<p>[AP</a> Art History](<a href=“http://class.guhsd.net/PREP3.php?EMP=V452]AP”>http://class.guhsd.net/PREP3.php?EMP=V452)</p>
<p>^My teacher’s website. It has powerpoints and studying aides. Best of luck. Again, if you have any questions, feel free to PM me! I’ll update with my AP score in a few days :D</p>
<p>I actually think quite a few accept AP Art history, at least as a humanities elective if nothing else.</p>
<p>All four major public universities in FL give credit for both AP Art History (6 credit hours) and AP Human Geography (4 credit hours). And I’m pretty sure even the private Univ. of Miami does as well. </p>
<p>And I used REA for Art History. It’s really useful if you use it as a review book…so dedicating about a month before the exam to it.</p>
<p>Thanks daniel for the website, I’ll look into it. The class materials should be helpful. And good luck with your AP Score, but I’m sure you did fine. If not Edna will receive a stern talking to. </p>
<p>I’m intrigued about this REA Art History, everybody keeps mentioning it. My library has it in stock and so I’m going to check it out.</p>
<p>Just got a 5 on the test, so I thought I might share some of my wisdom! :)</p>
<p>A lot of what I say may have been said previously, so take what you can get out of it:</p>
<p>Classes: I did take an AP Art History class at my high school. We used Gardner’s and started fairly slowly, covering everything up to about Romanesque art by the first semester and cramming everything after that into the second semester. Although we had a lot of mindless study guides that followed the textbook, the most important skill we learned was really being able to get down some basic info for any image in a short period of time (usually 5-10 minutes depending on the question.) Our teacher gave us 4 point short essays multiple times throughout a class period, asking for basic info such as artist, date, medium, location, patron and then a more specific question such as the significance of this art relative to its culture … something along those lines.</p>
<p>Now if your class doesn’t have this kind of structure or you’re planning on self studying, my biggest advice is to think of possible questions that could be asked about an image a habit. You don’t have to stop for 30 minutes and brainstorm questions for all 1000+ images you’ll be learning, but be able to have a general idea of what a test (specifically the AP test) could ask about the piece in question. Just by looking at the material that is written to accompany a piece, you can usually figure out what kind of question would prompt you to remember what is written already (kind of like Jeopardy?) This gets much easier with practice, but you’ll start to realize that some questions simply cannot be asked about some pieces. For example, you’ll rarely get a question about the artist of a piece from pieces pre-1000 or so (because there wasn’t very much documentation), but if you do, these artists (Iktinos, Kallikrates, Phidias, Imhotep, etc.) are usually stressed heavily and worth memorizing.</p>
<p>Books: I only used Gardners as my main textbook, so I can’t really comment on it compared to other texts. I’ll just say it was thorough and very, very heavy. 
For a main textbook, Gardners seems to be the standard, although the AP test does throw in A FEW questions from less popular books or sources in the multiple choice section. Do not worry about these stray questions – usually you can use process of elimination and you’ll be right. They also sometimes include a piece in the FRQ that you should NOT be familiar with already but should be able to make assumptions about based on whatever hints or info they give you. For example, I remember one old FRQ showed a picture of a very whitewashed, plain church which you did NOT have to identify, but you should have been able to associate it with the Calvinist tradition and talk about the significance and trends of Calvinism in architecture.</p>
<p>As for prep books:</p>
<p>REA: I think this was a fairly decent and concise prep book that covered the key points and offered a few extra pieces that were NOT found in Gardners or the Annotated Mona Lisa. This is a nice way to review casually before the AP test but should NOT be used as your main textbook, because it does not cover nearly enough images. The quick lists in the back are pretty helpful – take a week to make the most of them and they’ll surely pay off. My main gripe with REA is that the practice tests have questions that directly match up with the material presented in the book. Just quickly skimming the quick lists in the back after reading through the material will get you 100% on these tests just because they only test what they’ve taught you (which again, is NOT everything.) The tests are not accurate in that sense.</p>
<p>Annotated Mona Lisa: Really a fantastic book, even if you’re not studying. This is a great way to quickly study for tests (if you’re taking a class) or review the whole course if you’re prepping for the AP test. Packed with often interesting and scandalous information, this is a fantastic supplement to your studying. There are tons of great charts, tables and diagrams that clearly outline otherwise confusing Art History concepts and timelines. It’s worth the 12 dollars! 
Again, this should NOT be used as your main textbook.</p>
<p>Barrons: I did NOT use this book to study, as a lot of the material was WAY too hard. Even though Barrons is usually a great way to overprepare for a test, art history is different in that the material doesn’t really get conceptually harder but more DETAILED as you go. There is no freaking way you can learn all the minute details for such a broad course, so I advise you not to use Barrons… HOWEVER, if you do find a copy in the library or something, I will say that some of their charts are well organized and offer a quick way to hold a list of styles, artists, or dates for last minute cramming.</p>
<p>Studying: If you look at the percentage breakdown on the collegeboard website, you’ll see what to focus on. Although each year seems to have a different focus (2009 seemed to be medieval art and my year, 2010, seemed to be modern art?) these are still good guidelines to follow. Definitely do not spend extra time reviewing Asian/African/Oceanic art unless you just have oodles of time left… on my test, the very few questions that were relevant were really easy to use process of elimination on if you have any distinction between China/Japan/Korea and have even basic knowledge of the non-Western cultures. No worries! :)</p>
<p>For me, I just read through AML, REA and did a general overview of Gardners and the key artists and ideas of each chapter. If you can find a friend to do this with, it REALLY helps!</p>
<p>And lastly, my hint to you is to try to find the Art History SparkCharts online. It’s 6 pages and is extremely helpful. If not, I might find a way to get them to you. :)</p>
<p>Phew, that was long! If you have any other concerns or questions I’ll be happy to answer them by PM.</p>
<p>Happy studying!</p>
<p>Don’t know if this will help or not, but my son took 13 AP classes and he thought the AP Art History exam was one of the most difficult. At his high school, there had only been three 5’s ever in AP Art History. This is not an easy class and you need to really know your art. Oh, my son did get a 5 so now there are four 5’s…</p>
<p>To the OP, do you still plan on self-studying Art History or have you changed your mind?</p>
<p>Probably still self-studying. I have two whole months at the end of 2010 to study for it because it’s a school break.</p>
<p>Going to bump this along… I’m in the same position as the rest of you. Mostly like CrazyEddy47, though; I’m self-studying APEH and APAH, too.</p>
<p>I just found this today. I’m self studying this… with the help of michigan virtual… i’ve done no work all semester and it ends in 3 weeks… so I guess art history for the rest of break and til finals. Though as I skimmed through this thread many of you are not artistic and I have a few years of background in art. Other then reading and flash cards how are you studying?</p>
<p>i’m actually going to art museums and trying to apply what i know to the art. it’s fun (at least for me) and good practice.</p>
<p>@Jackyt do you live in a big city or have lots of museums.</p>
<p>I spent the night memorizing greek architecture names yesterday and found the best way for me was to sketch it out and write in my own charts. I don’t think I can do that for some of the paintings or sculptures though :P</p>
<p>I’m just reading Gardner’s Book and the Annotated Mona Lisa. Come spring, I’ll try to memorize pieces from Barron’s.</p>
<p>I live in a medium size town with a small art scene, but Denver is about an hour away from me. I stay mostly in town, but when I run out of stuff to see in town, I occasionally make the trip to Denver. Fun way to spend a Saturday.</p>
<p>I found some stuff that you all may find useful.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.phs.poteau.k12.ok.us/williame/Information/Old_AP_Tests.htm[/url]”>http://www.phs.poteau.k12.ok.us/williame/Information/Old_AP_Tests.htm</a></p>
<p>OMG I’m so happy someone made this thread !
Let’s keep it going :D</p>
<p>My predictions for this years AP Test!
Featured Art that Will Perhaps Appear on MC and FRQ:
School of Athens by Raphael
Great Wave by Hokusai
David by Michelangelo
The Nightmare by Fuseli
Chartes Cathedral (Gothic Architecture)
Il Gesu (Baroque Architecture)
Dome of the Rock (Islamic Style Architecture)
I hope Jackson Pollock or Mark Rothko makes an appearance
Birth of Venus by Botticelli comparison with Galatea by Raphael
Something from Degas or Delacroix that talks about the importance of photography
Tenebrism
Rigidity of Egyptian Statues especially that of Khafre
Hellenistic Style of Sculpture
Giotto’s Lamentation
Female Artists such as Lebrun, Kahlo, and Gentileschi
I think Ottonian Art might make a rare appearance<br>
Matisse/Picasso comparisons
Hopefully something from Leonardo Da Vinci or Van Gogh
Definitely Goya or Velasquez this year</p>
<p>I would really like people to make their own lists, it will be a great way to prep !</p>
<p>Also, I am using REA’s Art History Prep Book, and I actually think it’s enough with additional help from Gardner’s and/or class, for our drive for a 5 ! :D</p>
<p>For all of those who are taking it next year even though its far away
So, I self studied it and I felt the 2011 test to be easy (except for the stupid short essays) but other than that definitely a 4 and hopefully a 5
Time: Well, I had a tutor that has a minor in art history (she’s the world history teacher of my school) so I talked to her and we decided to meet once a week. We had a calendar and would read at least half a chapter each week, do outlines, and create flash cards
Flash Cards: As I mentioned, do them. Paste a picture of the work in one side, and on the other basic info such as the artist, name, period, century and a random fact such as the patron or inspiration. TRUST ME it helped me, specially with the dates which they do come up on the test
Barron’s: I read it as a summary for each chapter in my textbook, I payed attention to words in bold and always did the mini test with the short essay - I used this only throughout the year
REA: This book is awesome. I Used the book 2 weeks prior the test and read it carefully - It includes almost anything for the test in an easy summarized way - the outlines in the back are helpful too. This book will sure help you!
College Board: Go into ap central and practice the essays (and slide based m.c.) - yes, the long ones too.
What helped me too: The course does (as the name says) include history - A strong base in world history/european history and overall geography will help. I took AP world last year and trust me all the random facts I learned are somewhat connected to the artworks you’ll study - this can help you a lot in the essays 
Hope this helps for those taking the test next year !</p>
<p>I’m starting up on this and going to Barnes & Nobles later today to start my year off. I’m gonna proudly include myself in the group of lunatics known as “self-studiers.” Good luck to you all.</p>