 time periods specified in the course. For instance, when studying the US Civil War, you’ll primarily need to focus on the context and impact of the significant conflicts instead of the chronology.
Connect With the Events
One of the core aspects of the APUSH test is for candidates to understand and analyze the key events of American history. One of the ways to do so is by relating to the event and thinking from the POV of the people at a time.
For example, in the pre-progressive era, child labor and monopoly were commonplace. Now, when you study or read about the same in the APUSH course, think about how these trends affected people back then.
Develop the mentality of accepting that what might not be relevant today was once the reality for thousands of people. This will help you get more out of what you study and help your score better.
Make Study Fun
History by itself is mundane and quite dull, and when you span it over 530 years, there’s bound to be a significant setback for many. Additionally, memorization is not something that everyone enjoys, and it doesn’t come easy as well.
However, adding an entertainment factor to the memorization process can make it a fun experience. Your brain will be able to enjoy the experience and process the data better.
One of the ways to do this is to form a study group with like-minded people who would be focused and productive while studying. Once you start enjoying the process of studying the APUSH course, there’s no looking back and no stopping you from achieving a great score.
Find Out What Works Best for You
Figure out what works the best for you when it comes to studying. Whether you prefer to study at night right before bed or you like to wake up at the crack of dawn and study before starting your day. Additionally, figure out the method of studying, whether you want to use written notes or prefer audio/video mediums.
Other options to explore are flashcards, practice tests, and textbooks. Try them all and decide which method works the best for you. Bear in mind; whatever method you choose, you should be comfortable with MCQ, LEQ, and DBQ within time constraints.
These were the top tricks to study effectively for the Advanced Placement United States History for a good score. The last piece of advice would be not to procrastinate at all. The next APUSH test is scheduled for May 2022, and the sooner you get cracking on your notes, the better. Who knows, you might be among the six scholars who scored a perfect 140 marks next year.
