<p>I took World History as a freshman. And I am now at a school where they offer it as an AP class for sophomores and freshmen take Geography. I think I want to self study and take the exam with the rest of the sophomores. Any advice as to what books to use, who to talk to and all that?</p>
<p>Look through the AP Acorn Book and make sure that your World History class covered the same material to the same depth as AP classes do. By looking at the practice MC and essay questions, you should be able to tell if you have the background to take the test.
I took the AP World exam a few years ago, so I dont remember what books were good etc, but since your school does offer the WHAP class, you should talk to the teacher and let him know that you want to take the test. He may be able to lend you prep books, old AP tests, and any other review material. Also, some teachers hold review sessions after school/on weekends that would be useful to you.</p>
<p>Yeah I think I'll find out who the APWH teacher is and ask if I could borrow a book if there is an extra.</p>
<p>Do you think I'd have a chance at doing as well as the other people who took the class on the AP exam. I want to get a 5 of course.</p>
<p>Should I ask the teacher for study guides, so I don't learn irrelevant stuff.</p>
<p>First off, make sure your textbook has good historical background, pictures, and get a couple of readers with DBQs for expanded knowledge. Knowing prominent historians such as Ibn Khaldun and Fernand Braudel, as well as an in-depth look at history helps on the essays and the test. A textbook is helpful with pictures--as there are many maps and pictures on the AP. I strongly, strongly urge you to buy Spodek's The World's History. I can't stress this enough--that book was MADE for the AP. Spodek, a teacher at Temple U., is the Chair of the AP World committee, a member of the WH Association, and was chairman of the SAT II World History. Obviously, the man knows what to write.</p>
<p>Another warning, DO NOT buy the Barron's book. It is utter foolishness! The book was written predating the AP, is nowhere near correlated with the material, and its questions and essays are too long. In addition, they are impossible to write (the essays are 6 pages and IN DEPTH TO AN EXTREMITY for a 40 minute essay--in may you won't remember 1/2 of that), and the mulltiple choice are sheer BS: what is the only continent where slavery did not take place? (Guess)). Make the right choices, and please, don't be like some people here who are ignorant and got the Barron's book. Barron's does not update, or posses the resources such as the Princeton Review or Kaplan. (Keep in mind, i'm not saying anyone is good.)</p>
<p>Good luck in your studies. This AP course is not easy. But if you do well, you'll get that 5, inevitably. 97% of our class got 4s or 5s (1 person got a 2). The aforementioned books will suffice.</p>
<p>i didn't read a page of my world history text when i had the class. in fact, no one really did. that's probably why a lot of the class did so poorly. i started studying all the material independently about 2 weeks before the exam, using Princeton review's prep book for a more general overview of history, and barron's review book for the details. i also took ALL the practice quizzes in both books. i got a 5 :P</p>
<p>edit: the previous author is probably accurate about the barron's book- there is a lot of superfluous info. the questions are tough. if you can master those imo, you'll be set for the AP. do note that i didn't master them well and i still managed a 5. maybe you could do well with just the PR's.</p>
<p>I took a different route, I studied close to 200 hours on my own. It paid off, I knew it like the back of my hand and everything was 100% right.</p>
<p>Interesting because some people told me to get Barron's once when we talked about this in a different thread.</p>
<p>Those people should note what I'e said. That book was written before, and is too extraneous. A lot you don't need to know. THe only reason people buy Barron's because it says "Student's #1 Choice" a clever marketing technique. But, as always, its your life and choice.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the advice. What empires/people/time periods does the standard AP World History cover.</p>
<p>Check out AP Central.
These are crucial:
Foundations (8000 BCE) to 600 CE
600 CE to 1450 CE
1450 CE to 1914 CE
1914 CE to 2000 CE</p>
<p>I'm not quite sure. Along these lines.</p>
<p>So it's some Ancient History, spread of Christianity, Dark Ages, and some modern stuff like WWII.</p>
<p>Modern stuff is crucial. Not wars really, it's what caused the wars. It's all about revolutions, major events, what caused what. Familiarize yourself with the course, read up on it. It's a lot of material. It might be difficult for you if you start now. apcentral.collegeboard.com</p>
<p>We learned everything but modern stuff in my WH class. So what about the other things, we're those right?</p>
<p>Well...take it upon your self to know Latin America, China, Russia, Japan and East Asia, Middle East, as well as Europe 1940-2000. It's crucual for change over time and possibly compare and contrast.</p>
<p>Jeez, this sounds like intense stuff. Well I know a girl making a 98 in that class, maybe I'll talk to her about it.</p>
<p>i thought barron's was really good cuz it was the only book i used and i got a 5, and it was thanks to the book and not my teacher cuz only about 3% of everyone taking it in my school managed a 5</p>
<p>Before you knock yourself out self-studying, check with the colleges in which you are interested - will they give credit for AP World History? Most of the very selective colleges will, at most, give a general credit for this since it is such a broad topic.</p>
<p>Another thing I just thought of: make sure you know the date "groupings" that someone mentioned above. In the last few years they've changed the "grouping" system. It's just a minor detail but it may mess you up on the FRQ's</p>
<p>Thanks guys.</p>
<p>I self studied AP World History this year, starting from last August. Now I'm about done with covering the material (two more chapters left) and I independently covered 4 text/prep books. I am starting to take practice exams now, it's just to May to see my results of my first self-study!</p>
<p>I took World His as a freshman, and now I'm a sophomore. Here's a list of books I used.
1. "Traditions and Encounters" Bentley/Zeiger (there's a LOT of editions to this book, I used the one with a cover of priests coming into Japan)
2. Barrons (This book has some weak points:
-VERY unrealistic essays, way too long
-MC's that seem to be off the mark of what AP is trying to test
However, I found the chapters in the text to be helpful to me as a summary and "wrap-up" of the things I covered in the textbook. Barron's review is extensive, but not yet so extensive that it is overwhelming)
3. Princeton Review (the review was too short; although the questions were more realistic than Barrons)
4. Essentials of World History, published by Barrons, 1980. The obvious drawback to this book is that it is VERY outdated and should not be used to cover anything past 1970. However, it does contain a lot of good information regarding the fifteenth, sixteenth centuries.
5. Kaplan SAT II, obviously, I just wanted the practice MC's in this book.
6. Released 2002 AP World History test from College Board that I acquired from a teacher.
7. I got a APWH teacher to read my essays, to make sure they are up-to-standard. I think the primary weakness of self-studying APWH, APEH, or APUSH is the essays.</p>
<p>Hope that helps, I am looking forward to a 5 in May!</p>