AP Scholar Shares Studying Strategies

Kortni Baughman and Katherine Seed, Reporters

As the days of December pass by, Radford students are looking forward to Winter Break and the anticipation of the approaching holidays. The close of a semester and the start of a time dedicated to relaxation are always something to look forward to.

Unless you’re a perfect student, grades recorded on report cards may bring back some of that anxiety one hopes to release over the break. Fortunately, there’s another semester to adjust some study habits and possibly turn some grades around. If you have no clue where to start, don’t fret. Luckily, the school boasts a stellar student willing to share a few tips for academic success.

If you are questioning our source of success, don’t.   

Alyssa Phillips (12) is an AP Scholar with Honor. To qualify as an AP Scholar with Honor, a student must receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more AP exams. Alissa beat that and amazingly scored a 5 on one of her AP exams.

TIP #1: No all nighters
Her first piece of advice should be an obvious no-no, but as everyone knows, being overworked is just a part of being in high school, but Phillips says no all nighters.

“While [all nighters] get your homework done before the due date, they are not healthy for you and should be avoided if you can help it,” she said. “Try to get a head start on your homework and studying as soon as it’s assigned because if you don’t, it will pile up and feel more than a little overwhelming and stressful.”

TIP #2: Find your go-to memorization tool
The classic memorization strategy, flashcards, are study tools that are essential in the eyes of Phillips.

“Flashcards, while tedious, are wonderful things to help with memorization,” she said. “Try to do flash cards for every chapter/unit you learn.”

TIP #3: Have persistence
The third and final piece of advice Phillips gives is persistence. Being tenacious requires a good understanding of the material covered.

“Studying the material throughout the year will just make studying before the test a lot easier because you’ll just be recalling things you learned previously instead of learning that day,” she said. “By knowing the main ideas of a class, you can just apply those ideas in different situations and question types. It’s a good idea to understand how all the concepts are related and to review those relationships before the test.”

If your grades are an important thing to you, follow these tips and one day, you might even be an AP Scholar.

Alyssa Phillips (12) works on a verse analysis in her AP Literature class. Phillips is an AP Scholar with Honor after she received an average score of at least 3.25 on AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more AP exams. One of the tips she offers is to “Try to get a head start on your homework and studying as soon as it’s assigned because if you don’t, it will pile up and feel more than a little overwhelming and stressful.”