Advanced Placement, better known as AP, tests are only a month away. If your parents shelled out $91 per test, you should probably be prepared when your testing day arrives. Here are some tips to help you prepare for the test.

Free Yourself

Like studying for most tests, you should avoid any and all technology that will prevent you from being productive. If you like listening to music, avoid music with lyrics and anything too loud. Find classical covers of popular songs and put them on a playlist before you start studying to avoid any Twitter checking and Snapchatting that may arise when looking at your phone. If you think your phone will be a distraction, put your phone on airplane mode. I promise that you can survive one hour every other day for the next month without your social life.

You Deserve Candy

As a teenager, studying for an hour or two a day can be quite the challenge, however there are ways to get through it. Head to Walgreens and buy two boxes or bags of 99 cent candy. For every ten practice problems for a math AP practice test, or for every passage you read for an English AP test, reward yourself with a piece of candy. That first piece of candy will be the best thing you have ever tasted because it’s going to be hard to start studying. YOU CAN DO IT! Now, that second bag of candy you bought is for when you have a mental breakdown and get super stressed out a week before the test. Trust me, I’ve been there. If you are trying to work on your summer body and don’t want to choose candy, halfway through your study time take a ten minute break on BuzzFeed or YouTube watching some videos.

Don’t Cram

There is a reason these titles are in bold. DO. NOT. CRAM. It is actually impossible to cram for an AP test. The AP test has all of the information you have learned in your class that year, so that’s over 150 days of learning. That’s right, your test has 250 hours of learning in one three hour test. May the odds be ever in your favor if you choose not to study. “Geez, you don’t have to be so sarcastic… I don’t even know how to study…” is what you are probably thinking. Well, do I have some exciting news for you! There are a lot of ways to get the Princeton Review Cracking the [Whatever One You’re Taking] AP Test. Super handy right? A lot of teachers at West hand these out or a comparable sort of book. However, if you were not given one, head to the library to check one out, or check at Half-Price Books to see if they have a copy.

Go to bed

I know it is nearly impossible to be in bed before 10 PM for most high schoolers these days, but it is so important to get a good night of sleep before the big test(s). Turn your phone on airplane mode when you go to sleep so you don’t get interrupted in the middle of the night. Eat a good dinner the night before and be sure to eat a good breakfast in the morning. Waffles with peanut butter or some French toast with a glass of juice or a smoothie are a great way to get your day started with healthy(ish) food that will keep you full.

On the day of the test be sure to bring at least three sharpened #2 pencils, a pink eraser, pens with black ink, and a graphing calculator (if permitted). So remember, study hard, get some sleep, eat breakfast, and reward yourself after the test (QuikTrip is open 24 hours). Good luck and may the AP tests be ever in your favor.