Self-Studying APs: Improving Your App - Page 32

smartazjb0y · 10-21-2009, 10:58 AM

OK, so as of now, I'm a Junior and taking 4 AP classes: English Lang, Biology, US History, and Calculus BC. Last year, I took World History AP and got a 5. I took a regular, not AP, Chemistry course and had to self-study the rest of the information, I got a 4.

So I'm wondering: since I'm already taking APUSH and Bio AP as of now, is it easier to self study AP Env. Science and AP US Gov? I plan on taking 2 extra, and I'm not sure if I'm taking both AP Env. Science and AP US Gov, or just one of those and Studio Art AP.

snolexx · 10-23-2009, 01:23 PM

No dont self study AP US Gov

esmee16 · 10-24-2009, 05:34 PM

Can I self study and then take an AP exam that my school does not offer? However, one of the high schools in my district do offer this AP.

snolexx · 10-24-2009, 06:07 PM

Yes, you just have to go to guidance and tell them what test you want them to order for you. you have to pay for the test though, its around $80.

thrill3rnit3 · 10-26-2009, 08:43 PM

Are prep books good enough for self-studying for a 5?

MirandaKH · 10-27-2009, 02:52 PM

Would it look bad if I took community college courses instead of my school's AP classes, and then took the AP test? I'm in junior year and this was the first time I was eligible for AP (you have to take honors first. I didn't take honors until last year since 9th grade was a crappy personal year). This year I'm taking AP World History and AP English Language. I only took 2 because I wasn't sure how difficult they would be (no one I know has ever taken AP so I really wasn't sure what I was getting into, and I didn't even really know much about AP until last year...). I'm worried that having only two AP's wouldn't make me very competitive. I plan on taking a math course, physics, and Spanish at a local community college. If I self studied along with these classes and scored well on the exam, would it make up for not taking the AP class at my school? Also, my high school is online, and I much prefer to take classes at community college anyway (I took 3 last year and REALLY enjoyed it, oddly enough. My community college actually has some pretty dedicated students).

Note that I'm not looking to get into Ivy's. The most competitive school I've looked at is UT @ Austin, but right now my #1 is Northeastern University.

AvidStudent · 11-01-2009, 06:49 PM

I am looking for an AP Macroeconomics and an AP Microeconomics textbook that I could use to self-study for the AP examination. Please post any recommendations: books, tips you used to study, study habits, how many hours per week/total it took you to study, etc.

My school does not currently offer AP Macro or AP Micro but this semester (2 semesters per year) I am currently enrolled in an economics that is focused on microeconomics and next semester I will be taking an economics class that is predominantly macroeconomics. Both these classes go over most of the concepts that I would see on the AP besides most of the mathematical application of these concepts. I'm taking Math Analysis Calc Honors w/ an A in the class(prerequisite for AP Calc), so I know I can handle the mathematics portion of economics.

Any advice would be helpful!

smartazjb0y · 11-03-2009, 07:33 PM

I read the first post, and it said that self-studying Government is fine if you have a good APUSH background, and I'm taking APUSH right now, so why shouldn't I selfstudy it?

tigerton · 11-05-2009, 05:19 PM

I really need more AP classes, is Biology easiest to do?

xoogabyxoo · 11-11-2009, 10:48 AM

I'm a freshman in high school and I'm currently in Alg2Trig, Bio, World History, Health, French III, and Honors English. I had two free periods I could've taken APs in, but I was stupid and didn't sign up for them because I thought it'd be too hard. Now i can't sign up for any, because it's too late, and I really have to take at least two this year in order to end up with 12 total. I'm thinking about AP Psych and AP English lit, even though they're offered at school; would it still be okay to take them on my own?

thrill3rnit3 · 11-11-2009, 10:53 AM

English Lit is usually taken by seniors.

xoogabyxoo · 11-11-2009, 11:00 AM

Oh. Seriously? Sighh, it's probably going to be too hard for me, then. It's just that me + science = really bad results and extreme stress. i was planning on taking AP Euro next year with a teacher, but maybe I should take that this year by myself, then?

A lot of my friends are taking AP Human as freshmen, and they say that it's really hard because of the homework- can anyone tell me if the subject matter itself is hard?

Harambee · 11-11-2009, 11:35 AM

^I bet they get a lot of busy work, and since they're freshman.....But AP Human Geography is arguably the easiest AP Exam out there. It's easy for a lot of people to get a 5 in it, that's why many colleges don't even offer credit for the exam.

Isurus · 11-12-2009, 09:22 PM

How hard are AP tests in general?

Right now (sophomore year) I'm only taking APWH, and I'm scared that I won't do as well on that. I don't want to start self-studying and then realize I'm not as good as I thought I was. I am one of the top students in my class, but it is a small, pretty bad (academics) public school. So, is any AP test that easy? All these overachievers are talking about just reading the prep book and getting 5's, but some kids take a whole course and don't even pass.

indifferent · 11-19-2009, 07:38 PM

How hard is APUSH to self study? I took a multiple choice part and got ~60% correct without any studying but the teacher I've had for history seems to be pushing towards taking the class. How hard are the free responses?

I'm not taking history this year.