<p>This is just a general advice thread for self studying AP exams. What was your procedure? Did you begin studying in August or January? What exams did you take and why? How much time did you invest in self studying? Anything relating to self studying post here! GO!</p>
<p>My self-studied tests and scores:
4 - Calculus BC, US History
3 - Statistics, US Government</p>
<p>So my scores aren’t that thrilling. I think it’s mostly because I suck at timed writing, and I suck at timed writing because I hate timed writing and didn’t practice in advance.</p>
<p>Here’s how I self-studied:</p>
<p>AP Calculus BC -
I’ve been learning calculus since early 2012, but I started studying specifically for the test around March this year. The week before the test I got a prep book and learned about polar coordinates, parametric curves, and Taylor series for the first time.
I took this test because I needed it to take higher-level math classes at my dual-enrollment college.</p>
<p>Statistics -
Got a prep book and studied for about two weeks before the exam. I took a multiple-choice practice test.
I took this test because it’s math and I felt like I should.</p>
<p>US History -
Two weeks before the test, I read half of a prep book. The day before the test, I took a multiple-choice practice test.
I took this test because I wanted to torture myself, mostly. I knew I hated history but I didn’t think colleges would “respect” AP Psychology or Human Geography or whatever people usually self-study. </p>
<p>US Government -
I like to brag about this one, even though I only got a 3. All I did was take all the quizzes on the Study Island AP Govt. review section the afternoon before the test.
I self-studied this because I wanted to take it at school (it’s required) but it wouldn’t fit into my schedule.</p>
<p>Self-studied admittedly some of the easier exams but still ones I was quite interested in:</p>
<p>4 - Enviro
4 - US Gov
5 - Human Geo</p>
<p>All I did was open up my study book (Princeton Review) for the first time the day before each exam. There’s plenty of common sense. You’re seriously wasting your time starting August…</p>
<p>I plan on self-studying Music Theory and Environmental Science this year to complement my school-taught AP’s (Physics B, US History, Computer Science, and Statistics.) I’ll probably start in January with about 4 hours of studying a week and then kick it up each month. </p>
<p>I like to think that i self-studied APWH this past school year, as my teacher was quite passe about the exam. By putting in ~100 hours of my own time I got a 5. You don’t have to be a genius to do well. It’s all about your work ethic.</p>
<p>3- Psych</p>
<p>I made flashcards of important words, people and theories. And I skimmed through barrons a couple of times.</p>
<p>Psychology- Read Barrons thoroughly and you’ll get a 5. Also helps to make flashcards over important stuff.</p>
<p>Microeconomics- Read both Barrons and Princeton Review in my opinion (each covers stuff the other doesn’t) and you’ll get a 5.</p>
<p>World History- Barrons is longer and more detailed than Princeton Review by far but both should be sufficient to get a 5 with a thorough reading. If you’re also planning to take the Sat II for this one read Barrons for sure (although nothing can prepare you for the random facts on that evil being).</p>