Essays - our hints in practice on past exams

Remember (how our hints work with actual AP questions)

One of the AP questions asked you to define the term Maquialadora. This one was worth three points. Usually definitions are worth one point but in this case it was worth much more. Always take the time to define something in more than one way and/or to expand on your definition. You do not know how much they want or how much they are giving for a question. Also note in this question. Much of the answer for this part was something that could have been repeated for the second part to get points. you can repeat yourself.

One of the AP questions we went over asked students why having a call center in a small southern town was not much of an economic advantage. Some of the answers accepted were common sense, others required a knowledge of vocabulary. This industry is footloose with a low multiplier effect. Each word was a point. You do have to write a sentence for all of your answers but mentioning these vocab words and showing you knew how to use them would get you the points. Other answers were more about logic - these jobs are low skill and tend not to lead to higher paying jobs in the community. YOU NEED TO STOP AND THINK LOGICALLY AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO USE THE PROPER VOCABULARY IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT YOU DO WELL. These questions invariably require more than one answer and always require you to know the vocab or be able to use the vocab and show you know the meaning of the word (by defining it as you use it) withi you answers. EXPAND ON YOUR IDEAS. IN MY EIGHT PERIOD CLASS, SEVERAL STUDENTS MISSED AN ANSWER BECAUSE THEY WERE TO BRIEF. HAD THEY EXPANDED ON THEIR ANSWERS THEY WOUDL HAVE GOTTEN THE POINT. WHEN THEY ASK FOR TWO WAYS GIVE THEM TWO BUT GIVE A FULL EXPLANATION OF EACH OF THE TWO AND EXPAND ON EACH WAY. SO LONG AS YOU DO NOT ACTUALLY START DESCRIBING A DIFFERENT WAY THIS IS FINE. IT IS PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA FOR YOU TO SAY- "THE FIRST WAY IS" AND THEN LATER "THE SECOND WAY" IS AND THEN EXPAND SO THE READER IS CLEAR ON WHAT YOU ARE DOING.


One of your questions asked about population pyramids. This question showed you a pyramid. USE THE PYRAMIDS OR GRAPHS THEY PROVIDE Always use the information they provide. Pay attention to the question and when they ask you to use something, look at the graph, map or whatever and use the information, numbers or whatever is on it within your answer. You can expand on your answer and use material not on the graph but you should always incorporate the map or graph materials IF ASKED.