<p>I am self-studying APES this year. I am using ravenberg. Are there any other books which may be better. What is the curve for APES to get a 5. For all of you who self-studied what were your techniques? For those that took a class which prep book should I use?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I used both the Princeton Review and the REA Five Steps to a Five. The APES curve changes every year depending on the difficulty of the year’s exam (if the scores are low/if the scores are high, the top percentage receives a 5). I would recommend using more than one study guide, since no exam review book is perfect. PR was approachable, but had easy practice exams. REA was full of extra information, but had challenging practice tests. Overall, I would just recommend reading and rereading your exam book until you come to each section and understand everything before you begin reading. Eventually, you will be able to scan the entire book without finding anything you can’t answer. I started studying in December and received a 5. If you’re dedicated, you’ll do well.</p>
<p>The curve is approximately 90/150 for a 5 without the new policy of no points being taken off for wrong answers.
So, just calculate your scores as the book tells you to. It should be accurate.</p>
<p>^REA does not produce the 5 Steps to a 5 books. There is REA, and there is 5 steps. They are completely different.</p>
<p>Oh yeah… Sorry. I meant REA’s “Are you serious about getting a 5?” I must have gotten my review books confused. It’s been a while. And while I do believe that the curve is usually around a 90, different review books suggested different numbers (between high 80s and mid 90s), and I have read in different exam books that it fluctuates year to year, so I assumed that APES adjusted accordingly.</p>
<p>In most of the threads I’ve come across in this site, most have said that The Smartypants Guide to the AP Environmental Science Exam is the best prep book for self-study. I’ve also heard that Princeton and 5 Steps to a Five is good. I’ve never taken the exam, but I’m a senior taking an ES honors class that prepares you for the exam. I’m using 5 Steps to a Five and my teacher has told me that the APES is the easiest AP Science exam. Also, according to most threads in this site, APES is one of the most easiest AP exams there is, making it easy to self-study. So for the most part, you’re fine. Just don’t procastinate or slack on reading and memorizing the material. Good Luck.</p>
<p>I’m using the Kaplan book… the concepts seem pretty easy thus far, I don’t think it matters what book you use, I think APES is just a really easy subject overall.</p>
<p>@TACO, if you consider psychology to be a science than psychology is the easiest and APES is the second but both are very easy exams i’ve heard.</p>