AP Course Exams (NAPSA)—There’s good newsfor high school students who take Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Anew study system from McGrawHill, 5 Steps to a 5 on the Advanced Placement Examinations, has been created to help students prepare more effectively for these rigoroustests. AP courses are intended to help students stand out duringthecollege admissions process, earn college credits before entering school—helping reduce the cost of tuition—and, in some cases, skip introductory-level classes. On the AP exam, 5 is the top score. But if students don’t score at least a 3, all their work on the course for a year is wasted. Recent statistics show that approximately 40 percent of high school graduates who took at least one exam failed to score even a 3. Better exam preparation and study habits are needed to ensure that students passthetest. New Study System The new study system—outlined in the test prep guides 5 Steps to a 5 on the Advanced Placement Examinations—is designed to coincide with the most current AP exams. Each subjectspecific course guideis structured around a five-step plan and contains several features that separate the system from other guides. The first step is to develop a study plan, the second step is concerned with building knowledge, the third and fourth steps focus on honingtest-taking skills and strategies, and thefifth is designed to foster the confidence students need to ace the tests. The unique system also takes into accountthe fact that not everyone learns the same way. AP courses are designed to help high school students acquire study skills and information that can benefit them as they move on to college. There is one approach that follows the school year, another that follows the calendar year, and one that accommodates the “last-minute” student whois just looking for the highlights of the course. Sample Tests and Links Other student-friendly features include: Sample tests that closely simulate real exams Review material based on the contents of the most recent tests *Icons highlighting important facts, vocabulary, and frequently asked questions Advice from AP teachers, col- lege professors, and students who have achieved high markson previous exams *Access to websites and links to valuable online test resources, along with author e-mail addresses for students with follow-up questions. To learn more and get more tips for your child or classroom, visit www.facebook.com/aptestprep.
