What is the key to the highest scores on IBO or AP essays and exams—in fact, on any essay or exam in the Humanities and Social Sciences?

Question

Keys to highest AP and IBO essays or exams

Answer 1

The first step and most important step to getting a high score is to practice. You can find practice essay test prompts for AP tests on the CollegeBoard website.

Here are a few strategies that will help while you're taking the test:

1. Make sure to read the prompt carefully. Your essay must answer the prompt. An essay that doesn't answer the prompt isn't going to get a good score, no matter how well-written it might be.
2. Pay particular attention to what the prompt is asking you to do. The actions -- synthesize, analyze, and create an original argument -- are not the same. When you practice, make sure you practice each of these. That way you won't have to take time away from writing during the test to try to remember what synthesis is, how synthesis is different from analysis, or the best ways to create an argument.
3. Create the thesis statement first. It will be the roadmap you follow. When you refer back to it as you write, you'll see immediately whether you are drifting away from it. If you do find yourself drifting away from your thesis statement, you can either revise it or get yourself back on track with it.
4. Put the thesis statement at the end of the introductory paragraph, even before you finish writing the paragraph. That will help guide you through writing an introduction that leads up to the thesis statement. A strong and logical introductory paragraph makes a great first impression on the scorer and sets the stage for a good essay.
5. Write a strong topic sentence for each of the body paragraphs. Each topic sentence needs to provide evidence for a claim that supports the thesis statement.
6. Make sure to use transition words and/or phrases in your topic sentences. This will improve the flow of your essay and strengthen it. Here are a few examples of transition words and phrases: "however," "likewise," "on the other hand," "in addition."

There's much more you can do to get a good score on the essay portion of a standardized test. I'd be happy to help you prepare for essay tests, so please don't hesitate to contact me!

Renee Hopkins