Consolidated book suggestions for AP

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
521

<p>So I’m going into my Junior year in the fall and I’m gonna be taking 5 (most likely) AP exams. I’ve been browsing through this topic and I have an okay understanding of what the accepted BEST books are for each topic but just to be sure:</p>

<p>These are the 5 I’ll be taking this year and what I understand to be the best:</p>

<p>AP Chemistry - Princeton Review</p>

<p>AP Biology - CliffsNotes</p>

<p>AP United States History - Amsco</p>

<p>AP English Language - CliffsNotes</p>

<p>AP Calculus BC (or whatever the harder one is) - Princeton Review?</p>

<p>Senior year, I’m taking even more than that so here’s what I’ve found out:</p>

<p>AP Physics C (both versions) - Barron</p>

<p>AP Statistics - Princeton Review</p>

<p>AP Government - ?</p>

<p>AP English Literature - ?</p>

<p>AP Music Theory - ?</p>

<p>AP Japanese - ?</p>

<p>AP Computer Science - Barron</p>

<p>I’d like some help on the Question mark ones, but mostly, I just want confirmation on what I have put down, especially for Calculus and the other ones I have for Junior year</p>

522

<p>Is Arco (petersons) good for Chem?</p>

<p>I’ve seen a few recomendations and it has 5 stars on amazon.</p>

<p>I want more review than PR (450ish pages) but less than Barron’s (800ish) and this one is like 660 so is it a good idea?</p>

523

<p>Arco was definitely my favorite for Chemistry. It covered the material really well and it had all the necessary information without overcomplicating the subject. Even though it’s already a pretty complicated subject. :/</p>

524

<p>i used PR for APWH and just read it the night before and got a 5..it has all you need to know.</p>

525

<p>Ok, so I have a “crappy” AP chem teacher, so I will have to depend a lot on my textbook (Zumdahl) and a review book. I was wondering whether Princeton Review or Peterson’s would be a better book as far as learning the information and practice exams. I am aware that PR is heavily recommended thus far in this thread but I was just wondering if anyone would be able to shed some light on the Peterson’s text. Thanks.</p>

526

<p>I, personally, loved the Peterson’s AP Chem review book. I think that it had wonderful detail, and explained the subject in a very interesting way. It has everything you need to know for the test, and it doesn’t make Chemistry more complicated than it already is.
I got a PR Chem book, too, and I don’t know if it was just a different review book than most people got, but it sucked HARD. It did not have enough detail and did not cover topics thoroughly in the least. I think I would have failed the test if I had only used the PR book. Peterson’s saved my butt.
We also had a TERRIBLE AP Chem teacher, so I know how you feel. Just keep up with the text book and go through the review book the entire year and you’ll do great.</p>

527

<p>Thanks a lot!</p>

528

<p>Is Barrons terrible for Euro? (complementing a class)
I got it from a friend. </p>

<p>Also - anyone who has taken french or self studied it…</p>

<p>ive taken 4 years (two bad) but everything has kind of faded because of a terrible teacher.</p>

<p>do you think i could use a guide to bring myself up to a level where i could earn a 3?</p>

529

<p>Ok, im confused. </p>

<p>Master list says the BIOLOGY book to get is PR.
But everyone I’ve seen (in a thread search) says Barron’s. </p>

<p>Can anyone give me a comparison of PR/Barrions Biology???</p>

<p>???</p>

<p>I’m confused.
I seriously am at a loss as to why CC doesn’t have a poll function… lol</p>

<p>Sorry about double post.</p>

530

<p>Cliffs for bio.</p>

531

<p>I see that a lot of people have suggested REA for English Lit. Which REA? The 1990 one, or the new orange/yellow one?</p>

532

<p>TTwhite:</p>

<p>Cliffs is good, but Barron’s covers EVERYTHING in much more detail. I don’t really like the format of Cliff’s, though. It’s just info in a list. </p>

<p>I got a 5 w/Barron’s. It’s very dense, read it carefully.</p>

533

<p>if i’m self-studying for world history, should i get barrons or pr?</p>

534

<p>i honestly cant say because i haven’t done it,
but I did do SATII world history, and PR was VERY much a skim over, no depth AT all. So I really wouldn’t suggest it (if its similar) for the AP test</p>

535

<p>ok so i’m down with barrons lol</p>

536

<p>AP US History
AP English 3
AP Biology</p>

<p>I’ve heard for Biology, Cliffs was best? Would sparknotes be good?</p>

<p>For US History, I’ve heard AMSCO and PR. What do you (experienced with AP testers) think?</p>

<p>AP English 3. ALOT of help needed! Good book for review and test prep?</p>

537

<p>English is an iffy one for test prep books. Just read and write often. Lang/comp is more nonfiction.</p>

<p>US History is undoubtedly AMSCO, and only amsco.</p>

<p>Bio is a toss up between cliffs/barrons</p>

538

<p>Future classes:</p>

<p>AP US History - AMSCO</p>

<p>AP Enviro Sci - I need help here. Some say Smarty, others say PR … does anyone have any past experiences with a specific review book?</p>

<p>AP Spanish - I’m Hispanic, but I really want to test myself on the language. Should I just read books in Spanish and have a dictionary on hand? Or does anyone recommend having a prep book?</p>

<p>AP English Lang - Is a prep book necessary? I think I’ll just get one from a library to acquaint myself with the test. Anyone disagree?'</p>

<p>AP Calc AB - Problem here as well. Does anyone recommend a book that has a good calculator guide, good questions + explanations, and good overview of the subject all in one? </p>

<p>Any suggestions appreciated!</p>

539

<p>AMSCO = yes
Envi Sci = Don’t get barrons. Way off target with the info.
Eng = in my experience, nothing is great. know what you’re dealing with on the test… and if you really want to, just take some practice tests.
Calc = I’ve heard PR is good, it’s what I got.</p>

540

<p>For AP BIOLOGY;
My teachers suggests cliffs. Many use(d) Spark notes and/or Barrons.
Which one is best?</p>

<p>For AP US HISTORY;
I know many say, Amsco, but the last one ever released was in 2006.
Which makes it 2 years out of date. Has the AP exam changed since then?
Is it cheaper to get the AMSco at barnes&nobles, amazon, or the amsco site(currently out of stock)? OR What book would you suggest for APUSH?</p>

<p>For AP ENGLISH 3;
As TTwhite said, maybe no book can prepare for the exam. But what did you use (and others) for the AP english exam?</p>

<p>Thank you muchos. =]</p>