<p>This is my very first AP exam and I’m really nervous! I have a good grade in that class but I can barely remember all that occurred and the names of the people. My original plan was to reread one chapter in my spielvogel book everyday but it takes up to 3 hours to finish one chapter and I have other homework to do too! I bought a Princeton Review book and I was wondering should I just read the context summary without rereading every single chapter? Would that be enough to get a 5 on the AP exam?</p>
<p>If you haven’t started studying already, I hate to say it, but you might be in trouble. When you take AP classes in the future (assuming that you will), try to begin around a month or two in advance. You don’t need to dedicate an insane amount of time to it; I usually start studying for around twenty minutes a day, and that gets the job done.</p>
<p>That said, I’d just take a review book (like Princeton Review or 5 Steps) and read the chapter summaries. Be sure to do the quizzes afterwards; perhaps it’s just me, but I remember a lot more when I’m actually analyzing the information to answer questions rather than just letting it sit there. Take as many practice exams as you feel is necessary, and try to time at least a few of them, since practice with both material and time will be valuable. </p>
<p>Don’t reread the textbook chapters; unless you’re a certified genius (and maybe even then), that’s way too much information to process. The review books might not cover everything, but at least they’ll pick out the important bits rather than leaving you to determine those for yourself. </p>
<p>Overall, just remember that there is no surefire way to get a 5 no matter how much you study; it sounds pessimistic, but really, all you can do is go in there and give it your best. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>As the above poster stated, there is practically no guarantee of a 5 no matter how much you study. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, you would put yourself in a very good position to get that score if you read “Modern European History” (by Viault) in the approximately three weeks remaining until the test. </p>
<p>In addition, be sure to take a decent number of practice exams (multiple choice questions, FRQ’s, and DBQ’s), preferably official, previously administered exams rather than those found in review books.</p>
<p>You may find previously administered prompts for the FRQ’s and DBQ’s at the link below:</p>
<p><a href=“AP European History Exam – AP Students | College Board”>Get the Most Out of AP – AP Students | College Board;
<p>Your teacher should have access to the multiple choice sections of previously administered exams, which they will probably use as in-class practice exams if they haven’t done so already. If not, ask them if you may look at them.</p>
<p>From personal experience, it would greatly benefit you to review in such a manner that you understand why European History progressed the way it did rather than try to memorize disparate facts without making any connections between them. For example, you should understand how Napoleon’s invasion of what is now known as Germany inspired a fervent sense of nationalism in the peoples of that region. This nationalism was one of the major factors that allowed Bismarck to unify Prussia with the other Germanic states in 1871, an event which was crucial to the buildup to WWI which in turn effectively led to WWII whose termination resulted in the Cold War and many of the current happenings of the world today. In other words, read history as if it is a novel; if you do this, you will remember much more information than if you just attempt to memorize through brute force and you will also begin to enjoy the subject. </p>
<p>On a different note, also pay particular attention to the political, economic, and social factors of major time periods. Flexibility in knowing and applying this information will allow you to tackle almost any FRQ or DBQ that comes your way.</p>