The most common struggle is managing the essay section's strict time limits while crafting historically accurate, well-evidenced arguments. Many students also underestimate the importance of understanding historical context and making connections across time periods—the exam rewards synthesis, not just memorization. Document-based questions (DBQs) trip up students who haven't practiced analyzing primary sources under pressure, and the free-response section requires a specific thesis-and-evidence structure that differs from regular history papers.

Prioritize mastering the three essay types (DBQ, LEQ, SAQ) since they make up 60% of your score—a tutor can teach you the exact rubric expectations and help you practice under timed conditions. Simultaneously, build a strong foundation in periodization and thematic connections so you can quickly identify historical patterns in multiple-choice questions. Finally, develop a system for organizing key events, figures, and concepts by theme and time period, which makes recall faster and more reliable on test day.

Confidence comes from familiarity, and tutors help by walking you through dozens of practice essays and multiple-choice sets so the exam format feels routine, not scary. Many students feel anxious because they're unsure if their essays meet the rubric—tutors provide immediate, specific feedback on what's working and what needs adjustment, which reduces uncertainty. Working through timed practice tests with a tutor also helps you develop realistic pacing strategies, so you're not racing against the clock on test day.

Ideally, start tutoring 3-4 months before the May exam if you're aiming for significant improvement, though even 6-8 weeks of focused work can make a real difference. If you're currently struggling with essays or multiple-choice accuracy, starting sooner helps you build foundational skills before diving into full-length practice tests. Many students in Omaha also benefit from tutoring during the school year to strengthen their understanding of course material, which makes exam prep in spring much more efficient.

Practice tests are essential—they're your best tool for identifying which time periods, themes, or question types consistently trip you up. Taking full-length, timed practice tests under realistic conditions helps you develop pacing strategy and reveals whether your essay-writing process is sustainable within 40 minutes per essay. A tutor can review your practice test results to pinpoint patterns in your mistakes, then target instruction on those specific weaknesses rather than reviewing material you already know well.

Document analysis is the heart of AP History—the DBQ is 25% of your score, and strong document interpretation skills boost your performance on multiple-choice and LEQ questions too. The exam tests your ability to extract historical evidence from primary sources and use it to support arguments, not just your knowledge of facts. Tutors teach you a systematic approach to reading documents (identifying author, audience, purpose, historical context) so you can quickly extract relevant evidence under pressure.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who have deep knowledge of the AP History curriculum and understand the specific pacing and content emphasis of Omaha's schools. When you get matched with a tutor, you can discuss your current score, target score, and learning style—whether you prefer working through essay practice, drilling multiple-choice, or analyzing documents together. Most tutors offer flexibility to meet your schedule and can adjust their approach based on what you're learning in class, so tutoring complements rather than duplicates your coursework.