Teachers teach, it’s in the name. Making sure you know and can remember what is being taught is up to you. The same applies to exam prep; whether you’re creating flashcards, timelines, pneumonic devices or just repeating information, it is not the duty of the instructor to ensure the information is relayed correctly.
One of the key takeaways from taking an AP course is learning essential time management and study skills, which are crucial for success in college and beyond. In contrast to some honors or on-level courses, where exam preparation may be spoon-fed, college professors rarely provide study guides or notes tailored to exams. The expectation is that students receive only the core material and are left to seek out their resources. Given that AP courses are designed to prepare students for such a high level of independence in college, relying too heavily on teachers undermines the entire purpose of the course.
Unlike private schools and schools in other counties, there is no approval process or prerequisite for taking an AP course. If students believe that they are skilled enough to handle a college-level workload, they should also be skilled enough to study for the final exam individually. Many students don’t realize that the review periods AP teachers offer are a luxury. Most college professors don’t spend time going over previous quizzes or giving out unit-specific study guides- they expect students to take full responsibility for their learning.
Teachers are certainly responsible for setting students up for success and do so by providing the needed content, guided class discussions, along with feedback on assignments and some quizzes. However, it is not the teacher’s responsibility to coddle students with every necessary step to acing the exam. Relying too heavily on teachers will only hinder the learning process of students in the future if taken advantage of.
Regardless of what you may believe the role of the teacher is in preparing for AP exams, there are numerous online resources students can take advantage of to academically prepare for the big tests. AP College Board releases previous exams for students to review and utilize to study. Along with free online resources, there are numerous study books available to purchase. The Princeton Review releases annual or bi-annual AP study books for almost every subject. In addition to secondary resources, students can also create flashcards and timelines or study with friends using notes they already have from class.
