I'm sorry if there were tons of posts on something similar to my topic, but I think it would be easier if I make one myself. :(

This is my first time taking an AP us class, and I'm having trouble taking regular Chapter tests. They are about 50 questions and you only get 45 minutes or so. So that's about one question and a half per minute.

I study really hard, take notes, (haven't tried online notes yet, but will soon) and even study with groups. The thing is, I am still bombing the test. I come across questions and I felt like I've never read it before. Is there any way I can do better on these tests?

(p.s Our classes just started, so we haven't gotten to presidents yet)

THANKS! :unsure:

Wow - 50 questions in 45 minutes? That's pretty intense...

You sound like you're already doing all the studying you can for them, which is good, but maybe it's your test-taking strategies that need some work instead of your American history abilities. The best advice I can think of is try to focus on getting through more of the questions by scanning questions, picking out key words, and working on getting through the ones you are sure you know the answers to.

By scanning questions and picking out key words instead of trying to closely read every single thing, you can work through the questions faster. I realize that by doing this you may end up missing some relevant information in some questions, but I'd say that with time limits like what you're working with, quantity is more important than quality.

Also, if you skim a question and realize that you don't have any idea what the answer is, just skip it and come back to it; or better yet, take your best guess immediately then mark it and come back to it at the end if you have time. That way, you at least have a 25% chance of getting it right (as opposed to a 0% chance if you just skip it). This also will let you blow through the questions you know you probably won't get right so that you can focus more on the questions that you have a better chance on.

Hope that helps.

My first time too.
I totally know what you're talking about, lol.
I read the chapter then go to answer the questions and I'm like...whaattt? Did I read the right section?

:o That is so unreasonable! your only in the begin of the course! and she hasnt even taught you stradigies to take the test?

Well one multiple choice strategy that I couldn’t live with out is process of elimination.
I cross out the ones that I know are wrong, and then I cross out the ones that are probably wrong and I narrow down my answers best as possible then guess, go with your first instinct, and like another has said before me always pick something and if you at least cross out what you think is wrong then instead of a 25% chance you may have a 50% chance

good luck

try annotating the text too I know there isn’t much time but for me it helps me think out loud in a sense, but really it depends on your learning style.
Oh and if you still arnt doing well talk to the teacher her tell her you are studying and doing everythin you can but it still isnt working maybe she can sit down with you and figure out what oyur doing wrong, you might even be studying too much you never know.

Try looking up "nonsense quizzes" on the internet. They are quizzes devised to help you improve your test-taking abilities by providing you with skills that make it easier to figure out the answer to a question you don't know.

And sorry, but I'm a huge numbers nerd, and I have to bring this up. 50 questions in 45 minutes is 1 1/9 questions per minute, or 54 seconds per question.

This site has simulation exams that is 99% the same as the real APUSH exam. Its worked wonders for me personally.

www.apexamreview.com