<p>This is my first time at College Confidential so it’s nice to meet you all.</p>
<p>I’m wondering about the AP English and AP U.S. test. At my school, there is AP English for 12th grade and 11th grade; I am referring to the latter. I am taking Honors English and U.S. history which doesn’t focus on the AP test but more based on projects and less on DBQs/ essay. HOWEVER, I am familiar with how the AP test goes as I took AP European History in Sophomore year.</p>
<p>AP English Test Questions:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>How hard is it to self study?</p></li>
<li><p>How hard is it to get a 3+?</p></li>
<li><p>Is the AP English test more reading oriented (analysis)/ writing instead of grammar?</p></li>
<li><p>What philosophies/ authors should I familiarize myself for the AP English test?</p></li>
<li><p>What books should I read?</p></li>
<li><p>What practice books should I buy?</p></li>
</ol>
<hr>
<p>AP U.S. History [it’s a lot more straight forward, but I still have some questions]:</p>
<p>1) What time period do they usually focus on?</p>
<p>2) I heard they expect us to have more knowledge then what the textbook offers us, true?</p>
<p>3) What practice book should I buy?</p>
<p>4) What are differences I should know about between AP Euro and AP U.S. history?</p>
<hr>
<p>Sorry for so many questions.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>How hard is it to self study?
It’s pretty hard because you have to be taught the specific essay formats.</p></li>
<li><p>How hard is it to get a 3+?
Not that hard if you’re pretty good at English and College Board DOESN’T LOSE YOUR ESSAY! >:I</p></li>
<li><p>Is the AP English test more reading oriented (analysis)/ writing instead of grammar?
Yes. There will be very few (if any) grammar questions.</p></li>
<li><p>What philosophies/ authors should I familiarize myself for the AP English test?
I’m not entirely sure what this means.</p></li>
<li><p>What books should I read?
Okay, if you’re taking AP Lang (which is what most schools offer juniors) you don’t have to be TOO well read, but you should have a few books under your belt. I would say to read The Great Gatsby and The Scarlett Letter. If you’re taking AP Lit, go to the College Board’s website for a suggested (lengthy) reading list.</p></li>
<li><p>What practice books should I buy
You don’t really need one.</p></li>
</ol>
<hr>
<p>AP U.S. History [it’s a lot more straight forward, but I still have some questions]:</p>
<p>1) What time period do they usually focus on?
The APUSH exam features everything from Roanoke Island to me typing this answer. Last year there was a Nixon DBQ. However the time period between the Civil War and WWI takes up a lot.</p>
<p>2) I heard they expect us to have more knowledge than what the textbook offers us, true?
Well…you should always broaden your knowledge to get the bigger picture. If you have Netflix go watch “Soundtrack to a Revolution.” This will help with AP Eng too.</p>
<p>3) What practice book should I buy?
Direct Hits in US History and Prentence Review.</p>
<p>4) What are differences I should know about between AP Euro and AP U.S. history?
You don’t have to use POV in your DBQs (which I didn’t know you had to until after the EHAP exam was over. I’m proud of my one :P). You do, however, have to include outside info in your DBQ’s.</p>
<p>Sparknotes has a good free APUSH review online. Just read through it and you can get a 3 no problem. You need to know early colonies all the way through Nixon (and beyond, every so often they add more years to the test as more time passes). My APUSH teacher junior year told us that the test never had writing parts past Nixon, so we didn’t really need to study that time and after. That year Nixon was the long answer DBQ. Lesson here is don’t base dates off previous tests. </p>
<p>Use logic and you can answer a whole bunch of the questions without spending too much time memorizing details.</p>
<p><a href=“Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board”>Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board; This should help.
It’s easier to do well on the APUSH exam although APE is an easier course throughout the year. If you’ve been doing well this year in both classes, you’re set. Oh, and practice essay writing. I cannot stress the importance of that.</p>