After taking the AP Euro test this year (I’ll be doing AP Euro '12), which book do you feel was the best preparation for the exam/best book overall?</p>
REA and AP Achiever
REA has some hard multiple choice question that the recent test do not even ask
AP Achiever is a mini version of the Kagan book which I love</p>
Modern European History
[Amazon.com:</a> Modern European History (9780070674530): Birdsall Viault: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Modern-European-History-Birdsall-Viault/dp/0070674531]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Modern-European-History-Birdsall-Viault/dp/0070674531)
and REA’s Crash Course
[Amazon.com:</a> AP European History Crash Course (REA) (9780738606613): Larry Krieger: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/European-History-Crash-Course-REA/dp/0738606618]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/European-History-Crash-Course-REA/dp/0738606618)
Together, these books worked wonders for me.</p>
^Seconded.</p>
I like PR because it has a lot of info, but it is a HUUUGE pain to read. There’s no pictures, only blocks of test. However, they have an occasional joke that keeps you awake while studying. If you have a lot of time on your hands, use PR.</p>
I took PR with MEH (Modern European History, as chealy says above) but IMO it has waaay too much information you DON’T need to know. I took the exam literally two days ago and with PR, it was easy as pie :)</p>
Just be sure to prepare at LEAST 3 weeks before, i made the mistake of procrastinating until the last week and it was a nightmare T-T</p>
@iiClickSend I’m kicking myself now. I have the Princeton Review, but didn’t finish it before the exam. After looking back, it’s ALL IN THERE! <em>cries.</em></p>
Yeah MEH contains waaay to much info lol. Supplementing it when reading the textbook during the school year or during class was the most efficient way i used it.</p>
REA’S Crash course was pretty useful, although it mostly just analyzes past Ap tests questions which might have a possibility of coming back again, but worded differently or maybe even asks a whole new different perspective on the question ( it still helps narrow it down haha !)</p>
I Definitely loved Ap Achiever, its comprehensive like PR. The sample FRQ at the end of each chapter really help a lot on understanding on some of what you just learned and learn what an ok,good, or great Free response looks like. Overall this book is great, the detailed pages dedicated on how to write Essays, learn and write DBQ’s, and even HOW TO actually read your history textbook and take efficient notes on understanding the content made it a worthwhile investment. You can actually supplement this during the beginning of the school year too. Great Investment :)</p>
PRINCETON is absolutely great book but Barron’s isnt bad either.</p>
But I think you might need sparknotes online materials cuz they really include a large volume of info which might be tested in MC part.</p>
[History</a> Study Guides - SparkNotes](<a href=“http://www.sparknotes.com/history/]History”>History Study Guides - SparkNotes)</p>
Princeton Review + Crash Course = 5.</p>
Seriously. Read PR once with notes, or twice without, and you’re set.</p>
Barron’s. Go through it once and take notes (maybe typed notes). Make flashcards of the key words (it has key words for each chapter) and memorize those and repeatedly study those notes. Then take the test. I also recommend reading Crash course as a supplement AFTER you’re done with Barron’s (Crash course is really short). Good luck :)</p>
Personally, my favorite books were 5 Steps to a 5 and the REA Crash Course book.</p>
I’ve used 2 Barrons book (one from 1990s and one from the 21st century). Both sucked. The MC questions weren’t really reminiscent of what was on the exam. I read the explanations, and unlike the other books I used, the answers just didn’t click. The actual information in the review part of the book is solid though, although it’s not really tightly focused. Verdict: don’t bother buying it. </p>
The Princeton Book is acceptable. It’s boring as heck to read, and this is coming from a person that reread 600 pages of their main history coursebook (Western Civ. by Spielvogel) and highlighted it all in the matter of 2.5 days in preparation for the AP. The essay help is non-existent. I’d get the Princeton Book though. Verdict: Good read. </p>
I skimmed the Kaplan book and it seemed OK - at least the review section. I also skimmed the Peterson’s book (yes there is such a book) and it was OK. The M/C test in the back was worth it in the Peterson’s book. The REA book is also a nicety if you wish to have extra practice - I mean - 6 practice tests? The newer ones only have 4 … but that’s more than enough for most :p. </p>
5 Steps to a 5 is excellent. It manages to be laconic without losing meaning. I loved this book. Get this book for sure! Verdict: must have</p>
REA Crash Course: Either the entire M/C section was based off this book, or vice versa. Using this book, I nailed the test. I was one with the test. Verdict: MUST HAVE. </p>
Caveat emptor: the Crash Course book won’t help you with the essays. For essays you are going to need to pay attention during lectures and read your main textbook. </p>
And don’t just skim through the Crash Course book, thinking that you know everything. Familiarize yourself with the nuances that the book covers. </p>
In other words, every detail this book covers has been on an AP Euro exam and will possibly be on yours. This isn’t one of those books you only need to know 50% of what’s inside. This is the book you need (and should) know 90+% of.</p>
I never really used Modern European History seriously. I did lookup some stuff in it occasionally through the year. My school offered it to students so that’s the only reason I have experience with it. It is very well written and packs quite a bit of history in a surprisingly clear and concise manner. </p>
And remember, practice makes perfect! I like the Sparknotes online AP Euro exam - it even tells you what you are most likely to get on the AP! </p>
<a href=“http://testprep.sparknotes.com/testcenter/ap/eurohistory/[/url]”>http://testprep.sparknotes.com/testcenter/ap/eurohistory/</a></p>
REA (Crash Course) offers an online exam too. Take this one. </p>
<a href=“http://www.rea.com/crashcourse/[/url]”>http://www.rea.com/crashcourse/</a></p>
For me, I took every practice exam I could get my hands on. I would check my M/C answers and take notes on any questions I missed. I would also take M/C tests over and over until I got the number missed to about 10 to 15. </p>
For benchmark purposes, I missed about 32 on a 5 Steps to a 5 practice exam the first time. I missed 26 on the second practice exam (the book offers 2). Can you beat me? The only thing is that I took the test before looking through any review book.</p>
I had PR and Cliffs, I can’t stress enough how much PR helped me, thanks to that I will most likely be getting a 5. The only thing I didn’t think was good was that the practice tests are a lot harder than the actual test, which I guess could be good since it would make you study more. The reading sections however prepared me great for the MC.
Don’t get Cliffs, the MC was too easy, and the reading sections aren’t that good.</p>