Get Ready for AP exams

AP GAME TIME – Is your child ready?

Folks,

It’s May, and AP testing is upon us. Please review the AP testing dates and times with your children as soon as you can. From my previous newsletters, you’ll know that the likelihood students have of achieving a high score on the AP test has never been better. The shortened test and curriculum allows for targeted instruction on topics that were covered by AP teachers before the pandemic crippled the US educational system. The proposition for students is crystal clear:

• The 3-hour tests are now 45 minutes

• You can take them at home

• They are open note/open book

• The College Board has gotten assurance from its member colleges that they will accept 3s, 4s, and 5s for college credit, potentially saving each student thousands of dollars in tuition money.

What does the data tell us?

Foley Prep tutors have been working with AP students over the past month and have come up with some interesting pieces of information from their sessions. When it comes to the AP Science tests, students need to make sure to focus more on their qualitative explanations to AP questions. Students are going to have to EXPLAIN, JUSTIFY, and RELATE scientific concepts to data that is being presented to them. This “inquiry-based understanding” is always a challenge for students because they have to provide the grader with more than a “yes/no” answer. Foley Prep tutors have been working students through this type of question, teaching them how to answer in a coherent manner. AP Calculus and Statistics exams will require students to perform calculations to justify answers. Foley Prep tutors have recognized that students are having a difficult time using keyboarding or electronic devices to type out their answers. From that, we are encouraging students to upload photos of their handwritten responses. AP mathematics teachers still assess students using paper and pencil, so it would be best to make sure that students answer these questions in the same fashion.

What can you do as a parent to support your child?

We suggest that on the day of the test, students have ample working space, a fully charged computer and calculator, and sole control of the bandwidth in your home. The tests will take approximately 1 hour across several different time zones. Some students have told Foley Prep tutors that sharing bandwidth with siblings in the home leads to glitchy-ness. I suggest having a good old fashioned family conference with everyone so that the entire household knows the importance of these tests. Emphasize to your child the need to have all pertinent notes and books available to reference at moment’s notice.  A complete testing environment can be arranged within the home.

How can Foley Prep help?

Foley Prep tutors have been gearing up for weeks with regard to these tests. They’ve been researching old exam free-response questions, listening to videos broadcast by the College Board, and reflecting back after their sessions.  Some students have a good grasp of material, while others need an intensive review to get ready. Contact me ASAP so I can put you in touch with a Foley Prep tutor who will assess your child’s present situation and give honest feedback on what he or she needs to achieve the all-important 4s or 5s on these exams and be eligible to get college credit.

I know it has not been easy over the last 7 weeks. Everyday, I’m encouraged as I help students find positives out of this general sense that things have gone negative. I’m here with the best help possible for AP testing so that, together, we can make a negative into an uber positive.

I hope you’re enjoying this beautiful weather in New Jersey, and perhaps a little sense of “reopening.” I’m stuck inside working, as usual, to get Foley Prep ready for a very big summer!

Thanks, as always, for your time. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reply to this email or call the number below. Eric has been doing a tremendous job helping everyone on the phone, and I’ll be even more available now that my college teaching has ended for the semester.

Sincerely,

Ron Foley

Do forward this email to whomever could benefit from it.

Call 732-412-1416 or reply to this email for more information

Foley’s results are proven: +220 point average SAT and +7 point ACT increase.

Go to FoleyPrep.com/data to find out more. Below is a screenshot of one of the interactive data plots – I invite you to go nerd out for a few minutes!

Book tutoring on the Foley Prep App!

(press the image below to download it now)