AP Comparative Government & Politics (self-study)

Ryette · 01-08-2008, 04:58 PM

Okay, so I'm taking the exam. Problem is, I have no idea what textbook to use. I hear the exam is pretty tough, so a simple review book wouldn't help. The only thing I saw on Collegeboard were released exams.

I borrowed the teacher's guide from my Honors American Government teacher, but he doesn't teach AP Comparative Govt., and currently we have no teachers on staff that teaches it, nor any student that has ever taken it.

So... how exactly do I go about doing this? I know I'm about 4 months behind schedule with everyone else who actually has a class for it, but time isn't an issue, just what path to take. :<

Any suggestions?

mrclassicfreak · 01-08-2008, 08:12 PM

I'm self-studying AP Comp Gov too

Lots of past CC posters seemed to highly recommend the study guidebook by Ethel Wood. I recently purchased it from amazon.com and it looks pretty good.

Mirabeau · 01-13-2008, 08:56 AM

I'm in the same book--I have the Wood book as well, and am actually just starting with the class at the present time. That doesn't seem like it'll be that much of a problem, though, because most public schools I've seen that offer Comp Gov do so as a semester course.

Look up Comparative Politics Today- it's an incredibly worthless textbook in terms of how it's written, but it's written directly for the AP exam and, depending on what version you buy, comes with a rather dandy review book.

pizzicatodreams · 01-25-2008, 10:15 AM

I, too, am self-studying for this exam, and am also using Ethel Wood's review book. I think it would be prudent if all of us self-studiers for this subject exchanged AIM addresses and studied together-- in this manner, we could quiz one another, and discuss the course material in order to fill any gaps in our own individual studies.

helloworld! · 01-25-2008, 11:20 AM

Hi, I'm also planning on taking this test in May. Do you think the Ethel Woods book will be enough or should we get an actual quality textbook? I'm more interested in learning the material than performing well on the exam, since I'm a senior. The exam is a good goal though and gives me a definite time frame.

Exchanging screen names is a really good idea. Its nice to know I'm not the only one in the universe going through this.

llpitch · 01-26-2008, 03:37 AM

I'm also self studying this exam (and I have the Woods book). Hit me up on AIM (LLpitch).

alexjonlin · 01-26-2008, 06:18 PM

I'm thinking of self studying AP Comp Gov, and I'm wondering how intensely you have to study to get a good score. Is it just picking up the textbook and reading a chapter every few days, or do you have to work for a couple hours a day?

CountingDown · 01-26-2008, 06:47 PM

DS has the Comparative Politics Today text and finds it very good. Read about current events, too, he says. We will also get Ethel Wood, based on the reputation that book has among Comp Gov't students.

aje · 01-28-2008, 11:56 AM

I did the class independent study in spring '06. I used this book: http://www.bestwebbuys.com/Introduct...?isrc=b-search . I read the relevant chapters (iran, nigeria, britain, russia, china, mexico) starting a couple months before the test. After this, I took an ethel woods practice test and got a 5, then read the ethel woods book and took the second practice test (also a 5). My AP grade was a 5 as well, so the textbook linked to above certainly worked for me, and the Ethel Woods was a good review/summary/organizer of information.