<p>it is not necessary at all, rather optional. I panicked my first year of APs; that was when I ordered 6 books for each subject lol.</p>
<p>Not necessary for most subjects.</p>
<p>The only AP tests for which you should buy study books are the history exams.</p>
<p>I prefer Kaplan review books. They seem to have enough but not too much information. My Kaplan AP Chem book saved my life with last minute reviewing!!!</p>
<p>LOL, but thats just my opinion. I would suggest going to the bookstore, browsing through the books, and finding a company that seems to have the right amount of review for your study style. Don’t buy a book because it has X amount practice tests. If really you want more practice tests you can get another book later. Go for a nice content balance. Don’t get a book just because it has a lot of content. I have found that many review books have truly unnecessary information in them and are just as unhelpful as review books with no information.
Once you find a good brand, stick with it as much as possible!!!</p>
<p>And a tip for AP US history- If you feel like you have a gap in your knowledge a little Sparknotes book fills it fast (they aren’t made especially for the AP test but my pre-civil war era book helped a lot).</p>
<p>Short answer: no.</p>
<p>I didn’t use a book for STAT or Calc
I used 2 for APUSH and 1 for macro mirco</p>
<p>If you have a good handle on the subject, its not nessacary, but if you don’t then definitely do so.</p>
<p>one thing i was thinking of doing was just going to barnes and noble one day and sitting down with a review book and see how much it helps/how much i need it. if i seem to know it pretty well i wont buy it. but if i decide i need it, i’ll buy it off ebay</p>