Survive AP Microeconomics/Macroeconomics

Today, we will talk about something very interesting: how I have survived AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics. So, for some background about me, I took both of these exams in 10th Grade. So, that year, I took five AP exams - I studied three of them from school, and I self-studied for both AP Macroeconomics and AP Macroeconomics. Fortunately, after doing the test, I've been able to get a 5 on both the AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics.

If you want to have more information about it, I also have a website where I sort of teach you different content that will pop up on the AP Microeconomics or AP Microeconomics exam, so that if you're interested, then check it out. It's called Bacheconomics.

Those subjects aren't really hard, but if you are not careful, and that you have stupid mistakes on the test, then it can really hurt your chance to get a good score. Therefore, today, I would tell you a bit about how I have had those 5s and what tips I have for you, either you study at school or you study independently. I hope these tips will help you.

Okay, the first thing is that you have to remember the graphs, because in both of these tests, many graphs pop up, and in the FRQ section, they also ask you to draw these graphs. Remember, the different graphs appear on AP Macroeconomics as well as AP Microeconomics, and also you have to remember the labels for x and y-axis for each type of graph - what labels are in the y-axis, what labels are in the x-axis. You have to know this.

Next, you must understand what different lines mean and what different lines look like. For example, the MC curve (the Marginal Cost curve) - it will intersect the Average Total Cost (ATC) curve and the Average Variable Cost (AVC) curve at the lowest points, and when you are asked to draw those, you have to remember the rules, or else you will lose points. Another example would be that for a monopoly, the demand curve is going to be above the Marginal Revenue curve. You will have to remember what these curves mean and how to draw those curves, as well as learning what factors will shift these curves up or down or left or right. You will be able to equip yourself better with the exam.

I will say that you need to do a lot of past exams. A lot of exams appear on the internet for free, and those are the exams that are called International Practice Exams, and there are many years when these exams are released. Therefore, please check it out. Otherwise, search for as many tests as possible, even if they don't come from the College Board, but make sure that they come from a credible source. And a good thing is that you don't have to do tests that are new; you can also test or old, because the curriculums didn't change much, because the economic laws they essentially don't change, because they have been proven efficient from the past.

About self-studying and changing curriculum, please, when you're doing the actual study part, use the updated curriculums and don't fall into a trap like me. Essentially, I studied Macroeconomics using Khan Academy, but because it was the old curriculum, in the test, there was something that I actually had never seen in the practice tests before, which is something called the Reserve Market. Fortunately, I actually went over it somewhere before, not on the AP, but in other resources, and also made some educated guesses, and that's probably why I still got a 5 on the Macro exam.

What are the resources you can take and learn from in order to study for AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics? Personally, I think that there are many options online. You can buy a textbook, you can buy a Barron's book or "5 Steps to a 5" or Princeton Review - it's up to you. There are also other free options that you can take, for example, you can watch YouTube videos about some teachers that teach these subjects for free. Also, there are many websites online that provide tests that they made, although it does cost money. I believe that it is actually worth it, because when you get a high score on AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics, and that you use that score to a private college, it will help you stand out a little bit more, and also, you can actually get some credit, and can probably graduate early by doing so. You can reduce the tuition fee that you have to pay, and I say that the free reduction from those credits will be higher than the actual cost of studying for AP and taking AP. So, in the end, it's definitely up to you. Try to find sources that are helpful, that are credible, and that are updated, and I assure you that you can easily get a 5 on both of these exams.