<p>All of the AP European History review books claim to provide “the best and most complete coverage” everything a student needs to know to ace the AP Euro exam. But are these claims really true? Which review book really does provide the best preparation for the AP European History exam?</p>
<p>The College Board just released the 2009 AP Euro exam. None of the review books had access to this exam. As a result, it provides a rigorous and up-to-date way to evaluate the review books. I began by evaluating the old standby Modern European History and the newcomer AP European History Crash Course. In a few days I will analyze Princeton Review and Barron’s. Please be patient - this is painstaking work.</p>
<p>First the all-important scale. Here is the official 2009 AP European History scale:</p>
<p>115 - 180 = 5 (minimum 63 percent)
94 - 114 = 4 (minimum 52 percent)
63 - 93 = 3 (minimum 35 percent)
51 - 62 = 2 (minimum 28 percent)
0 - 50 = 1 (less than 27 percent)</p>
<p>It is interesting to note that this scale is more generous than the 2004 scale. For comparison here is the 2004 scale:</p>
<p>121 - 180 = 5
99 - 120 = 4
67 - 98 = 3
49 - 66 = 2
0 - 48 = 1</p>
<p>Modern European History - 577 pages</p>
<p>Modern European History scored hits on 53 of the 80 multiple-choice questions. This equalled 66 percent or just enough to score a 5. </p>
<p>MEH demonstrated impressive strength on Political and Diplomatic history questions. However, MEH is weak on social and especially women’s history. It is important to note that MEH has a 1990 copyright. As a result, it does not cover the Maastricht Treaty, the collapse of the Soviet Union and other recent events that generated multiple-choice questions. It is also important to note that MEH does not discuss strategies for answering DBQ or free-response questions. MEH remains a comprehensive and well-organized review book. However, APEURO test-takers should be aware of its weaknesses.</p>
<p>AP European History Crash Course - 265 pages</p>
<p>This is a new volume in REA’s series of AP Crash Course books. </p>
<p>Crash Course scored hits on 65 of the 80 multiple-choice questions. This equalled 81 percent or more than enough to score a 5.</p>
<p>Although Crash Course is just 265 pages long, it is compact, well-organized, and very specific. No space is wasted. Crash Course includes a number of unique features that generated significant hits. For example, the Key Terms chapter contains definitions for 76 chronologically arranged terms. The multiple-choice questions tested 11 of these terms. In addition, Crash Course chapters include a total of 44 very specific “Test Tips.” These unique tips generated 17 direct hits on multiple-choice questions. For example, the TIP on page 57 states: “Be sure that you can identify the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre, define the term politiques, and explain the terms of the Edict of Nantes. One or more of these 3 key points have appeared on almost every AP Euro exam.” Sure enough, all three items were tested on the 2009 Exam.</p>
<p>Crash Course (continued)</p>
<p>The Crash Course chronological chapters provide highly focused and well-organized reviews of key points. In addition, Crash Course contains chapters that discuss strategies for answering multiple-choice, DBQ, and Free-Response questions. The DBQ and Free-Response chapters include sample annotated essays that are very helpful.</p>
<p>Crash Course is up-to-date. As a result, it aced the Maastricht Treaty and fall of the Soviet Union questions. However, Crash Course would benefit by adding additional coverage of recent developments in specific Western and Eastern European countries.</p>
<p>I wish I would’ve seen this before I went out an bought the Princeton Review book for this exam last night. Good work though, this seems very helpful.</p>
<p>could u please review the cliffnotes ap euro book i used it and thought it was good</p>
<p>Could you do the APEH Bible?
^I mean Viault :)</p>
<p>^I did. Viault is the author of Modern European History. I like the book. However, as I noted it does have weaknesses. Keep in mind that the book was published in 1990 and as a result does not cover the fall of Communism, the Maastricht Treaty etc. Viault/Modern European History also does not provide instruction on the DBQ and Free-Response essays. I will discuss that part of the exam later.</p>
<p>Oh, ha. I didn’t recognize the title… :(</p>
<p>Excellent work dark knight! I plan to take AP Euro next year so I bookmarked this thread already :D</p>
<p>btw, what other exams did CB release recently?</p>
<p>^Thanx! CB just released the 2009 AP Euro, AP Art History, and AP US Government and Politics exams. They are all available at the College Board Store for $25.00 each. I am planning on evaluating how the various test prep books performed on these tests. Should be interesting. Crash Course and Modern European History both did quite well on AP Euro. I will post more about the test when I get some more time. For example, the 2009 AP Euro exam had 5 questions on the Italian Renaissance and zero questions on the Northern Renaissance. Probably indicates that the 2010 exam will reverse this distribution of questions. The charts were very easy.</p>
<p>^Thanx! CB just released the 2009 AP Euro, AP Art History, and AP US Government and Politics exams. They are all available at the College Board Store for $25.00 each. I am planning on evaluating how the various test prep books performed on these tests. Should be interesting. Crash Course and Modern European History both did quite well on AP Euro. I will post more about the test when I get some more time. For example, the 2009 AP Euro exam had 5 questions on the Italian Renaissance and zero questions on the Northern Renaissance. Probably indicates that the 2010 exam will reverse this distribution of questions. The charts were very easy.</p>
<p>Dark Knight, thank you so much for posting this thread! I’m self-studying AP Euro next year, and this is brilliant!</p>
<p>I would say Modern European History by Birdsall S. Viault. It’s what I’m using this year and it’s perfect for studying up for my tests.</p>
<p>dark knight, I have already purchased and am reading MEH, but what else would you recommend to complement it? great work, by the way!</p>
<p>P.S. I’m self-studying</p>
<p>Wow, thanx for all the positive feedback! Here is the distribution of multiple-choice questions on the 2009 AP European History exam:</p>
<ol>
<li>The Italian Renaissance - 5 questions</li>
<li>The Northern Renaissance - 0 questions</li>
<li>The Reformation - 4 questions</li>
<li>The Catholic Reformation and the Wars of Religion - 6 questions</li>
<li>The Age of Exploration and the Commercial Revolution - 1 question</li>
<li>The Dutch Republic - 3 questions</li>
<li>England, 1558 - 1688 - 2 questions</li>
<li>Age of Absolutism in France - 4 questions</li>
<li>Absolutism in Eastern Europe - 3 questions</li>
<li>The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment - 2 questions</li>
</ol>
<p>Continued</p>
<ol>
<li>The Enlightened Despots - 2 questions</li>
<li>Life and Culture in 17th and 18th Century Europe - 4 questions</li>
<li>The French Revolution and Napoleon - 8 questions</li>
<li>Restoration, Romanticism, and Revolution - 4 questions</li>
<li>The Industrial Revolution - 4 questions</li>
<li>Nationalism, Realpolitik and Realism - 2 questions</li>
<li>Mass Politics and Culture - 4 questions</li>
<li>WW I and the Russian Revolution - 4 questions</li>
<li>The 1920s - 0 questions</li>
<li>Depression, Dictators and WWII - 7 questions</li>
<li>Cold War and Beyond - 9 questions</li>
</ol>
<p>In addition, there were a couple of very easy charts.</p>
<p>I was surprised by the absence of questions on the Northern Renaissance, Italian unification, German unification and the 1920s. Of course it is possible that the 2010 exam will have questions on these topics.</p>
<p>Here are two of the most missed questions:</p>
<p>The Treaty of Berlin in 1878 reflected general European agreement on which of the following?
A. Reduction of tariffs and trade barriers
B. The status of Poland
C. The building of a railroad to Baghdad
D. Boundaries and spheres of influence in the Balkans
E. Reductions and limits on armaments</p>
<p>The French Le Chapelier Law (1791) and the English Combination Acts (1799 - 1800) did which of the following?
A. Raised customs taxes on imports
B. Made workers’ organizations illegal
C. Restricted child labor
D. Provided state health care to railway employees
E. Mandated a minimum wage</p>