It’s the month of May, and we all know what that means… AP exams are here! But don’t stress out; I have some great ways to help.

First of all, don’t over study the night before the test. If you pull an all nighter the day before the test, you won’t be able to score as high as you could because you will be tired. When testing, sleep is just as important as knowing the information.

Second, it’s ok to take study breaks if you get overwhelmed. Take a walk, put on a face mask or even take a nap. It is just as important to take care of your mental health as it is your physical health. A great tool I use to relax and calm down is 4 by 3 breathing. Take a deep breath in for 4 seconds. Hold your breath for 4 seconds and then release your breath for 4 more seconds, and continue to do the exercise until you start to feel better.

Third, make sure your study time works for you. Different study methods work better than others for different individuals. My personal favorite way to study is with games. Most of the time, it doesn’t even feel like I’m studying. I traditionally use quizlet games for studying vocabulary terms. The matching ones are my personal favorite, so I can try and beat the clock and feel good every time my score improves! Another good way to motivate yourself to study is through a reward system. When I re-read important sections in my textbook I will give myself a gummy bear or cheese-it after each page I finish re-reading, so I get to study and feel good at the same time. Not all study methods work for everyone so try different things until you find out what works best for you.

Most importantly, remember that you are so much more than your test score! Good luck on your AP Exams.