Study US History. You do not need to be enrolled in an AP class, but you must have a mastery of Unite States history in order to do well on the AP US history exam.
Compare your course of study with the outline for the AP US History. The outline and copies of old AP exams are available online for free on the college board AP central website.
Sign up to take the AP US History test.
Use flash cards and outlines to study important dates in United States history. You can make the flash cards and outlines yourself, find them online from PBS and a number of teachers that teach AP United States history or your can purchase them. Barron and Spark Notes make flash cards. Spark Notes also make some plastic outlines that make very good bathroom reading.
A few weeks before the exam, take at least one practice test. The essay portions of the AP US History exam are available online for free from the College Board website-the same folks who brought you the SAT. Samples of the multiple choice portions can be found at your local bookstore or library. We like the Spark Notes AP Power pack, but many other publishers provide sample multiple choice tests.
Review the results of your practice exam and study the areas you lost points. A great way to review information and bone up on areas you are weak is to watch either The Presidents series from the History Channel, the American President Series from PBS or the Presidents Collection from PBS Home Video.
The AP United States history test rewards effective essay writing. Practice writing the essay exams so that each essay begins with a topic sentence that answers the question and then proceeds with a well delineated argument supported by primary historical documents.