Travard

Gah, everyone is saying a different book for AP Psych, it's killing me.

Apotheosis

5 Steps to a 5 for Micro/Macroecon is very very good. A lot better than Kaplan.

aigiqinf

I want to self-study Psych, is David G. Myers Psychology 7th edition in modules okay? I bought it in seventh grade a read it, obviously I'd read it again.

I also want to Self-study AP Stats, should I buy a textbook or just the review book?

anhtimmy

AP Statistics
AP Calculus BC
AP Environmental Science
AP English Lit

anyone?

Apotheosis

For human geo, Kaplan is better than Barron's. Barron's is a bit too general.

rade88

5 steps to a 5 for a lot of stuff is kinda too easy. Especially psych.

I found Barron's Reviews for European History, Government US, and Psychology to be a very good summary and decent to fairly good practice tests.

Recommended

Travard

I don't know why, but I'm starting to dislike Barron's. I got it for World and Art History this year, and ... the format isn't appealing. I really can't point out what it is, but it's turning me off.

Anyone else have any opinions on psych? I was leaning toward 5 steps, but now I'm not sure...

Pevee

I used the old, yellow 5 steps to a 5 for AP Chem. Not that great at explaining stuff, but the practice MC was pretty good.
and I got a 5

z09

Before I start, I might mention that I like a review book that has a lot of detail. (Unlike most Princeton books, which are VERY brief and very vague about specific wars, diseases, etc.) If you are like me, you want a book that will TEACH you everything, not to skim over vital material. I go to a school where the teachers don't ever really teach you much. So I've always been on my own. Also, I'm a big procrastinator.

Art History - I know most people recommend the Annotated Mona Lisa. I bought it but it was not nearly as good as the REA review book, which is a company that not many people are familiar with. but seriously, its the BEST. it includes a CD which has pictures so that you can look at it while you read about it. (so useful, because trying to flip through the glossary to find major art works is NOT efficient). trust me on this, get the REA. it got me a 5.

Biology - Cliffs is pretty good, but the Barron's is amazing. I go for detailed reviews, and Barron's really teaches you. You don't ever need to refer back to the textbook for clarification. got a 5 on the test.

English Language - Cliff's is the one. Very helpful vocab section, and thorough list of past essay topics that I found to be helpful. score awaiting, but confident thanks to Cliffs.

Enviro - omg im telling you, the McGraw Hill AP Achiever book for enviro is THE best. Its really thin but has everything you need to know, very concise. score awaiting, but also confident.

Human Geo - Most people use the Barron's...but mostly because theyre the ONLY company that makes a humgeo review book. But the new Kaplan one came out, and its amazing. Very thick, but very good. score awaiting.

US history - Amsco published book by John Newman. You really don't need other book because this has everything. score awaiting.

World History - Use the barron's. Got a 5 on this one.

P.S. Besides looking for "teaching" books, I pay special attention to their authors. I tend to trust AP teachers with lot of experience, or people who have been on the College Board committee. A Ph.D human geographer (if there is such a thing) could write a wonderful review book, but a hs teacher on the AP committee will write the better preparing book. Agree? I really believe this is the best list because mostly, it comes from personal experience. I really hope this might help some other people like me.

z09

Oh, btw
any book by Ethel Wood
or by McGraw Hill AP Achievers
are excellent.

xiaojingteng

Travard-

i self studied ap psych this year, and had barrons and 5 steps to a 5. Although i read both of them pretty thoroughly, i'd have to say barrons was the better book. it covered everything 5 steps covered and more. if i were you, i'd definitely get barrons.

MrBojangles

I'm just going to give my two cents for Barron's Physics C prep book. I personally thought it was absolutely horrendous. I only took the Mechanics portion of the exam, and I'm taking it as a junior, so I haven't had extensive calculus. The Barron's book based all of its explanations on calculus, and the questions were much harder than what the questions on the actual exam. Perhaps the book was preparing us for E&M, but using the book for the Mechanics section alone, I could hardly get through the book without getting a headache. I definitely recommend the Princeton Review one (even though it is also harder) over Barron's for Physics C.

Travard

Barron's? Well, I'm not self-studying, though. I'm looking for a concise book with enough content that can go along with the textbook.

FHN_dent

From my experience this year,

AP Bio: Cliffs was great for AP Bio, especially for the free response. Decent diagrams to help you visualize processes.
AP English Language and Composition: Cliffs was great here as well and has the most practice tests of all the books offered.
AP Government: Either Princeton Review or Cliffnotes would be fine here. I went with cliffs but I read parts of my friend's princeton review as well. The princeton is more concise and easier to read, however the cliffs prepares you better for the free response.

Last year
APUSH: Sparknotes vocab cards and practice tests were sufficient for me to get a 5.



For next year:

I'm self studying Ap psych next year and I'm thinking I'll just get princeton review and maybe barron's as well because i'll have no preparation for the exam besides a review book or two.

I may take AP Spanish if I can test out of some state requirements such as "personal finance". I already have princeton review and I don't think i'll get anything else.

And due to some lame circumstances(my school dropped AP chem and I planned to take it next year), I'm only going to be in advanced chem. Thus, I'm going to self study ap chem with princeton and barron's.


Thus... to recap I've switched from a sparknotes man to a cliffs man and now I'm a princeton review/Barron's man.

jamesford

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, Be Prepared for the AP Calculus Exam (A)
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 - Vergil's Aeneid (Pharr), Loeb Classical Library, Virgil I, II (Fairclough)
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, harder than 2008 exam)


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 - Be Prepared for the AP Calculus Exam (T, Q, E, P)
Calculus BC - Be Prepared for the AP Calculus Exam (T, Q, E, P)
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, Be Prepared for the AP Calculus Exam (N, T)
Calculus BC - PR, Arco, Be Prepared for the AP Calculus Exam (N, T)
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 - Loeb Classical Library, Virgil I, II (Fairclough)
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 -