It’s finally that time of year again. The sun is starting to set at a reasonable time, flowers are starting to bloom, weather conditions aren’t Antarctic and AP Season is finally upon us. For those of us who would get a 5 on AP Procrastination (if it really were a class), here’s a list of the best AP resources, from a certified master procrastinator.
#5: Blooket
There’s been a lot of debate about whether learning should be gamified, but when studying for an upcoming exam is the last thing you want to do, trying out a new Blooket game mode (such as Fishing Frenzy or Crazy Kingdom) and unlocking new characters in the process can reduce the bitterness. Plus, Blooket has plenty of pre-made quizzes on practically every unit of every AP class, and you can always import your own resources from Quizlet. The only downside is that the work itself is largely repetitive and not very challenging, so you should use it mainly to review vocab rather than learning a science concept for the first time.
#4: The Organic Chemistry Tutor/AP Bio Penguins/Heimler’s History
At this point, there is nothing that YouTube hasn’t taught us. While there are plenty of great AP channels, there are three main ones that prove to be a lifesaver for students, again and again. Apart from teaching Organic Chemistry, The Organic Chemistry Tutor does a fantastic job of explaining difficult math concepts in a way that doesn’t make you want to slam your head against your desk and call it quits. Similarly, AP Bio Penguins elucidates material for a class that is notoriously difficult among AP students. From explaining signal transduction to going over past free response questions, the channel has you covered. As for Heimler’s, his channel is the religious text of all AP History classes. There is no comparison, there is no match, there is no other Heimler.
#3: Knowt
When Quizlet moved from being a great free resource into a site drowning with ads and notifications telling you to upgrade now at our best price ever for $44.99, uproar unleashed among students around the world. Fortunately, an alternative has emerged through the Knowt App, which caters mainly towards AP students. There are resources available for most APs offered, and the website itself utilizes active recall and spaced repetition to make sure that you actually retain the information you are trying to review. The app is especially useful because of its different sections, including vocabulary, quick practice and cram sheets. Plus, it allows you to create your own study schedule, and unlike Quizlet, you can actually use it well without paying a cent.
#2: Books
I know, what a shocker! But so many AP classes, especially in the humanities, depend on you being able to write and communicate thoughtfully. While no two APs are the same, reading widely across multiple genres can set you up for success in pretty much any class you ever take. In a time when people are ceding their thinking and humanity to AI systems, reading acts as a grounding tool, develops your critical thinking skills, and improves your senses of attention, perception and intelligence remarkably well. So instead of scrolling for four hours in a row, consider getting up from your bed, take a few steps, grab a real book (with paper and everything!), head outside and touch some grass.
#1: Khan Academy
There is everything on Khan Academy that you could possibly need to get a 5. All of the AP content is made in partnership with the College Board and is curated by real AP teachers. Additionally, for every quiz on the platform, there are usually three videos and a whole lot of articles to go along with it. What sets Khan Academy apart is the focus on a wide variety of courses across the sciences, humanities and mathematics. Even the more niche courses (like AP Art History, which I didn’t know was a thing for almost my entire high school career) have full video guides to help you through the curriculum. Best of all, Khan Academy is completely, 100% free. There are no ads, the user interface is amazing, and the content is succinct and straight to the point. Whether you’re self-studying or looking to supplement your schoolwork, this site has you covered, which is why it claims the top spot on this list. If you’ve suddenly developed a case of I-forgot-everything-in-Semester-1 amnesia, don’t despair: Khan Academy is here.
