Opinion

Opinion Roundup: As AP season arrives, students share their most trusted study methods

Hannah Fang • May 6, 2025

Students share their study methods.

With AP exam season now officially here, everyone has various studying techniques that help them in preparation for these exams. Studying strategically has been proven to raise exam scores, and has aided students in achieving their academic goals, but the path to academic success is different for everyone. While some students will study for numerous hours, others may study less. By testing out different studying methods, students can find a daily studying routine that works best for them.

Below, students shared their opinions on the methods of studying they find most effective

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“I try to follow a mentality where I tell myself that once I finish studying, I won’t have to bear the weight of stress that has been holding me down. I sit at my desk for a few hours straight so that I avoid getting up too often and getting distracted. I don’t follow a specific study schedule. Personally, I find that studying in the order of most important to least important subjects works for me. For tests I know are going to be difficult for me, I usually spend anywhere from thirty to fifty minutes studying. I look back at my previous notes, homework, classwork, and worksheets to establish what specifically will be on the test. From there, I write out a review sheet or study guide for myself.”

— Freshman Amanda Ng

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“A lot of my studying starts with comprehension during class. When I begin preparing for tests, I then review my notes and crack down on the main points of each topic. Promoting healthy self-talk and healthy study habits helps motivate me, and so the self-talk cannot just be “it’s just a grade.” Emphasizing and reminding myself that I can do it…helps me stay motivated. I create a list of things to do to prepare and disperse them through the day before the tests. They are different for each subject but to be general: say it’s three days before the test, on that day I would review my notes and make a comprehensive study guide, two days before I would do practice questions, and the day before I would review my study guide and get a good night’s rest.”

— Sophomore Mohashin Tasfiya

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“For techniques, I like to use the Pomodoro Method and spaced repetition. Sometimes I think about getting a terrible grade and how I felt at that moment. I know that I’m not defined by my grades, but seeing those numbers and results, they ultimately do to some extent have an effect on me, and [end up] motivating me.  I put my phone in my drawer so I’m just solely focused on what’s in front of me, and I try to prevent any other external stimulation. I always do my main homework first and then I study at the end of the day when I have free time. If there’s no study guide [from my teacher], I open up documents from past lessons.  I go through the lessons one by one instead of opening it all at the same time, which also helps me pace myself.”

— Senior Cristian Marroquin

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“Organization [for studying] starts at the jump from class knowing what you learned on what day. The same day you learn something, look at it a second time and reflect on what you don’t understand so that you can see what you need to address at the end of the week. For students, I don’t think it is a lack of desire. I think students want to do well. A lot of the time it’s that pull of doing nothing that drags them down. When students start studying, the motivation starts to build by itself. Strategies that I used to use when I struggled with that is setting a timer for ten minutes and being undistracted and doing [a particular task]. Once I build up that initial momentum, it more often than not ends up being more than ten minutes.”

— Assistant Principal Abid Choudhury

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Ryan Chen, Managing Editor

Ryan Chen is a sophomore at THHS. In his free time, he loves to do anything related to cameras (with still photography being his favorite), and The Classic has allowed him to explore those passions. He’s happy to be part of The Classic, which has always been welcoming, supportive, and full of amazing people running this one-of-a-kind newspaper.