The first two weeks of May are infamously the most stressful time of year for Oxford students, especially those cramming for five to six Advanced Placement (AP) exams in a row with no time to spare. For those in desperate need of some extra support, here are the best study resources — from underrated Youtubers to free online practice guides — for the most popular AP subjects on campus.
1. AP U.S. History, AP European History, AP U.S. Government
Jocz Productions on YouTube is run by a high school history teacher and is the ultimate review guide for APUSH and AP Gov students. Its 20-minute videos are broken up by the time periods covered on the AP exam. Most incorporate funny memes and cartoons alongside the content, making tedious information from the textbook more relatable and easily digestible.
An AP Study Guide Masterdoc made by Oxford Academy alumni Anjali Suva (Class of 2023) has marked its territory in virtually every former AP history student’s Google Drive. This google document holds links to entire study guides for nearly every popular AP exam at Oxford, but is especially known for its 83-page compilation of the entire APUSH course curriculum. Simply search tinyurl.com/anjalisuva for special Oxford student access to this live-changing resource!
2. AP Calculus AB/BC, AP Statistics
Mathispower4u Tutorials by James Sousa (mathispower4u.com) has a full, comprehensive “video library” for any and all math subjects, including Calculus I and II for AP Calculus students and Statistics for AP Statistics students. The library organization makes searching for small topics within each unit extremely quick and efficient. For those looking for shorter free response question (FRQ) crunch sessions, PatrickJMT on YouTube breaks down both calculus and statistics concepts in 5-15 minute videos.
JJ Sandoval on YouTube specializes in FRQ-solution breakdowns for AP Calculus AB and BC. His 10-20 minute videos incorporate concise explanations for each type of FRQ-problem on the exam. In addition to explaining the exact approaches on how to solve them, Sandoval also predicts which type of FRQ problem might appear on the upcoming exam, based on an analysis of past trends.
3. AP Chemistry
Abigail Giordano’s AP Chemistry Video Playlist on YouTube has videos covering each and every topic on the AP Chemistry exam, including the various subtopics within each unit. Videos range from 10 minutes on the easier topics to an hour long on the more difficult concepts. Giordano provides thorough explanations, making sure to answer any potential questions along the way, and is especially helpful for learning how to approach the FRQ-portion.
The Knowt website is a versatile resource for any AP course, but its AP Chemistry Exam Guide (knowt.com/exams/AP/AP-Chemistry) is particularly great for comprehensive review. Its (free!) chemistry note guide and interactive flash cards will help you master each unit without the stress, while premium “cram sheets” reinforce certain concepts that must be memorized for the exam. You can use the basic version for free or sign up for the premium 7-day free trial to accompany a last-minute cram session.
The Adrian Dingle’s Chemistry website holds the links to all released MCQs and FRQs from previous AP Chemistry exams. This website is a great resource to find tons of practice problems all in one place.
4. AP Biology
Bozeman Science on Youtube has a playlist series specifically for AP Biology, with 5-10 minute videos explaining each class lab in-depth. There is also a full 30-minute final review video on everything to know for the AP Biology exam.
AP Bio Penguins (apbiopenguins.weebly.com) has every resource imaginable in one place: a 351-page review guide, 80+ Quizizz games, review videos, and review PowerPoints. The best part — it’s all free!
5. AP Physics
The Flipping Physics website (flippingphysics.com) organizes all of their Youtube videos by subject and unit. The links are conveniently found in one place, making it easy to study topics back-to-back (possibly in the last hours leading up to the exam).
WNY Tutor on Youtube has full-length video solutions for common AP Physics problems that recur on exams. Each video is dedicated to one problem and typically ranges from 1-5 minutes. This resource is great for finding specific problem solutions or getting some last-minute practice before the day of the exam.
While it’s best to prepare for AP exams months in advance, cramming the content in a few days (or hours) is possible given the right resources and grindset. Best of luck to all AP warriors!
