You’ve been waiting to get into APs for years. But once you got that pile of summer homework, it was wayyy too easy to put it off. As summer slips away, it’s time to pry open your backpack and pull out those textbooks. With the help of these six sites, it’ll be easier than you think, we promise!
If you love videos…check out HippoCampus
Thirteen subject areas ranging from statistics to sociology and 5,700 videos comprise HippoCampus.org, an education site that caters to students spanning middle school to college. The site is divided into knowledge collections—think: chemistry (supplied by NASA!), composition, and macroeconomics—making it feel more like you’re taking an e-course instead of Googling around for answers.
If you’re addicted to learning…dive into Khan Academy
Khan Academy started years ago as a non-profit loaded with free courses that skewed heavily toward business, finance, and computer sciences. Nowadays, it’s a well-rounded site that offers interesting and engaging materials in cool areas (um, like cryptography). There’s also a dedicated test preparation area, and a special course for those taking AP Art History.
If AP math freaks you out…try Purplemath
Advanced Placement math classes require a strong foundation on basic math concepts. If you’re feeling shaky, brush up on the basics before you head back to school with a little help from Purplemath. The beginner bits, from graphing equations to solving formulas, are all explained for free (and there are in-page practice problems that walk you through the steps—a nice bonus if you’re stuck). For test prep and more involved coursework, sister site MathHelp.com offers real teachers helping you get tip-top grades, for a monthly or annual fee.
If you’re new to using primary sources…try the Library of Congress
You don’t have to head to Washington, D.C., to get a lot out of the highest profile library in the nation. The Library of Congress has a robust site that’s packed with features for specific groups of people, like teachers, researchers, and families. Take a peek particularly to prep for literature and history classes. Trust us, these sources will impress.
If language arts isn’t your best subject…try Purdue OWL
It’s our favorite resource for DIYing citations in both APA and MLA style, but the Purdue Online Writing Lab is so much more than that. Here, you can find totally free guides and exercises for writing better essays (and writing better in general—there are tons of mechanics and grammar how-tos). Bonus? There’s some advice for college application essays, too.
If you just don’t know what that book is about…try AntiStudy
It’s not that we don’t want you to read the book—we totally do (and, hey, if you want to get good marks for participation and kick your next essay’s bum, it’s necessary). But sometimes, you just. Don’t. Get it. And that’s where study guides come in. AntiStudy rounds up all the study guides for certain books, from As I Lay Dying to All the Pretty Horses, so that you can pick your poison.
Get a jump on year-end testing with our top prep tips here.
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