How to Help Your Child Study for AP

Watching your child tackle AP exams can feel overwhelming. You want to help, but you're not sure how. Your child doesn't need you to become an expert in AP Chemistry or US History. What they need is your support, encouragement, and help to create the right conditions for success.

This guide gives you everything you need to support your child effectively. You'll learn what AP exams involve, how to help create realistic study plans, and how to spot when extra support is needed. Read on to find out how to help your child study for AP.

Key Takeaways

• AP exams are challenging, but your support can make a real difference to your child's success and wellbeing.

• Understanding the AP system helps you provide better guidance, even if you're unfamiliar with US exams.

• Creating structure, encouraging proven study methods, and managing stress are the three pillars of effective parent support.

What Are AP Exams and Why Do They Matter?

AP stands for Advanced Placement. These are college-level courses and exams offered to secondary school students in the United States, typically taken during Years 10-12 (sophomore through senior year).

There are 40 AP courses (opens in a new tab) available. These cover a range of fields, including:

• Mathematics

• Sciences

• Humanities

• Languages

• Arts

Subjects include:

• AP Calculus

• AP Biology

• AP English Literature

• AP U.S. History

• AP German

• AP Art and Design

AP exams are scored on a 1-5 scale, with each number representing a level of qualification:

Entering college with AP credit can save time and money by allowing students to skip introductory courses. Most universities accept scores of 3 or above for credit, though more competitive institutions, like Stanford University (opens in a new tab), often require 4s or 5s. 

Strong AP scores also demonstrate academic readiness and the ability to handle rigorous coursework. This can show admissions committees that your child is prepared for university-level work.

Understand Your Child's AP Course Load

Before you can effectively support your child, you need to understand what they're facing.

Each AP course represents a significant commitment. Sciences and maths tend to demand more time for problem sets and lab work, whilst humanities courses require extensive reading and essay writing.

The difficulty of AP courses also varies significantly by subject. Based on 2024 exam pass rates (opens in a new tab), these subjects had the lowest pass rates (achieving a score of 3 or above): 

• AP Physics 1 - 47.3%

• AP Environmental Science - 54.1%

• AP English Language and Composition - 54.6%

• AP Geography - 56.1%

It's important to recognise that taking multiple AP courses simultaneously can be overwhelming. Most students take between 3-5 AP courses throughout their entire secondary school career, with 1-3 per year being typical.

How Parents Can Support Study Habits

Your role isn't to become an expert in AP Macroeconomics or AP Statistics, for example. Instead, focus on creating the right environment and conditions for effective learning.

The most powerful thing you can do is help establish consistency. Regular study habits matter far more than marathon cramming sessions. Try encouraging these habits:

• Encourage your child to study at the same time each day, even if it's just for 30-45 minutes per subject.

• Create a dedicated study space that's free from distractions. This doesn't need to be elaborate. Find a spot with:

  • Good lighting

  • A comfortable chair

  • Minimal clutter

• Remove or limit access to:

  • Phones

  • Gaming consoles

  • TV

• Help your child break large tasks into smaller, manageable chunks. AP content can feel overwhelming when viewed as a whole, but becomes more approachable when divided into topics, units, or weekly goals.

Create a Realistic Study Schedule Together

Sit down with your child to map out their AP exam dates and work backwards. Most AP exams take place over two weeks in May, so you'll want to establish a study plan that begins at least 2-3 months beforehand.

• Use a physical calendar or digital planner that you both can see. 

• Block out existing commitments first: 

  • Sports

  • Extracurriculars

  • Part-time work

• Identify realistic study windows. 

• Build in flexibility. 

• Make sure the schedule includes breaks and downtime. 

  • Encourage your child to use techniques like the Pomodoro method - 25 minutes of focused study followed by a 5-minute break.

Encourage Active Study Techniques

Passive reading and highlighting aren't enough for AP success. Your child needs to actively engage with the material using these techniques and study aids:

Flashcards: Make your own by writing a question on one side and the answer on the other. 

Spaced repetition: Reviewing material at increasing intervals helps cement information in long-term memory.

Past papers: Completed under timed conditions, these simulate the real exam experience.

Reducing Stress and Staying Positive

AP exam season can be emotionally taxing. Your emotional support is just as important as your practical help.

Watch for signs of excessive stress: 

• Changes in sleep patterns

• Irritability

• Loss of appetite

• Withdrawal from activities they usually enjoy

These may indicate your child is struggling to cope.

Encourage healthy habits during study periods:

• Regular exercise

• Adequate sleep 

• Proper nutrition

Help your child maintain perspective and celebrate small victories along the way. Has your child:

• Completed a difficult chapter? 

• Mastered a challenging concept? 

• Achieved a personal best score on a past paper?

Acknowledge these achievements. Positive reinforcement builds confidence and motivation.

When to Step In and When to Step Back

Finding the right balance between involvement and independence can be tricky.

Step in when you notice warning signs: 

• Consistently missing study sessions

• Extreme stress

• Falling grades in their AP classes

• Expressing feelings of being overwhelmed

These indicate your child needs additional support, whether from you, their teachers, a tutor, or even our free Exam Anxiety Relief Kit. 

At the same time, it’s important to step back when your child is managing well independently. If they have a system that works, resist the urge to micromanage. Nagging about studying often backfires, creating resistance and damaging your relationship.

Also, give them space to make some mistakes. Forgetting an assignment or performing poorly on a practice test provides valuable learning opportunities. Natural consequences teach responsibility better than parental intervention.

Remember that your child is developing skills they'll need for university and beyond. Part of your job is to gradually reduce your involvement as they demonstrate capability.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Know If My Child Is on Track With Their AP Prep?

Regular check-ins are your best tool. Ask your child to show you their study schedule and discuss what they've covered recently. 

Speak with their AP teachers. Most schools offer parent-teacher conferences or email communication. Teachers can provide insight into whether your child is engaging with coursework and performing at an appropriate level.

If your child consistently seems confident and isn't overly stressed, that's generally a positive sign. Conversely, if they express confusion about major topics shortly before the exam, additional support may be needed.

What If My Child Fails Their AP Exam?

If your child scores lower than expected, use it as a learning opportunity. What went wrong? Was it content knowledge, test-taking strategy, or exam anxiety? Understanding the cause helps prevent similar issues in future exams.

Students can retake AP exams in subsequent years (opens in a new tab) if they wish to improve their scores. Most importantly, reassure your child that one exam score doesn't define their worth or potential. 

Do AP Scores Really Help With College Admissions?

Yes, but perhaps not in the way you think. Most universities focus on:

• Course grades

• Overall GPA

• Standardised test scores (SAT/ACT)

• Extracurricular activities when making admission offers

• Admission essays

Taking AP courses demonstrates academic rigour and willingness to challenge oneself. However, AP scores become particularly valuable after admission. High scores can earn college credit, allowing students to skip introductory courses, graduate earlier, or have more flexibility in their course selection. 

Useful Resources for AP Study Support

Save My Exams offers a comprehensive bank of AP revision resources that can complement your child's AP preparation. These will help your child get the best possible grades - with less effort and no overwhelm. Our real examiner written, exam-specific resources simplify revision and build real exam confidence.

The College Board's (opens in a new tab)AP Students website (opens in a new tab) is the official source for all AP information, including:

• Exam schedules

• Course descriptions

• AP data

Final Thoughts

Supporting your child through their AP courses and exams doesn’t have to be daunting. Your most valuable contributions come from providing structure, encouragement, and emotional support during a challenging period.

Remember that the goal isn't perfection - it's helping your child develop effective study habits, time management skills, and resilience that will serve them throughout their academic career and beyond. Your steady support and belief in them will make more difference than you realise.

References

College Board - How Many AP Courses Are There? (opens in a new tab)

Stanford University - External Test Credit Equivalency Charts (opens in a new tab)

AP - 2024 Score Distributions (opens in a new tab)

AP - Can I sign up to retake an AP Exam? (opens in a new tab)

AP Students website (opens in a new tab)