<p>Okay, so I know that everyone says that PR is the best for APchem. But how does Barron's compare? </p>
<p>I am asking because I was lucky enough to find Barron's APchem prep book for 2008 in my library....yes 2008!!!</p>
<p>Should I buy PR, or would it be a waste?</p>
<p>thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Ps: Keep in mind that I want a book that [bold]over prepares<a href="b/c%20my%20teacher%20does%20not%20teach">/b</a>.</p>
<p>Go with PR, as says everyone in this forum says.</p>
<p>well, if you want a book that overprepares, then Barron's fits that description better... even though pr is enough to get a 5.</p>
<p>b/c only barron's cover the RICE(or ICE) method for doing equilibrium problems and only barron's goes in depth for the buffered solutions problems.so...</p>
<p>Just get PR.</p>
<p>so you guys would actually go buy PR even though there's a free copy of Barron's 2008 available???</p>
<p>PR must be good. I'll go to Border's one day and check it out. But for now, I'm sticking with Barron's since people say it over prepares you.</p>
<p>yep, that's right you'll see. how is there a free copy of Barron's available??</p>
<p>I have both (i'm self-studying), and I'd say go with PR. It is easy to read and understand. However, you might as well check out Barron's from the library and read through certain sections. Barron's honestly has too much info, and it can be overwhelming.</p>
<p>RICE - reaction, initial, change, equilibrium - nice; never thought of that! Our AP chem teacher last year just used "ICE" with the reaction on top.</p>
<p>any other opinions?</p>
<p>bump......</p>
<p>AP Chem books I have:
PR
Barrons
Peterson's
5 Steps to a 5</p>
<p>PR is the worst... does not have nearly enough content
The other ones are all good, depending on what you are looking for in a prep book. If you want one that prepares you very well, as you do, go with Barrons or Peterson's. If you are already fairly good at chem and just need to brush up on some stuff get 5 Steps to a 5.</p>
<p>bump......</p>
<p>Barron's has a lot of superfluous information. I would say knowing your important concepts from the book is very important. The Princeton Review book isnt all that great like Cliffs Biology but it does serve some good review and it will make things easier for you. </p>
<p>I would highly suggest you go through the free response from AP Collegeboard. There is such a big trend on those free responses that you could basically know what concepts to expect when you get the test. </p>
<p>The 1st question of the free response is always: EQUILIBRIUM, ACID BASES or KINETICS. </p>
<p>After that they are many stuff such as thermodynamics and most importantly stuff like empirical formulas, and stuff like that.</p>
<p>last year the first question was from equilibrium, I can tell you that much. and rb9109, because Rice university offers the AP institute (which my teacher went to), they call ICE method the Rice method. And yes, it stands for Reaction, initial, change, equilbrium. Even though Zumdahl turns the chart 90 degrees in its book. but I would say that zumdahl was a good textbook. Because I only had two weeks to read (or skm) through the prep books, I personally didn't do that much. But I nevertheless still got a 4. and b/c last yeAR was the first year using the new AP test format, the reaction prediction questions were pretty easy. and you can find SEVERAL reaction prediction problems over the web (just google it).</p>
<p>bump...........</p>
<p>no offense, you'llsee... , but haven't we answered all of your questions?? Is there something in particular you are looking for???? There is no such thing as a "perfect" AP Chemistry review book, it just mostly everyone's opinions. it is like seeing objects through glass- half full or half empty. I don't know why you keep wanting bumps.</p>
<p>bump</p>
<p>i need more opinions</p>
<p>Stop looking for opinions and start studying... You said you wanted to be overprepared and the consensus is that Barron's would be the book for you</p>
<p>So, get it from your library, start studying, and don't waste your $$$ on PR</p>
<p>bump......</p>