icooufoo69

whats the best for:
economics
physics c
calc bc
us history
statistics

apathy

ok guys, i'm just gonna repost the last-posted consolidated list, which was from June. i'm sure you can find the individual subjects yourselves. i've added Barron's to AP Comp Sci AB, but that's all.

Legend:

O - Overly difficult practice tests.
A - Accuracy (practice tests that are most similar to the real thing).
E - Easier than the real exam.

Art History -
Biology - Princeton Review (A)
Calculus AB - Arco, Barron's
Calculus BC - Arco, Princeton
Chemistry - Princeton Review (A), Barron's (O)
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB - Barron's (A)
English Language and Composition - Cliffs (A)
English Literature -
Environmental Science - Princeton Review (A)
European History - Cliffs (E), Princeton Review (A)
French Language - Barron's, REA
French Literature -
German Language -
Government and Politics: Comparative -
Government and Politics: United States -
Human Geography - Barron's (O)
Italian Language and Culture -
Japanese Language and Culture -
Latin Literature -
Latin: Vergil -
Macroeconomics -
Microeconomics -
Music Theory -
Physics B - Barron's
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism -
Physics C: Mechanics -
Psychology - Barron's (A)
Spanish Language - REA
Spanish Literature - none existing
Statistics - Barron's, PR
U.S. History - Amsco, REA
World History - Princeton Review (A)


Best for Independent Study

Legend:

I - Good for use independently (without any other materials such as textbooks).
T - Could be used independently, but an in-depth knowledge requires a textbook.
Q - Questions throughout the book that help reinforce information (practice tests do not count).
E - Easy to read.
S - A lot of superfluous information.
P - Practice tests included.

Art History -
Biology - Princeton Review (T, Q, P)
Calculus AB -
Calculus BC -
Chemistry - Princeton Review (T, Q, E, P), Barrons (I, S, P)
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB - Barron's (I, Q, S, P)
English Language and Composition - Cliffs (I, E (none really involved), P (many of these))
English Literature -
Environmental Science - Princeton Review (T, Q, E, P)
European History - Cliffs (T, Q, E, P), Modern European Hisory (T, E, S[but in a good way. this book will get you a 5, the only bad thing is that it does lack some cultural/social issues])
French Language -
French Literature -
German Language -
Government and Politics: Comparative -
Government and Politics: United States -
Human Geography - Barron's (I, Q, S, P)
Italian Language and Culture -
Japanese Language and Culture -
Latin Literature -
Latin: Vergil -
Macroeconomics - Princeton Review (I, Q, E, P)
Microeconomics - Princeton Review (I, Q, E, P)
Music Theory -
Physics B -
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism - Barron's (I, S, P)
Physics C: Mechanics - Barron's (I, E, S, P)
Psychology - Barron's (T, Q, E, S, P)
Spanish Language -
Spanish Literature - none available
Statistics - Princeton Review (T, E, P)
U.S. History -
World History - Princeton Review (T, E, P)


Best for Complementing Class

Legend:

H - Helpful in preparing for random tests throughout the year, apart from the actual exam.
N - Not strictly a review book (can be used to teach material, and not just to review it).
T - Teacher recommendation.
P - Practice tests included.

Art History -
Biology - Princeton Review (H, T, P)
Calculus AB - Barron's, Arco
Calculus BC - Princeton Review, Arco
Chemistry - Princeton Review (T, P)
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB - Barron's (H, N, P)
English Language and Composition -
English Literature -
Environmental Science - Princeton Review (T, P)
European History - Cliffs ( H, T P), Princeton Review (H, N, T, P), Modern European History (H, N, T)
French Language - Barron's, REA
French Literature -
German Language -
Government and Politics: Comparative -
Government and Politics: United States -
Human Geography - Barron's (H, T, P)
Italian Language and Culture -
Japanese Language and Culture -
Latin Literature -
Latin: Vergil -
Macroeconomics -
Microeconomics -
Music Theory -
Physics B - Barron's
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism - Barron's (H, N, P)
Physics C: Mechanics - Barron's (H, N, P)
Psychology - Barron's (H, N, T, P)
Spanish Language -
Spanish Literature -
Statistics - Barron's, PR
U.S. History - Amsco, REA
World History - Princeton Review (P)


What NOT to use

Legend:

N - Not enough information.
T - Too much information (extra information is good, but not to the point where you can't differentiate between the useful stuff, and the filler).
H - Hard to understand.
P - No practice questions included in the review book.
U - Unhelpful practice questions.
O - Price of book much greater than actual value.

Art History -
Biology - Barron's (T)
Calculus AB -
Calculus BC - Kaplan (U, O) (just go to a bookstore and get a Calculus text)
Chemistry -
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB -
English Language and Composition -
English Literature -
Environmental Science - Barron's (T)
European History - Cliffs (U [too easy]), Modern European History (T[but in a good way if you have the time to study], P)
French Language -
French Literature -
German Language -
Government and Politics: Comparative -
Government and Politics: United States - Princeton Review (N, U)
Human Geography -
Italian Language and Culture -
Japanese Language and Culture -
Latin Literature -
Latin: Vergil -
Macroeconomics -
Microeconomics -
Music Theory -
Physics B -
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism -
Physics C: Mechanics -
Psychology -
Spanish Language -
Spanish Literature -
Statistics - Barron's (H, U)
U.S. History -
World History - Barron's (T,H)

leetx

which one for ap english literature/

apathy

no idea. go take a look through Amazon's reviews.

leetx

they are mixed reviews for AP English Literature. Cliffs is good but outdated, Rea and PR don't have enough reviews.

ivyleague104

idk how Barrons statistics is part of what NOT to use, but it's also part of best for complimenting class + practice tests

apathy

well I've never taken AP English Lit and never will, so I wouldn't know. Sorry.

ivyleague, keep in mind that the list is subjective. In the end I'd just say pick a book and go with it. Maybe it's hard to understand, but if you're taking the class at the same time you'd be able to get it better? This isn't related completely, but I have Barron's AP Physics C, and if I wasn't taking the class I would have no idea what the heck Barron's is talking about, but since I am I do, and it sort of helps.

leetx

any more prep for for English Lit?

peacewar

well most of these books have their own side of telling about history or Gov.
but every science book that is listed are good for Ap classes

swim2daend

I need to know the BEST for:
AP Calc BC
AP Art History
AP Statistics
AP US govt
AP English lang

leetx

what is best for ap calculus AB?

theshonen8899

I hear Kaplan has a lot of errors for Chemistry.

mytra_ob_Crazier

hey what about Ap European history?? i really need help choosing the right book.. pLease

meili

for ap us gov't & politics i highly recommend 5 steps to a 5. for my class i had one of the lowest grades b/c i never studied or read the textbook. the day before the exam i spent 10 hours basically memorizing the book & i got a 5 on the exam.

for ap chemistry i recommend princeton review. my school uses it & 98% of the ppl who took the exam got a 5.

cj_svu6

The "5 Steps to a 5" books are really good. I would definitely recommend the U.S. History one and my friend said the Psych one is good, too.