<p>Princeton review all the way!! I read it the night before and it helped me ace the test! It was almost exactly like it.</p>
<p>which books have the best practice tests for apush and chem?</p>
<p>for APUSH use either amsco or REA</p>
<p>apexamreview.com has the best practice tests for APUSH. Check it out yourself.</p>
<p>Legend:</p>
<p>O - Overly difficult practice tests.
A - Accuracy (practice tests that are most similar to the real thing).
E - Easier than the real exam.</p>
<p>Art History -
Biology - Princeton Review (A)
Calculus AB - Arco, Barron’s, Be Prepared for the AP Calculus Exam (A)
Calculus BC - Arco, Princeton
Chemistry - Princeton Review (A), Barron’s (O)
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB - Barron’s (A)
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 - Vergil’s Aeneid (Pharr), Loeb Classical Library, Virgil I, II (Fairclough)
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, harder than 2008 exam)</p>
<p>Best for Independent Study</p>
<p>Legend:</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Art History -
Biology - Princeton Review (T, Q, P)
Calculus AB - Be Prepared for the AP Calculus Exam (T, Q, E, P)
Calculus BC - Be Prepared for the AP Calculus Exam (T, Q, E, P)
Chemistry - Princeton Review (T, Q, E, P), Barrons (I, S, P)
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB - Barron’s (I, Q, S, P)
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)</p>
<p>Best for Complementing Class</p>
<p>Legend:</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Art History -
Biology - Princeton Review (H, T, P)
Calculus AB - Barron’s, Arco, Be Prepared for the AP Calculus Exam (N, T)
Calculus BC - PR, Arco, Be Prepared for the AP Calculus Exam (N, T)
Chemistry - Princeton Review (T, P)
Chinese Language and Culture -
Computer Science A -
Computer Science AB - Barron’s (H, N, P)
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 - Loeb Classical Library, Virgil I, II (Fairclough)
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)</p>
<p>What NOT to use</p>
<p>Legend:</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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 -</p>
<p>Are we 100% sure that there is not a good ap psych book for independent self-study. I really don’t want to get a textbook and review book.</p>
<p>^ Yeah, what’s the best self-study Psych book without a textbook?</p>
<p>My personal recommendation:
Bio self-study (I got a 5): CliffsAP <em>with</em> the CD (2 extra practice exams)
I used that, and online lab review.
I would list some others, but I wanna see if I get a 5 or not…</p>
<p>And quick question, which Calc (AB or BC) and which Physics (B or C) is the easier one?</p>
<p>AB and physics B i believe is non-calc based.</p>
<p>Also, why is Barron’s listed as recommended and not recommended for stats?</p>
<p>Government: Princeton Review
U.S. History: Sparknotes Power Pack
World History; Princeton Review/ Barron Flash Cards</p>
<p>Owen: Barrons reading is good, but the test questions are unrealistically difficult and test caveats that might confuse you on the actual AP exam.</p>
<p>What are my best choices next year for physics B, stat, APUSH, Calc AB? I reckon most of my teachers will be good enough that i won’t have to teach myself everything…It’d be nice if i could use them to help prepare for tests as well like cliffs for bio.</p>
<p>Great list, thanks.
I’m still wondering though:
1- Is barron’s ap psychology enough to prepare you for the AP exam without a textbook or class? I’ve heard it is.
2-Same as question 1, except for Human Geography
3-are there any other (relatively easy) AP exams that are rumored to be able to be studied for from one or two prep books (without textbook or class)</p>
<p>Regarding AP Lang:
My nearby barnes and nobles does not have Cliffs. Whats the next best book I can buy?</p>
<p>Do the books change from year to year? They seem to publish a new one every year, but do they change much because older editions are cheaper and stuff so…</p>
<p>I’m thinking in advance to self-study next year, so I plan to use prep books to make it easier, but I plan to look at textbooks and stuff too.</p>
<p>@Amimike DONT BUT NEW EDITIONS(only buy them if Collegeboard changed the curriculum for that course) otherwise the old versions are pretty much the same except the new ones are new…and updated with more current information. Everything you need to do well on your self study is on the old books</p>
<p>What textbooks would be good for AP Psych, or is Barrons good enough for a 5 already? </p>
<p>Same with HGeo and Art History.</p>
<p>I’m interested in taking 3 self-study APs for next year (2011).</p>
<p>I’ve picked up 5 Steps to a 5 for Psych and APES. I picked up Barrons for APHG. I was wondering what results other have had with 5 steps.</p>
<p>Very nice list, by the way. Thanks a bunch.</p>
<p>Hi, so I’m planning on self studying AP Art History and AP Music Theory over the summer and into the school year so I can take the test next May. </p>
<p>For Art History I have:
Gardner’s 12th and a very willing (and certified) world history teacher.<br>
I’m planning on buy a review book or two. It seems that the short list is: The Annotated Mona Lisa, REA, Barron’s, and The Annotated Arch.</p>
<p>For Music Theory I have:
A very willing orchestra director who MIGHT have Basic Principals of Music Theory by Brye
The only recommendation I can find is Barron’s. </p>
<p>Any comments? I now that memorizing pieces for Art History won’t be much of a problem, but the analysis and the amount of martial is freaking me out.</p>
<p>Oh and for US History I recommend Sparknotes AND their Power Pack. Granted most of the material I learned was from the class itself, but I would have been lost without these two for the DBQ this year. The guide book is readable, and good if you’re studying a specific time period. But, it’s a little shallow, and doesn’t get into analysis as much as the others. The Power Pack is amazing. Yeah, you can find two of the five things online for free, but the note cards and time lines were extremely helpful. Some of the questions of the test were almost word for word on the note cards. If anything buy it just for the note cards. I can’t vouch enough for them. So If you’re doing well in the class or have a solid grasp of US History I would recommend buying the Power pack and the Sparknotes guide because the review is quick and through if not a little shallow.</p>