1. AP Exam MC & FRQ Tips! Ms. B

2. Exam Day: What to Bring Several sharpened No. 2 pencils (with erasers) for mc Black or dark-blue ballpoint pens for free-response questions Your school code. A watch Your social security number for identification purposes. A photo I.D. if you do not attend the school where you are taking the exam. What Not to Bring: Books, compasses, correction fluid, dictionaries, highlighters, or notes. Scratch paper (notes can be made on portions of the exam booklets). Typewriting equipment, computers (except as noted for students with disabilities), or calculators Watches that beep or have an alarm. Portable listening or recording devices -- even with headphones -- or photographic equipment. Beepers, cellular phones, MP3 players, or personal digital assistants (PDAs). Clothing (t-shirts, for example) with subject-related information.

3. Guessing on the Exams Scores on the MC portion of AP Exams: Based on number of questions answered correctly minus one-fourth of a point for every wrong answer No points are awarded or deducted for unanswered questions Random guessing is unlikely to raise or lower your grade If you have SOME knowledge of the question, and can eliminate one or more answer choices, informed guessing from among the remaining choices is usually to your advantage

4. Resources http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/me mbers/exam/exam_questions/1996.htmlhttp://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/me mbers/exam/exam_questions/1996.html

5. MC 100 MC questions 80 minutes 60 % of grade

6. FRQ 40% of grade You will be given a 10 minute reading period before the 90 minute writing period begins 90 Minutes = 4 FRQ –you are to read and interpret, organize data and the supporting information, write an answer in essay format, and proofread an essay (on the average of) every 22.5 minutes!

7. FRQ Do NOT restate the question! Use your time wisely!

8. Read, Quick Response, Reread, Detailed Response, Reread Be sure you have answered all parts of the question!

9. DO: 1. Read the question twice before answering, and once after answering. 2. Outline the answer to avoid confusion and disorganization. Thinking ahead helps to avoid scratch-outs, skipping around, and rambling. 3. Define any term that you use. 4. Answer the parts of the question in the order called for. It is best to not skip around. 5. Write clearly and neatly. Unreadable answers are never given any credit. 6. Go into detail on the subject, and to the point. ANSWER the question THOROUGHLY! 7. If you cannot remember a word exactly, take a shot at it – get as close as you can. If you don’t have a name for a concept, describe the concept. 8. Use a black/blue ball point pen. 9. Remember that no detail is too small to be included… 0. If you draw a diagram, carefully label it (otherwise it gets no points) and place them in the text at the appropriate place, not detached at the end. 11. Bring a watch to the exam so that you can pace yourself. 12. Understand that the exam is written to be hard – the average score is about 50% correct. It is very likely that you will not know everything, so relax and do your best.

10. DON’T: 1. Don’t waste time on background information unless the question calls for historical development or historical significance. Answer the question! 2. Don’t ramble, get to the point! 3. Don’t shoot the bull – say what you know and go on to the next question. You can always come back if you remember something. 4. Don’t use pencil or an ink color other than black. 5. Don’t panic or get angry because you are unfamiliar with the question. You probably have read or heard something about the question – be calm and think. 6. Don’t scratch out excessively. One or two lines through the unwanted words is sufficient. 7. Don’t write words in the margins unless it is necessary. 8. Don’t worry about spelling a word exactly or using perfect grammar. These are not a part of the standards that the graders use. 9. Don’t write sloppily. It is easier for a grader to miss an important word when he/she cannot read your handwriting. 10. Don’t write introductory or closing paragraphs. This is not an English essay, it is an answer to a question. 11. Don’t leave questions blank. Make some effort on every question.

11. CompareShow similarities between objects, ideas, phenomena, etc. ContrastShow dissimilarities between two objects, ideas, phenomena, etc. Define Provide the accepted definition for a word. The response should be given as a complete sentence. DescribeProvide a list of features that characterize objects, ideas, phenomena, etc. Discuss Select a particular viewpoint and support your position with facts, examples, observations, reasoning, and descriptions. Explain Provide a series of well-developed and logical statements which give the reason for or cause of an event or events. List Provide a simple series of words, sentences, or phrases as requested. Enhance clarity by labeling each word, sentence, or phrase with sequential numbers or letters. State In a logical progression, record the facts related to the question. You are not required to provide proof or illustrations. Trace Describe the sequence of the process or the evolutionary development of the concept.

12. Get a good nights sleep & eat a good breakfast (no coffee)! You have worked hard all year, let it pay off! GOOD LUCK! ~Ms. B