You’ve studied for months. Now you need a game plan for test day.
THE WEEK BEFORE
Stop intensive studying. Light review only. Your brain needs rest more than cramming.
Organize your materials: Sharpened pencils, good eraser, watch (not phone), ID, admission ticket. Put everything in one place.
Check the test location if it’s unfamiliar. Know how to get there, where to park, which entrance to use.
Plan your sleep schedule. Start going to bed earlier now so test day isn’t a shock.
THE NIGHT BEFORE
No studying. Really. You’re not learning new skills now.
Lay out clothes. Dress comfortably—layers are smart since testing rooms vary in temperature.
Set multiple alarms. Phone alarm plus backup. Don’t risk oversleeping.
Eat a light dinner. Nothing that might upset your stomach tomorrow.
Get 8+ hours of sleep. This matters more than reviewing notes.
TEST DAY MORNING
Eat a real breakfast. Protein and complex carbs. Your brain needs sustained energy.
Arrive 30 minutes early. Rushing creates stress you don’t need.
Use the bathroom before testing starts. Obvious but easy to forget in nervousness.
Bring water and a snack for breaks. Quick energy helps between sections.
Leave your phone in the car or turned off in your bag. Don’t risk any issue with it.
MINDSET STRATEGY
Expect to feel nervous. That’s normal. Channel it into focus.
Remember: one test doesn’t define you. Perspective helps with pressure.
Trust your preparation. You’ve practiced for this. You know what to do.
Stay present. Don’t worry about how section one went while doing section two. Focus on what’s in front of you.
MULTIPLE CHOICE SECTION STRATEGY
Read instructions even though you know them. Gets your brain in testing mode.
Pace yourself. 45 questions in 60 minutes means just over a minute per question. Check your watch every 10 questions or so.
Read passages before questions. Context matters for most answers.
Mark difficult questions and move on. Don’t let one hard question derail your timing. Come back if time allows.
Eliminate obviously wrong answers first. Usually two choices are clearly incorrect.
Don’t change answers unless you catch a clear error. First instincts are usually right.
Fill in bubbles carefully. Sounds obvious, but misbubbled answers are tragic.
If running out of time, guess. Blank answers definitely don’t score points.
ESSAY SECTION STRATEGY
Read all prompts before starting. Know what’s coming helps manage time.
Stick to suggested time per essay. 40 minutes each. Don’t spend 50 on synthesis and then rush argument.
Use provided scratch paper for quick outlines. Don’t just start writing.
Write legibly. Graders can’t score what they can’t read.
Skip lines if your handwriting is small. Easier reading = happier graders.
Leave time for brief proofreading. Major errors only—don’t waste time perfecting.
PACING TRICKS
Wear a watch with second hand. Track pace more precisely than periodic clock checks.
Know your writing speed. If you write slowly, you might need shorter introductions and conclusions.
If time’s running short, skip the conclusion. Better a strong essay without conclusion than a rushed, weak one.
Don’t overthink. Analysis paralysis wastes time. Make a decision and commit.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING
Stay calm. Panicking makes everything worse.
Skip that question or prompt temporarily. Come back with fresh eyes.
Trust your gut. Overthinking often leads away from correct answers.
Remember: you don’t need perfection. Missing some questions and still getting a good score is completely normal.
BETWEEN SECTIONS
Use bathroom breaks even if you don’t think you need to. Better safe than uncomfortable later.
Eat your snack, drink water. Quick energy helps.
Don’t discuss the test with other students during breaks. Their stress can increase yours.
Stretch briefly. Physical reset helps mental reset.
THE AFTERNOON SECTION
Expect fatigue. You’ve been testing for hours. That’s normal.
Trust your preparation. Even tired, your practiced skills will kick in.
Don’t rush. Fatigue makes careless errors more likely. Stay focused.
Remember it’s almost over. Push through the final section.
AFTER THE TEST
Don’t rehash every question with other students. It’s done. Let it go.
Celebrate being finished. You worked hard and showed up. That deserves recognition.
Distract yourself for the next few weeks. Obsessing about how you did helps nothing.
Trust that you did your best with what you knew at the time. That’s all anyone can do.
COMMON TEST DAY MISTAKES TO AVOID
Staying up late cramming. Sleep matters more than last-minute studying.
Skipping breakfast. Low blood sugar tanks your performance.
Arriving late or stressed from rushing. Plan extra travel time.
Getting thrown off by one hard question. Stay flexible, keep moving.
Comparing yourself to others. Run your own race.
Obsessing about perceived mistakes. Focus forward, not backward.
WHAT IF THINGS GO WRONG
Pencil breaks: you have backups (right?).
Watch stops: proctor will call time.
Feel sick: alert the proctor, they can help.
Bubble wrong section: catch it early, tell proctor immediately.
Forget your admission ticket: contact test coordinator before test day if possible.
Can’t focus: take a deep breath, reset, keep going. Partial effort beats giving up.
MANAGING TEST ANXIETY
Breathe. Seriously. Deep breath in, slow breath out. Resets your nervous system.
Remember: you’ve practiced this exact situation. Nothing on test day is unfamiliar.
Focus on process, not outcome. Think “answer this question well,” not “I need a 5.”
Use positive self-talk. “I prepared for this. I can handle this.”
Physical tension makes mental tension worse. Relax your shoulders, unclench your jaw.
AFTER YOU GET YOUR SCORES
Whether you’re thrilled or disappointed, remember: one test doesn’t define you.
If you got the score you wanted: celebrate. You earned it.
If you didn’t: you have options. Many colleges accept retakes, or you can succeed without AP credit.
Learn from the experience. What worked? What would you do differently? That knowledge helps in college.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
AP Lang matters, but it’s one test in your educational journey.
The skills you developed—analysis, argumentation, clear writing—matter more than any specific score.
You showed up. You tried. You pushed yourself. That builds character that matters long after test scores fade.
Trust your preparation. Execute your strategy. Do your best.
That’s all anyone can ask.
Now go show that exam what you’re capable of.
