Consolidated book suggestions for AP

christalena2 · May 10, 2007, 9:59pm

Oh and another thing…

Everyone seems to give Kaplan a bad rep…but I used it alongside my US Government class, and I really liked it! It is definitely not a book for self-studiers, but as a supplement for a class, I thought it was perfect!

It gives simple overviews and charts and definitions, so if you have already learned it, it’s just a simple reminder. It provides a nice glossary of common terms and all of the amendments and articles. After every chapter, there is about 8 MC questions, and 2 FR questions that REALLY prepared me. A lot of the practice questions I had done (both MC and FR) actually showed up on the real exam. And then there is also the full practice tests.

So, all in all, I think Kaplan isn’t that bad!

Quesce · May 10, 2007, 10:12pm

Does anyone have a textbook/useful books (other than those on the reading list -.-) to suggest for AP French Literature?

rpgaction · May 10, 2007, 11:35pm

For some reason I bought the CliffsAP US History Review. Completely useless. Not only is the review like five pages long (it basically just tells you to reread your textbook, which I wound up doing), but the tests are completely insane and in some cases the “answers” are blatantly wrong (one seems to overlook the fact that the 13th amendment uses the word “slavery” in a question about slavery and the Constitution).

Don’t get Princeton Review’s Psychology either. It contains test material over things that the review section doesn’t even go over.

I actually threw the above two books against the wall in frustration. I wish I had this list a month ago.

mj93 · May 10, 2007, 11:50pm

so, for self-studying psychology, the best book to buy is barrons, right?

(sorry if it says so earlier in the thread .. i’m too lazy to read through every page)

citybirds27 · May 11, 2007, 6:45pm

hey im confused about something:

Next year I’m taking physics at my school but I want to review in the summer for it. What book should i get for THAT. not necessarily for AP exam but to LEARN physics.
2nd question if I do take the AP exam what would i take? the Physics A one or the B and C one?

Right now i’m gonna do:
SAT: big blue book
AP English Lang: Cliffnotes
AP US: REA
Physics: PR

How are those books?

krazyhead00 · May 12, 2007, 5:52pm

I live by princeton review, with good results so far. Sometimes I can find minor errors in them but nothing that major. (EX physics PR put a lowercase bold t in an equation when solving it instead of a tau symbol).
Oh yeah, REA is a nightmare, tried studying it for AP EURO, and omg what a waste of time. SPent from 3:00pm to 12:00pm every night (not an exaggeration, I did my other hwk in the morning at school) for two weeks before I realized that it was a peice of ----. WAAAAAAAAy to detailed, didn’t help at all. I took an AP practice after getting 3/4 through and got a 3. THen I went with princeton review, read it twice, and remembered most of it because it was funny. Some of the practice questions in it were word for word questions on the exam Ever since then PR is my savior for APs =)

kalikula2 · May 12, 2007, 9:36pm

i bought practically all Barrons this year & i def. regret it for AP Spanish because some of it that they go over is useless & they got part of the test wrong. i miss princeton review, it was awesome for APUSH and kind of funny. and it helped me get a 5 definitely.

citybirds27 · May 13, 2007, 6:13pm

hey im confused about something:

Next year I’m taking physics at my school but I want to review in the summer for it. What book should i get for THAT. not necessarily for AP exam but to LEARN physics.
2nd question if I do take the AP exam what would i take? the Physics A one or the B and C one?

Right now i’m gonna do:
SAT: big blue book
AP English Lang: Cliffnotes
AP US: REA
Physics: PR

How are those books?

rpgaction · May 13, 2007, 7:34pm

Can anybody who has taken AP Psych and got their grade back speak as to the validity of the Barron’s practice tests? I just took it and got a 130 but it seemed way too easy and the scale way too lenient (It said 93-150 is a 5, but I would have been 1.75 points away from a 5 on that if I didn’t even do the free response).

ccri · May 15, 2007, 9:52pm

Use 5 steps for psych, it’s better than Barron’s.

jsmith7651 · May 16, 2007, 10:46pm

Suppose you wanted to self study one of those, which would you pick and why?

For Lang, is it more like if ur like a great writer.. u get a 5 and if ur bad.. u get a 2 or 3..?

any help would be appreciated.

sp91 · May 17, 2007, 12:51am

add barrons to biology
y not add rea to the few.

rockermcr · May 17, 2007, 6:09pm

I’m sorry, but it really isn’t.

It’s not that the Barron’s exams are inaccurate, it’s that AP Psych is freakishly easy. And, Barron’s curve is kind of low. It should normally be somewhere around 100-110..

vrdabomb5717 · May 17, 2007, 6:12pm

Best Practice Tests

Legend:

O - Overly difficult practice tests.
A - Accuracy (practice tests that are most similar to the real thing).

Art History -
Biology - Princeton Review (A)
Calculus AB -
Calculus BC -
Chemistry - Princeton Review (A)
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB -
English Language and Composition -
English Literature -
Environmental Science - Princeton Review (A)
European History -
French Language -
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 -
Macroeconomics -
Microeconomics -
Music Theory -
Physics B -
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism -
Physics C: Mechanics -
Psychology - Barron’s (A)
Spanish Language -
Spanish Literature -
Statistics - Princeton Review (A)
U.S. History -
World History - Princeton Review (A)

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 -
Calculus BC -
Chemistry - Princeton Review (T, Q, E, P)
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB -
English Language and Composition -
English Literature -
Environmental Science - Princeton Review (T, Q, E, P)
European History -
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 -
Microeconomics -
Music Theory -
Physics B -
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism -
Physics C: Mechanics -
Psychology - Barron’s (T, Q, E, S, P)
Spanish Language -
Spanish Literature -
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 -
Calculus BC -
Chemistry - Princeton Review (T, P)
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB -
English Language and Composition -
English Literature -
Environmental Science - Princeton Review (T, P)
European History -
French Language -
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 -
Macroeconomics -
Microeconomics -
Music Theory -
Physics B -
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism -
Physics C: Mechanics -
Psychology - Barron’s (H, N, T, P)
Spanish Language -
Spanish Literature -
Statistics - Princeton Review (T, P)
U.S. History -
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 -
Chemistry -
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB -
English Language and Composition -
English Literature -
Environmental Science - Barron’s (T)
European History -
French Language -
French Literature -
German Language -
Government and Politics: Comparative -
Government and Politics: United States -
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 - Barron’s (T,H)

katia11 · May 25, 2007, 4:08pm

^^ Thread above is NICE!!!

Now this really can be a consolidated list!

kman1456 · May 26, 2007, 12:03am

Best Practice Tests

Legend:

O - Overly difficult practice tests.
A - Accuracy (practice tests that are most similar to the real thing).

Art History -
Biology - Princeton Review (A)
Calculus AB -
Calculus BC -
Chemistry - Princeton Review (A), Barron’s (O)
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB -
English Language and Composition - Cliffs (A)
English Literature -
Environmental Science - Princeton Review (A)
European History -
French Language -
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 -
Macroeconomics -
Microeconomics -
Music Theory -
Physics B -
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism -
Physics C: Mechanics -
Psychology - Barron’s (A)
Spanish Language -
Spanish Literature - none existing
Statistics - Princeton Review (A)
U.S. History -
World History - Princeton Review (A)

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 -
Calculus BC -
Chemistry - Princeton Review (T, Q, E, P), Barrons (I, S, P)
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB -
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 -
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 -
Calculus BC -
Chemistry - Princeton Review (T, P)
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB -
English Language and Composition -
English Literature -
Environmental Science - Princeton Review (T, P)
European History -
French Language -
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 -
Macroeconomics -
Microeconomics -
Music Theory -
Physics B -
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 - Princeton Review (T, P)
U.S. History -
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 -
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 - Barron’s (T,H)

you_llsee · June 3, 2007, 10:06pm

THIS QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED SOOOO MANY TIMES IN THIS THREAD…YET NOBODY HAS ANSWERED IT…PLZZZZZZZZ DO.

What is the best book for English literature and French…as a complement to the class? plzzzzzzzzzz answer this quesiton…plzzzzz…i’m desperate…i really, really, really, need to know

you_llsee · June 3, 2007, 10:12pm

Posts: 2,799 Best Practice Tests

Legend:

O - Overly difficult practice tests.
A - Accuracy (practice tests that are most similar to the real thing).

Art History -
Biology - Princeton Review (A)
Calculus AB - Acro, Barron’s
Calculus BC - Acro, Princeton
Chemistry - Princeton Review (A), Barron’s (O)
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB -
English Language and Composition - Cliffs (A)
English Literature -
Environmental Science - Princeton Review (A)
European History -
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 -
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)

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 -
Calculus BC -
Chemistry - Princeton Review (T, Q, E, P), Barrons (I, S, P)
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB -
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 -
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, Acro
Calculus BC - Princeton Review, Acro
Chemistry - Princeton Review (T, P)
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB -
English Language and Composition -
English Literature -
Environmental Science - Princeton Review (T, P)
European History -
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 -
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 -
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 - Barron’s (T,H)

peaceofcake · June 19, 2007, 5:37am

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 - Acro, Barron’s
Calculus BC - Acro, Princeton
Chemistry - Princeton Review (A), Barron’s (O)
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB -
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 -
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)

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 -
Calculus BC -
Chemistry - Princeton Review (T, Q, E, P), Barrons (I, S, P)
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB -
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, Acro
Calculus BC - Princeton Review, Acro
Chemistry - Princeton Review (T, P)
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB -
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 -
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 - Barron’s (T,H)

berkucla2009 · June 20, 2007, 4:52pm

HI, CAN U GUYS TELL ME what are the best review books for the following:

Ap English Composition
AP USH
AP Pyschology
AP Environmental Science
AP Biology

THANKS!!!

Consolidated book suggestions for AP

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