<p>I am a rising sophomore and I will be taking APUSH part 1. At my school it is divided up into two parts since taking US History for 2 years is required in my state. I guess I am lucky because I have 2 years to prepare for this test in an environment where academics is taken very seriously. We had a summer assignment with a notes outline and 2 essays, I finished already in mid July since I am trying to get into the habit of really getting down and delving deeper into my studies. I have started reading the American Pageant textbook and I am halfway done with it. I have read numerous books about all things US History. Clearly I have never taken an AP before in my life. I am so scared and I feel like I will die this year. If anyone can contribute and advice, tips, or their experience please do so. I need all the help I can get. Humanities is not my thing so any tiny bits of advice are GREATLY appreciated. Thank you for your time.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/history-social-sciences/1505645-official-ap-us-history-thread-2013-2014-a-3.html#post16221720[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/history-social-sciences/1505645-official-ap-us-history-thread-2013-2014-a-3.html#post16221720</a></p>
<p>It has been a while since I took APUSH, but I will give you my two cents. My APUSH class was definitely difficult but I passed it with an A and got a 5 on the AP exam for a couple reasons. 1) I bought a study guide for the APUSH exam as soon as I started the class. It was helpful because it included summarized sections of key parts of US history that are normally covered on the AP Exam. Your APUSH teacher should give you assignments and tests that are similar in content and structure to the AP exam, so having this guide will do wonders. 2) Really take time to read your book and take notes. This is a good habit to get into anyways, but for a history class like APUSH, it is critical. If you really study the material this way, you will absorb the information well and be able to tackle exams and assignments with ease. 3) I found flashcards to be very helpful. Either making your own or buying a set from Princeton Review, Sparknotes, College Board, etc.</p>
<p>Good luck! :)</p>
<p>its a terrible class. 
but if you like history go for it!!</p>
<p>My class used the American Pageant and I got a five by reading each chapter like three times over a one week period basically. </p>
<p>In my class we were supposed to outline each chapter over the weekend. Then, on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we would intensively review the chapter in class. On Thursday, we would split into groups and outline potential FRQ questions related to the chapter’s content. Finally, we had a 50 question multiple choice/FRQ question test on each chapter every Friday.</p>
<p>When it came time to take the AP test, we re-outlined each chapter and reviewed it. My school also gave us the Barron’s flash cards, which I really recommend. A lot of students say they passed the test by going over all 500 flash cards multiple times.</p>
<p>Basically, the key point to doing well on the test is to review the material so many times that it is ingrained in your head. The success in your classroom may vary depending on how your teacher chooses to evaluate you.</p>
<p>P.S. my class had 18/22 pass the test in May.</p>
<p>From what I recall: </p>
<p>No analysis required. APUSH is memorization olympics. Brain with best information-absorbing capacity wins. </p>
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<p>You already have a good headstart to doing well in APUSH. You should be fine. </p>
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<p>If this helps. . .</p>
<p>. . .during my actual APUSH test, I took a 45-minute nap during the FRQ/DBQ section (I forgot if they were timed together or not). </p>
<p>I still got a 4. </p>
<p>You’ll be fine.</p>
<p>I thought APUSH was EXTREMELY easy. I got a 5 on the exam. Just do the reading and you’ll be fine. :)</p>
<p>@Lemon- you wrote 2 essays in 25 minutes/a DBQ in 15? I call BS.</p>
<p>OP- I am in the same boat as you. A lot of the kids who’ve taken the course at my school said something along the lines of what everyone is telling you here. Memorization is king, but writing skills matter too. Your teacher should teach you how to write a good DBQ/FRQ though, and from the practice exams in PR and Barron’s the documents in the DBQ require little to no analysis. And since memorization is so important, reading through the textbook is going to get you nowhere if you don’t take notes and have a good memory.</p>
<p>@OP and @Paintallthestuff:</p>
<p>I can’t tell you how your APUSH class will be at your school, but at mine the kids who had taken it also said it was the hardest class ever and to not take it if I could. It ended up being the easiest class for me that year and I also got one of the highest grades in the class. So, I’d say to take other students’ fears pretty lightly and to just pay attention really well so you don’t have to study as hard. IMO reading is optional if you can handle it.</p>
<p>That being said, the AP itself was also easy overall. I had to zoom while writing the DBQ/FRQs, but the multiple choice was quite easy in my opinion. So don’t be afraid! I’m sure you’ll do just fine.</p>
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<p>Young Padawan, adrenaline + fruitful knowledge of your material = profit. </p>
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<p>You haven’t even taken the class yet, let alone taken the real deal. </p>
<p>Who are you to call bs? </p>
<p>lawl</p>
<p>Read AMSCO + [Colonial</a> history of the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_history_of_the_United_States]Colonial”>Colonial history of the United States - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>Did that 3 weeks before the exam and got a 5.</p>