Taking the AP European History exam may seem like an impossible task—but with the help of audio study material and prep tools, you can surely score high.

AP European History: Audio study material and prep

Deciding your future at a young age is virtually impossible. Many high schoolers face the pressure of choosing a career path before they find something they are truly passionate about. The key is to explore what you like and, if possible, turn that to your advantage. 

AP European History, also called AP Euro for short, is an advanced placement (AP) course administered by College Board which high school students can take to improve their European history knowledge and earn college credit. The AP European History exam is considered one of the most challenging AP exams due to the large amount of history to memorize, as well as being able to make in-depth historical analyses.

Nevertheless, if you are into humanitarian studies, then AP European History might just be the right class and AP test to take. Knowledge-wise, the AP European History course covers historical events of over five centuries, from the Renaissance to the Cold War.

Tips to help high school students score high on AP exams

Absorbing this amount of knowledge can’t happen overnight. So, first things first, you should create a study plan. Studying world history, and especially the history of Europe, can be overwhelming. Finding adequate study guides can further explain the required material on top of looking through your textbook and notes.

Regardless of what time period you like the most, it would be useful to start studying chronologically, from the Italian Renaissance, Age of Exploration, and Absolutism & Constitutionalism to get a solid grasp on the philosophical, political, and scientific thoughts that founded modern history.

Later on, focus on the Industrial Revolution, Industrialization, and events of the 18th century so that you have the necessary knowledge to understand the 19th and 20th-century crises which resulted in World War I (The Great War), World War II, and the Cold War.

Since this European history test has two sections in total, later diverged into two parts, you will have to practice the multiple choice section, short questions, a document-based question (DBQ) section, and essay questions.

There are three major tips we have for students preparing to take the AP Euro exam: studying the material in advance, using text to speech tools, and practicing with flashcards. Let’s find out why these are so important and how they will help you prepare for test day!

Tip 1—Study the material far in advance

With so much to cover, it’s best to start studying months before the exam and get your test prep plan in place. You should set aside time every week for a thorough content review of what you’re learning in your AP Euro class. This course might be too much for freshmen or sophomore year students, but junior and senior years are the perfect time to take this AP exam; the same goes for AP World History and AP U.S. History.

Today, there are many crash courses, review books, and audiobooks that can help you retain the review material better. You can even find full-length practice tests online and in many review books. Don’t wait until a few weeks before the AP exam to start using practice tests! Some of the best prep content includes the Princeton Review’s AP European History Prep book or Barron’s AP European History guide—both of which can be found on Amazon and from other booksellers.

Comparison is another great tool that can help you with this European history test—maybe some events from US history will help you memorize what was happening in Europe at that time. Don’t be afraid to review material from other history classes you’ve taken and see what connections you can make to AP European History.

You can create a study schedule by making great study playlists with the help of a TTS reader (more on that next), taking practice exams, and reviewing flashcards.

Tip 2—Use a TTS reader

Text to speech (or TTS for short) tools such as Speechify can help you a great deal on this journey. It can be tiring to sit all day, read, and do practice tests—but luckily, that’s not the only option anymore.

Text to speech tools are excellent if you have reading difficulties, a short attention span, a lack of visual memory, or dislike sitting in one place for hours, or have many other things to do besides studying for AP EUro. With TTS readers, you can soak in the knowledge by just listening to the words of your notes, study guides, reviews, etc. 

TTS readers can save time by allowing you to listen to content review while on the bus, doing chores around the house, riding in the car, or in between your other extracurricular activities. It’s like listening to a podcast for European History!

Auditory memory or echoic memory is the “memory language” for a lot of people, and you would be surprised to learn how easy is to memorize something after you have heard it. Here are just a few more pros of using a TTS reader for your AP Euro test preparation:

• Improved accessibility for people with reading disabilities
• Increased mobility and convenience
• Boosts auditory memory
• Great for study groups
• Can be combined with other study tools

TTS tools do not have to be the only or even primarily learning method for you, but they can benefit every student in some way or another.

Tip 3—Study practice questions with flashcards 

Flashcards are another tried and true memory tool for studying, and they are perfect to use for AP European History. You will already memorize a lot just by making the cards, and regularly reviewing them will cement your knowledge each time you practice.

Create flashcards throughout the school year of all important terms, people, events, etc. as you learn them so that you don’t have to make hundreds of them as test day grows near. Instead of focusing only on pass rates of practice tests, you can develop your cognitive abilities with a simple flashcard exercise.

There are also virtual flashcards that you can use on your own or with with your study group. Jump on a quick video call, answer the questions, and compare progress. TTS readers can help you review flashcards, too!

Use Speechify to get the most out of studying

Speechify is a popular text to speech (TTS) tool that can turn any written text into spoken words. You can use Speechify as an app for iOS and Android, for your Mac or Windows computer, or directly in web browsers such as Google Chrome and Safari. Basically, you can use Speechify anywhere to help you study!

For example, you or your friends can send each other audio versions of your typed notes. You can listen to almost anything including your study guides, your textbook chapters, flashcards, notes, practice tests, and more. Additionally, with our Google Chrome extension, Speechify can read any web page out loud to you.

Some of the pros of using Speechify to study for the AP Euro exam include:

• Reading is no longer a barrier to studying
• Easily manage your notes
• Increase productivity by speed-listening
• Expand your vocabulary and pronunciation
• Natural-sounding voices to listen to

Our Premium version has over 20 voices, languages, and accents—but the free version also has many great customizable features that all high school students will enjoy.

Instead of reading endlessly from your textbook and notes feeling unable to focus, imagine a soothing voice teaching you about the French Revolution or Protestant Reformation. Not bad, right?

FAQ

What is the first part of the AP European History Exam?

The AP Euro exam has two components, or sections. Section I has a 55-minute part of 55 multiple-choice questions followed by 40 minutes for three short-answer questions. Section II also has two parts: a 60-minute DBQ section and 40 minutes for a long essay question. The total length of the AP European History Exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes.

What was the significance of the Treaty of Berlin?

There were 3 key outcomes after the Treaty of Berlin—Holy Alliance ended, Russia’s position in Europe weakened, and the Ottoman Empire was protected by the Treaty.  

Is AP European History hard?

Yes, but passing with a 3, 4, or even a 5 is not impossible with good prep. Start timely, use helpful tools and sources of knowledge, and look into AP classes such as AP World History and AP US History.