I have taken AP classes since the ninth grade and will be taking even more next year. Some people wonder why a person would succumb themselves to that type of torture, but AP classes and their exams have taught me a lot over the years.

1. Do not cram.

You either know it, or you don’t. So, if it is the night before the test, you are not going to learn anything. A quick review can be helpful, but do not, I repeat, do not stay up late trying to learn a year's worth of material. You need all the rest you can get for the test. Cramming should be avoided in general. You must study weeks before the exam and do a fast review of the material in the last days before it. Then, take the night before to rest and let the knowledge settle into your mind because you lose 80 percent of all that studying when you cram.

2. The teacher isn't the enemy.

AP teachers can seem like they load a bunch of work on you as fuel to burn you, but that’s not their goal. From start to finish, you are swamped with essays, packets and chapters to read, but that is what makes you ready for the test. So while you might want to curse the teachers for the nights spent crying over chapter notes and an essay due the next day, know they do it help you. They actually do want you to pass.

3. Relax.

If you stress, you will not focus. AP teachers always stress time management, but my AP Language teacher planned it out best: you get a 15 minute planning period for essays. Use five of those minutes to freak out, then write. I always practiced writing with a 10 minute planning period, which prepared me to have enough time to finish all my essays with time to spare. Also, remember that you worked hard and know the material, no need to stress, because you got in the bag. I now fear nothing having survived AP exams.

4. Practice makes perfect.

Studying sucks, but it helps. Writing a different essay every week pays off. It teaches you the dos and don'ts of test taking. This strengthened my work ethics, so no task is too rigorous for me to achieve. Packets, note cards, essays — been there, done that, and I even bought the t-shirt. The rest of school will be easy by comparison, and the diligence you earned will help you forever.

5. You can never have too many pencils.

Even though they provide pencils, who doesn't go into the testing room with four pencils and three pens just in case? There are so many variables — a pencil could break, have no eraser, lose its point. You never know. AP test takers have learned you can never be too prepared.

6. Fruit

Fruit is the best snack one could have. During the break period of the exam, everyone always brought fruit. From apples and berries to oranges, no fruit is excluded. Since it is both refreshing and filling, it makes a better snack than something sweet that would make you sluggish or something salty that would make you thirsty. Who knew the AP exam could make you a healthier person?

7. Faith, trust and quizlet

You could use the power of hope and will to get you through the test, but quizlet is just as good. Literally everything you could want is on quizlet. It is easy to find study guides, vocabulary and facts. You can also make your own as a study tool. This taught me resourcefulness and how to work smarter not harder.

8. Get rest.

Being tired has never helped anyone. As cliche as it is, a good night's rest is the best way to get ready for the test. If you're tired, you'll just want the test to be over and done with so you won't focus. Sleep can trump school sometimes.

9. You get what you get.

There's no use in crying over spilled milk. The same goes for after the AP exam. Once you take the test, don't stress over it. You did the best you could, and even if you didn't, you can't go back and change it — the same way you can't put the milk back in the bottle.

10. Chicago is, in fact, b.) a city.

If getting the college credit is not enough reason to take the test, there's always the memes that come after them. Laughing after hard work is the best way to repay yourself. There is always a reason to smile.