<p>Hi,
I’m a rising Junior, and I’m planning to self study 3 APs (Psych, Calculus AB, Chemistry) for 2009, and I need help on choosing which books will be best for me. From what I’ve read on the consolidated list, the following books hav been recommended:</p>
<p>Also, Schaum’s Outline of Calculus (Amazon.com: Schaum’s Outline of Calculus (Fourth Edition): Elliott Mendelson, Frank Ayres: Books) is rated very highly on Amazon.</p>
<p>I can buy upto 2 books for Calc. This is the one I need to prepare most rigorously for. Which ones would you recommend? I need pretty comprehensive books, with lots of practice. </p>
<p>Barron’s
Be Prepared for the AP Calculus Exam</p>
<p>“Be Prepared” offers a phenomenal review of calc, but there aren’t too many practice problems throughout the book. However, it does have 3 very accurate AB tests and 2 BC tests. Barron’s has more than enough practice problems and is very comprehensive.</p>
<p>Chem</p>
<p>PR</p>
<p>For the SAT II I would recommend Barron’s just b/c of its detail, but for the AP, PR is clear, comprehensive, and concise.</p>
<p>Psych</p>
<p>Barron’s. If you really needed another book, get 5 Steps to a 5.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot, jamesford. The only thing I wanted to ask is that Be Prepared for AP Calc is quite old, it was published in 2004. Does it still hold better than the latest editions of Peterson, PR etc…</p>
<p>Also, should I buy the 2008 editions already or wait for the 2009 editions to come (Dec or so). Since I am self studying, this could make a big difference if there is a major change in the exam.</p>
<p>OK, this has got me very confused… I saw Calculus for Dummies and its rated very highly… So is Schaum’s Outline of Calculus. I’m totally confused about what I should go ahead with.
Some background: I’m halfway through Pre-calc - though I dont need any book on Pre-Calc. Will need to study hard throughout the year for the Calc AP exam next May. Thus, I need a complete, well explanatory, full of practice pair of books for Calc.</p>
<p>ok. each edition rarely changes. especially in topics of science. i’ve compared my PR 2004-2005 AP biology to 2008 one, the difference is minimal, (prettier graphs, one or two extra graphs about DNA replication)</p>
<p>also, using study guides to self study is a horrible idea for chemistry. i have the PR AP Chem book, sure it “covers” all the topics of the AP, it doesn’t go as indepth as an actual textbook. (maybe you can borrow a textbook from your school, i know people who did that in my school)</p>
<p>and precalc…has nothing to do with calculus, ok i lied… to an extent it does, but you don’t really need precalculus to do well on the AP Calculus exam.</p>
<p>I stand by my recommendations. For Dummies and Schaum’s may be great books, but they’re not specifically geared toward the AP test. Some topics are probably left out from each. </p>
<p>As for editions, there is very little change in prep books unless College Board revamped a test (e.g. the SAT in 2005). 2008 versions are fine. Don’t wait until Dec to get the 2009 editions because that’s 3 months wasted that could have been used to begin your self studying.</p>
<p>Allright, final question (pls dont tag me as stubborn) -> is Be Prepared sufficient to learn Calculus independently, and then follow it up with Barrons practice for the AP exam? Thanks a lot, jamesford</p>
<p>If a textbook weren’t available to you, you should learn from Barron’s. Use Be Prepared to clarify and supplement. Use its practice exams, not Barron’s.</p>
<p>For Chemistry, I would seriously recommend a textbook of some sort. Don’t study only from an AP book if you have the time to look through a textbook. AP books skip important concept information sometimes in certain courses, and Chemistry is one of them. They condense a bit too much and lose something. It doesn’t really matter in Calc and Psych.</p>
<p>Get the ARCO/Peterson’s book for Calc AB.
Get the Princeton Review book for Chem.
Get the Barron’s book for Psycho.</p>
<p>ARCO/Peterson’s has review practice problems after every lesson (about 7 lessons in a chapter), and is VERY comprehensive (also contains 4 practice tests – 2 AB, 2 BC).</p>
<p>Princeton Review is right on the dot for Chem – it doesn’t contain any superfluous information like the Barron’s does, and has realistic practice problems and tests (practice problems appear after every chapter).</p>
<p>Barron’s is like the only good book for Psycho, there’s nothing else that’s as comprehensive as the Barron’s one is.</p>
<p>^^^Thanks a lot blddrake44 and Loaded. For Chem, like I stated earlier, I have a textbook, I just need something AP specific, with relevant practice. Guess I’ll go with PR then.</p>
<p>For Calc, I’ve ordered Peterson’s and Barrons. They look like a good pair. </p>