Creating a ‘Do-Last’ Guess Strategy List: Smart, Calm, and Score-Boosting for AP Exams

Why a ‘Do-Last’ Guess Strategy List Changes the Game

Take a breath. Imagine you’re 40 minutes into a timed AP multiple-choice section. You’ve flagged a cluster of questions that make your stomach drop — they’re long, they reference graphs you haven’t parsed fully, or they’re layered with unfamiliar terminology. Instead of sinking time and stress into each one, you skip them, keep moving, and later return with fresh energy. That calm, surgical approach isn’t luck. It’s strategy. And a deliberately crafted “Do-Last” Guess Strategy List turns that approach into repeatable results.

This post walks you through why the list matters, how to build one that suits your brain and your exam, concrete examples, and a printable table you can use in practice. Along the way you’ll see how 1-on-1 guidance—like Sparkl’s personalized tutoring and tailored study plans—can help you refine and practice this strategy so it becomes second nature on test day.

What a ‘Do-Last’ Guess Strategy List Is (and Isn’t)

Short definition: it’s a prioritized checklist of question types, traps, and time-sinks you consistently postpone until you’ve finished everything you can answer confidently. It’s not an excuse to guess randomly or ignore content gaps. It’s a time-management tool and mental triage system designed to protect your score and your focus.

• It is a prioritized list, not a one-size-fits-all rulebook.
• It helps you decide what to answer immediately, what to flag, and what to reserve for a second pass.
• It lowers the cognitive cost of decision-making under pressure by pre-deciding which question types to defer.

Photo Idea : A student at a desk with an AP exam booklet open, a timer in the foreground, and a handwritten ‘Do-Last’ list on a sticky note visible—warm natural light.

The Cognitive Logic Behind “Do-Last” Lists

Test-taking isn’t just about what you know; it’s about how you manage limited time and finite attention. Two psychological ideas explain why this list helps:

• Decision fatigue: Every additional moment spent agonizing over a difficult question drains mental energy and can cause mistakes later.
• Opportunity cost: Time spent on one tough question is time not spent securing multiple easier ones. Maximizing correct answers often means trading an hour-long mental debate for quick wins.

By deciding in advance which questions to defer, you reduce wasteful deliberation and preserve energy for the tasks that yield the best point-per-minute return.

How This Fits the AP Format

College Board’s AP multiple-choice sections are scored on raw correct counts — there’s no penalty for guessing and unanswered questions earn no points. That means your job is to maximize correct answers in the time allowed. A smart “Do-Last” list helps you do that by:

• Eliminating time sinks early.
• Freeing mental bandwidth for questions you can reliably answer.
• Creating a calm, purposeful second pass when you can use partial knowledge and educated guessing effectively.

Step-by-Step: Building Your Personalized ‘Do-Last’ List

Personalization is the difference between a generic tip and an effective exam routine. Use the steps below after a few practice tests to learn where you lose time and points most often.

Step 1 — Audit Your Practice Tests

Take at least three full timed practice sections for the specific AP exam you’re studying. After each, log:

• Question numbers you spent more than 90 seconds on.
• Question types you guessed on or got wrong.
• Patterns in content—graphs, discrete vocabulary, multi-paragraph preambles—that slowed you down.

Step 2 — Identify High-Cost Patterns

Look for clusters. Common high-cost items include:

• Multi-step reasoning items that require several intermediate calculations.
• Questions with long stimulus passages that take time to digest.
• Complex graphs or tables where you must extract specific data before answering.
• Questions that hinge on a single unfamiliar term or definition you can’t recall quickly.

Step 3 — Prioritize Based on Point ROI

Rank each pattern by expected points lost versus time required. For example, a question that takes 5 minutes and is likely to be wrong without heavy work is a high deferral candidate. A question that appears hard but is answerable with a quick formula is not.

Step 4 — Write Your List with Specific Markers

Generic notes like “long question” aren’t actionable. Make your list specific and short. Examples of clear markers:

• “Graph reading with >2 variables and no axis label—Do Last”
• “Long Literary Passage (800+ words) — Flag and Return”
• “Multi-step algebra requiring substitution—Do Second Pass”
• “Vocabulary word I can’t define quickly — Skip and Guess”

Operational Rules for Test Day

Turn the list into rules you follow automatically. Having rules reduces the stress of choice and prevents small mistakes that add up.

• Rule 1: First Pass = Zero Hesitation. Answer quickly anything you can in under 60–90 seconds.
• Rule 2: Flag anything matching a Do-Last marker; record an estimated time-to-solve (optional).
• Rule 3: After the first full pass, spend remaining time in cycles: 12–15 minutes per cycle with micro-goals (e.g., finish flagged graph questions in cycle 1).
• Rule 4: If a question still costs >3 minutes on second pass and you have unanswered easier questions, guess and move on.

How to Guess Intelligently

Because AP scoring rewards only correct answers, guessing is important. But not all guesses are equal. Use these techniques when you return to flagged questions:

• Narrow to 2 choices using elimination and then guess between them.
• Look for grammatical or logical clues that match the stimulus.
• If you can’t eliminate any choice, default to an educated heuristic (e.g., in many science or math questions, avoid extreme or unreasonably precise answers unless the setup suggests them).
• When no clue exists, don’t waste a full 2 minutes. Choose, mark, and move on.

Examples: Do-Last Lists by Subject

Below are sample markers tuned to common AP exam formats. Use these as starting points, and adapt after practice tests.

AP Biology / Chemistry

• Complex data tables requiring multi-step calculations — Do Last
• Long experimental passages where you must track multiple variables — Flag
• Stoichiometry problems with multiple conversion steps — Attempt only if quick

AP Calculus AB/BC

• Long word problems that require setup and integration by parts — Flag
• Questions that require algebraic manipulation of multiple expressions — Defer
• Quick derivative or limit recognition — Do Now

AP U.S. History / European History

• Passage-based questions with unfamiliar contexts—Flag and return with timeline view
• Multi-source synthesis with conflicting perspectives—Defer for second pass
• Single-source straightforward factual inference—Answer during first pass

Printable Table: A ‘Do-Last’ Template You Can Use

Print this table and fill it after each practice section. Over time you’ll see certain rows fill up more than others — those are your high-priority deferrals.

Practice Routines That Make the List Stick

Creating the list is step one; turning it into habit is where the real score gains appear. The following practice routines train both your decision-making and your stamina.

Routine 1 — Timed First-Pass Sprint

Set a timer for your section’s full time. During the first pass, enforce a strict 60–90 second ceiling per question. If you hit it, mark and move on. This conditions your brain to find quick wins and builds trust in skipping.

Routine 2 — Targeted Second-Pass Blocks

After the first pass, split remaining time into 12–15 minute cycles. In each cycle, take one type of flagged question (e.g., all graphs) and attack them as a group. Grouping similar problems reduces cognitive switching costs and increases accuracy.

Routine 3 — Simulated Pressure Practices

Do at least one mock section under noise, slightly less sleep, or after a challenging day. The goal is to practice the list when you’re not at peak mental energy so test-day fatigue won’t derail it.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• Not personalizing the list: Copying a friend’s markers is common but ineffective. Tailor the list to your own weak spots.
• Being too rigid: The list should be a default, not dogma. If a flagged question turns out to be quicker than expected, take it.
• Ignoring time windows: Spending the last 10 minutes on one tough question usually costs more than it gains.
• Skipping practice: Without rehearsal, the list won’t feel natural under pressure.

When to Use Tutors and Personalized Help

Some parts of the strategy are purely organizational: timers, lists, and practice cycles. But two areas benefit strongly from expert support:

• Identifying hidden patterns in your mistakes: An expert can spot recurring traps you missed in self-review.
• Tailoring second-pass tactics: For some question types, an experienced tutor can teach a three-step shortcut that turns a 5-minute problem into a 60-second one.

That’s why many students combine practice with occasional 1-on-1 coaching. Sparkl’s personalized tutoring, for example, offers tailored study plans and AI-driven insights that can help you refine your Do-Last list and practice it precisely where you lose the most points. The benefit: targeted improvement, not extra volume.

Real-World Example: A Student’s Journey

Meet Maya (name changed). She scored consistently in the low 3s on AP practice tests and felt stuck. After three timed sections she noticed the same pattern: she wasted 15–20 minutes per section on complex experimental passages in AP Biology. With her tutor, she built a Do-Last list that read: “Experimental passages with 3+ variables — Flag and do in Cycle 2.”

They practiced 10 mock sections using 12-minute cycles for flagged items, and her tutor taught her a two-line method to extract only the necessary variables from a table. Two weeks later, her practice scores jumped—she converted many previously missed questions into correct answers. On test day she reported feeling calm and in control; she finished with nearly ten fewer flagged items and more correct answers overall.

Photo Idea : Over-the-shoulder shot of a tutor and student looking at a practice AP exam on a laptop, with a printed ‘Do-Last’ checklist beside them—bright study environment.

Practice Checklist: 14-Day Drill to Build Your List

Use this short plan in the two weeks before your exam to cement the strategy.

• Day 1–3: Baseline. Take three timed sections. Create an initial Do-Last list from patterns.
• Day 4–6: Sprint practice. First-pass 60–90 second rule on each question. Record flagged items.
• Day 7: Full mock exam under timed conditions with noise or distraction.
• Day 8–10: Focused skill work on the top two Do-Last markers (e.g., graph reading, multi-step algebra).
• Day 11: Work with a tutor or study partner to refine elimination and guessing heuristics.
• Day 12–13: Two full sections practicing second-pass cycles and timeboxing strategies.
• Day 14: Rest, light review, and finalize a short, clear Do-Last list to take into the exam room in your head (not on paper).

How to Track Progress: Metrics That Matter

When you practice, track these five metrics after each section:

• First-pass correct rate (%) — how many you confidently answered on the first pass.
• Average time per first-pass question (seconds).
• Number of flagged questions.
• Conversion rate on flagged questions (how many flagged became correct on second pass).
• Net points gained or lost after applying the Do-Last strategy.

Improvements in conversion rate and first-pass correct rate are the clearest signs your list is working.

Quick Heuristics to Use on Second Pass

These mental shortcuts often save time and keep you from overthinking:

• If two answer choices are symmetrical or opposites, examine the stimulus for directional language (e.g., increase vs. decrease).
• If an option is extremely precise while the passage or data show approximations, beware—it may be a trap.
• When you’ve narrowed to two but can’t decide, prefer the choice that aligns with broader principles you know from the course.
• Use partial work: a line or two of algebra or a small calculation often tips the scale—no need to finish a long derivation.

Final Thoughts: Calm Confidence Wins

AP exams reward both knowledge and strategy. Creating a ‘Do-Last’ Guess Strategy List is a low-effort, high-impact habit that converts confusion into calm action. It forces you to respect time, minimize decision fatigue, and treat guessing as a science—not a panic move. With disciplined practice and, when helpful, targeted tutoring support such as Sparkl’s one-on-one guidance and AI-driven insights, you’ll turn the list into an intuitive part of your exam routine.

On test day, remember the most powerful part of any plan: follow it. Trust the list, trust your practice, and let the structure you built carry you through the tough parts. You’ll likely find that by skipping first and returning later, you finish more questions, make smarter guesses, and leave the exam room with less regret—and a better score to show for it.

Quick Reference: One-Page Do-Last Summary

Copy this into a 3×5 index card for final week review:

• First pass: 60–90s per question.
• Flag anything matching Do-Last markers (long passage, 3+ variable graph, multi-step algebra, unfamiliar vocab).
• Second pass: 12–15 minute cycles by marker type.
• Guess after elimination; if stuck, choose and move on.
• Track: First-pass correct rate and flagged conversion rate.

Good luck—plan early, practice deliberately, and use the Do-Last list to turn exam chaos into a clear path to the score you’re aiming for.