How to Take the Practice Exams

The final section of this book consists of five full-length practice exams. Taking a practice AP exam gives you an idea of what it’s like to answer AP questions under conditions that approximate those of the real exam. You’ll find out which areas you’re strong in and where additional review may be required. Any mistakes you make now are ones you won’t make on the actual exam, as long as you take the time to learn where you went wrong.

Our full-length practice exams each include 55 multiple-choice questions, three short-answer questions (including your choice of two prompts for the third question), one document-based question, and one long essay question (your choice from three prompts). Before taking a practice exam, find a quiet place where you can work uninterrupted, and bring blank lined paper for the free-response questions. (The proctor will provide lined paper when you take the official exam.) Time yourself according to the time limit given at the beginning of each section: 55 minutes for the multiple-choice questions, 40 minutes for the short-answer questions, 60 minutes for the document-based question, and 40 minutes for the long essay question. It’s okay to take a short break between sections, but for the most accurate results, you should approximate real test conditions as much as possible.

As you take the practice exams, remember to pace yourself. Train yourself to be aware of the time you are spending on each question. Try to be aware of the general types of questions you encounter, and be mindful of the particular strategies and approaches that help you handle those questions more effectively.

After taking each practice exam, complete the following steps.

1. Self-score your multiple-choice section using the answer key immediately following each exam.
2. Read the full answers and explanations that follow each exam. These detailed explanations will help you identify areas that could use additional study. Even when you have answered a question correctly, you can learn additional information by looking at the explanation.
   
3. Self-score your free-response questions using the rubrics in the answers and explanations section.
4. Navigate to the scoring section of your online resources (kaptest.com/moreonline) to input all of these raw scores and see what your overall score would be with a similar performance on Test Day. 

Finally, it’s important to approach the exam with the right attitude. Trust that you're going to get a great score because you’ve reviewed the material and learned the strategies in this book.

Good luck!