To succeed in an AP class, I personally think the most effective thing is wanting to learn what is being taught. Try to develop an interest in government and politics, apply what you have learned in your understanding of current political news. There are even clubs at the high school for people interested in one of the two main American political parties. Also, when it comes to homework, a tip I developed is to set a time for your studying, notes or essays. For instance, I set the time 4-5 P.M. aside for my daily work. The reason this helps is that your guardian(s) can plan around this time, leaving your notes or essay work uninterrupted. Lastly, get things finished early. If an essay is due in a week, do a little each day so that the weight of an essay does not fall on one night. As Mr. Brock may still have written on each desk, "hard work pays off".