How to Self Study for an AP Exam

Self-studying for an AP exam is the right strategy if you want to push yourself beyond what’s available at school. Students who independently take AP exams stand out from the crowd - they are viewed as resourceful, resilient self-learners. 

And with the correct plan, the right resources and disciplined execution, you can achieve a top grade entirely on your own. This guide aims to show you how to make this dream a reality.

Key Takeaways

• Self-studying for an AP exam showcases independence, discipline and academic ambition.

• Registration must be organized early, especially if your school doesn’t offer AP courses or administer AP Exams.

• A clear, week-by-week study plan built around the AP Course and Exam Description (CED) is essential.

• High-quality resources - Save My Exams, textbooks and College Board questions - are crucial for effective independent learning.

• Consistent exam paper practice and understanding scoring rubrics are the biggest predictors of achieving a top AP score.

Why Self Study for an AP Exam?

Students self-study for AP exams for three main reasons:

• The course isn’t offered at school: This is common for subjects like AP Psychology, AP Microeconomics, AP Human Geography or AP Computer Science Principles.

• Deep personal interest: Some students take AP courses to explore subjects they feel passionately about. Other students may speak an additional language, and there are AP courses in seven languages including French, German, Japanese and Spanish.

• Boosting college applications: Self-studied AP scores signal independence, academic ambition and the ability to handle college-level content without classroom instruction. Moreover, having AP courses on your résumé will make you a more compelling candidate.

Whatever your motivation, self-studying is both feasible and rewarding. It will also equip you with numerous skills that you will be able to use when studying at a higher level (e.g. research and problem solving skills).

Can You Take an AP Exam Without Taking the Class?

Yes - absolutely. The College Board explicitly allows students to take AP exams without enrolling in the course. AP exams are designed to measure college-level mastery, not classroom attendance. Here’s why self-studying is legitimate:

• AP scores are based solely on your performance in the exam, not coursework.

• Schools decide which AP classes to offer and The College Board doesn’t want to penalise students for lack of access. At the time of writing, there are 40+ AP courses to choose from; it’s unrealistic for schools to offer all of these courses.

• Many AP subjects lend themselves well to independent learning.

However, you’re responsible for organizing your exam registration, finding a school/testing centre and preparing independently. More on this later.

How to Register for an AP Exam as an Independent Student

If your school offers AP courses and has an AP Coordinator, the process is pretty straightforward. However, do not leave it too late. If you miss the mid-November deadline, late fees will apply. 

Ideally, you should register in October. To register:

• Sign in to My AP (opens in a new tab) with your College Board account and make sure you’ve joined your class section. If you haven’t, you’ll need to follow the steps to join your section online (opens in a new tab). (opens in a new tab)

• If your school requires you to indicate your exam registration, you'll see a Register button in your class section view in My AP after you join your class sections. Clicking this button will let your AP coordinator know that you plan to take the exam and they will order it for you.

• Talk to your school's AP coordinator about paying exam fees. Your AP coordinator will collect any fees that you owe.

• Once you have selected to register, the date and time of your exam will appear in your course card in My AP.

If your school doesn’t offer AP courses or administer AP Exams, the process is a bit more complicated. It’s vital you start this process early (e.g. September) as there are a number of hoops you need to jump through:

• Your first step is to search the AP Course Ledger (opens in a new tab). The AP Course Ledger is the official, up-to-date, comprehensive list of schools that have passed the AP Course Audit. You can search by country, state/province, or city to find a school where you might be able to take your exam.

• Try to shortlist a few possible schools. Call all the schools on your shortlist and obtain the AP Coordinator’s email address and direct line phone number. You should then send a polite email with your request. Make sure you include your full name, DOB, cell phone number and details of the exam(s) you would like to take. Please note: Not all schools will accept external candidates.

• Ensure you supply any other information the AP Coordinator requests in a timely manner - AP Coordinators are very busy, and dealing with students not enrolled is over and above the call of duty.

• When you find an AP Coordinator willing and able to administer your AP Exam(s), they will become responsible for ordering your exam materials, telling you when and where to report for the exams and collecting the exam fees. Read all the instructions they send you very carefully. For example, you will probably be required to bring some photo ID on the day of the exam. Failing to produce this is likely to result in withdrawal from the exam(s).

Getting registered for your exam(s) early has two key benefits. Firstly, once booked, you can cross this task off your “to do” list. Secondly, you now have a deadline to work towards - the date of the exam(s).

How to Make a Self Study Plan

Self-study succeeds when you follow a clear, realistic structure. The timeline below assumes you have 3-4 months. Extend it if you’re starting earlier:

• Download the AP Course and Exam Description (CED): This is your roadmap - the CED includes everything you need to know about the course, such as the syllabus, how the exam is structured, what skills are assessed and sample questions. The syllabus will be divided into units, and these units are subdivided into topics.

• Break the Course Into Weekly Chunks: Divide the number of units by the number of weeks you have. For example, 8 units, 16 weeks → 1 unit every 2 weeks.

• Build a Weekly Study Routine. For example, Monday to Wednesday: Learn three topics from one unit. Thursday: Complete Save My Exams AP topic questions. Friday: Review mistakes, make corrections and revise weak areas. Weekend: Complete relevant released exam questions.

• Use the Pomodoro Technique: 45–50 minutes of focused work. 5–10 minute break. Repeat 2–3 times per session. This is much more efficient than long study blocks.

• Review and Adjust Weekly: Self-studying requires flexibility and honesty about your progress. If you are hitting your targets, great. If not, don’t try to beat a dead horse - amend and improve your plan.

The Best Study Materials for Self-Studying AP Exams

Save My Exams AP Resources: Our team of AP teachers and subject experts have created a suite of AP study resources that cover exactly what you need. These resources are especially valuable if you’re learning content without a teacher. On our website, you will find:

• Revision notes written by experts.

• Custom-made diagrams.

• Top tips on what AP examiners are looking for.

• Course specific questions and model answers.

• Details of how to maximise your marks in your exams.

Other resources you should consider include:

• AP Textbooks or Review Books (e.g. Princeton Review AP series and Barron’s AP series).

• YouTube: There are numerous online video resources for various AP subjects. Ensure the content matches the current AP curriculum. The videos should also offer clear, high-quality teaching with real exam practice (active revision). Choose videos with positive comments, active engagement and evidence that students improve.

• College Board Released Questions: These are the real exam questions from previous years - essential for building exam technique.

Practice Makes Perfect: Using Released Exams

The importance of completing as many released exams as possible cannot be overstated. Here’s a phased approach to building and perfecting your exam technique:

• Start with Topic-Based Practice: Complete relevant Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and Free-Response Questions (FRQs). At this stage, focus on getting the answer right, and not on timings. Mark your work carefully using the scoring guidelines.

• Move to Mixed-Practice Sets: Once you’ve learned 50%+ of the syllabus, start to mix questions from different units. This trains you for the unpredictable nature of the real exam. AP exams are designed to make you think on your feet.

• Transition Into Full (Timed) Exams: 8–10 weeks before the exam, try to complete one full timed paper a week. Mark it yourself and make corrections. Identify weak areas and revise accordingly. Note: Weak areas are not limited to content - they could include exam technique or timings.

It’s also important that you understand how the AP scoring rubrics work. These are the official guidelines that explain how FRQs are marked. They show what earns a point (specific facts, steps, arguments, calculations or reasoning), what doesn’t earn a point, how partial credit works and how examiners reward accuracy, clarity and correct methodology. Note: Each AP subject has its own rubric style. 

Staying Motivated When You’re Studying Alone

Self-studying can be a lonely road and deeply frustrating at times, especially if you end up spending hours trying to understand a single topic. Here are some ideas to make that road a little less lonely:

• Join a Study Circle: When choosing your AP course(s) consider whether any friends would benefit from studying the same course(s). If the answer is “yes” encourage them to take the plunge. If in-person study circles are unrealistic, the internet is a wonderful way to meet like-minded people (e.g. Reddit (r/APStudents)). A problem shared is a problem halved.

• Set Weekly “Non-Negotiables”: For example, finish studying one unit, complete two FRQs or answer 50 MCQs. Small, consistent targets beat ambitious, unrealistic ones.

• Track Your Progress: Use a method that best suits you, For example, revision calendar, progress bar, unit/topics checklist or a study journal. Seeing progress is hugely motivational.

• Reward Your Successes: There’s no teacher handing out “gold stars” - you need to fill that gap. For example, every time you master a new topic, give yourself a small treat of your choice.

• Protect Your Wellbeing: Look after your mental and physical health. Embrace nature, get lots of high-quality sleep, exercise, give yourself downtime, eat well, stay hydrated, and avoid doom scrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it hard to self-study for an AP exam?

With a structured plan, anyone can succeed. Normally, your teacher would break down the syllabus and provide resources. When you study alone, you have to track down great resources and carefully unpick the CED - go through it line by line, make sure you cover all the content, and ensure you understand how marks are awarded.

Which AP exams are easiest to self study?

Easy is a subjective word. But, generally, students find the following subjects more accessible: AP Psychology, AP Microeconomics / Macroeconomics, AP Human Geography and AP Environmental Science.

Can I get a 5 if I self study?

Yes - thousands of students do every year. That being said, getting the top grade in any exam won’t be easy. Success relies on heavy use of released exams, active revision and consistent practice.

Do colleges care if I took the class or just the exam?

Colleges primarily care about your AP score. Nonetheless, if you get the chance to state that you self-studied for that course, do so. 

Final Thoughts

Self-studying for an AP exam is ambitious and incredibly impressive. With a smart plan, strong resources, and consistent practice, you can absolutely earn a top score on your own. Build a routine, commit to active study, track your progress, and trust the process. Self-study demonstrates independence, discipline and initiative - qualities every university values.

References

• AP Courses and Exams: (opens in a new tab)https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/courses (opens in a new tab)

• Save My Exams - AP Exam Prep & Study Resources:https://www.savemyexams.com/ap/