AP European Questions - Come One, Come ALL! :)

Test Preparation AP History & Social Sciences
1

It’s already October and I wanted to buy AP Euro prep books by now, but I haven’t found the time.</p>

Can anyone recommend anything that worked for them, especially if they got 5s and 90s in the class? I REALLY want a five on this test, especially because it helps with a lot of college courses.</p>

I looked at the reviews for Barron’s (which I already have as a 2003 hand-me-down from this neighbor who moved away), but not many good ones there… However, PR had awesome reviews. So does Modern European History (MEH) by Birdsaul (?) Viault. My teacher recommends MEH, so I’m definitely buying it. Should I also get the CliffsNotes prep book or 5 Steps to a 5? </p>

I’m super confused because this is my first AP, and I want to do this right!!! I also have a HARD test on the Renaissance and the Reformation coming up. How does one write rockin’ FRQs and DBQs, especially in so little time?</p>

Tips and advice ALWAYS accepted! Thanks in advance!!!</p>

2

AP Achiever + REA Crash Course=5</p>

The DBQ is by far the easiest part of the test. If you know the scoring guidelines (the core and expanded core) and practice, you should be able to hit 8’s and 9’s by May. The best essay-writing advice would be to make a seriously explicit thesis. Take words and phrases straight out of the question so that the readers KNOW which sentence is the thesis. Personally, I like adding the examples in my thesis; some teachers want the examples to come in a sentence after the thesis.</p>

For example,</p>

Question: Analyze the various Protestant views of the relationship between church and state in the period circa 1500–1700. (This was actually from the 2010 AP Euro test.)</p>

Sample Thesis: Protestant views of the relationship of church and state differed greatly. While Lutherans preached obedience to government, Calvinists wanted a church-dominated state, and Anabaptists believed in complete separation of church and state.</p>

3

I’m not sure about how useful AP Achiever is since I’ve never used it, but the general consensus around here is that it’s amazing. MEH + CC are definitely an amazing combo, and I’m sure adding Achiever to that wouldn’t hurt.</p>

4

Thanks for your responses, especially the essay tips. My writing in every class is pretty weak, so thesis tips help the most. Btw, you got that Reformation thesis down even better than my own teacher, who is super vague, IMHO.</p>

Anyone else want to weigh in? :)</p>

5

Get the Modern European History book by Birdsall Viault.</p>

6

I used Cliffs and got a 5 : )</p>

7

MEH and Crash Course is going to cover it. I’m using them right now, and good results :smiley: i have cliffsnotes too but I dont find that AS useful as MEH or Crash Course. Still a good review book and it’ll provide another test prep, since MEH doesnt have test preps or sample questions. I think Cliffsnotes covers the FRQs and DBQs pretty well too :smiley: hope this helped</p>

8

I’d reccomend that you get MEH and Crash Course. I personally used Princeton Review, but I’ve heard great things from MEH and Crash Course. If you know these books well, you will dominate the Multiple Choice section of the exam. The DBQ is easy if you know the guidelines and know what the essay graders are looking for. Good luck!</p>

9

Okay, I’m taking the consensus down as REA Crash Course, Modern European History, and Princeton/Cliffs/AP Achiever. Thanks, guys!</p>

10

I actually used PR to study for my first test, and it was really breezy. I didn’t read the timelines, though, but I probably should because dates matter, right? Also, MEH isn’t for one-day-left cramming (before school tests, I mean). The sections always appear to be long with new information not covered in class or in HW, which makes me kind of panicky. I need to break it down!!!</p>

Btw, when did you guys start seriously studying for the test? February-March-April? Earlier? I had a bad time procrastinating last year with bio… <em>sigh</em></p>

11

I started prepping around March. I reviewed using PR, and then as it got closer to may, I took as many practice tests as I could using PR, released exams, and exams from other companies like REA, 5 Steps to a 5, etc.</p>

12

I prepared (or rather, learned all of Europe’s history from scratch) from spring break (first week in April) to the test (first week in May). Fortunately, my 3 other AP teachers were good enough that I didn’t need to prepare for those.</p>

13

My son’s website has been helpful for many students. He did it a couple of years ago but it is still relevant. </p>

[Hank’s</a> History Hour](<a href=“http://hankshistoryhour.com/]Hank’s”>http://hankshistoryhour.com/)</p>

14

My school’s statistics from last year (EHAP is a sophomore AP) were</p>

88/96 pass</p>

30 5’s </p>

we use </p>

2 textbooks: Palmer 10th edition and McKay/Hill 8th edition “A History of Western Society”
review book: Modern European History (Viault)
and 2 prep books (usually barrons and princeton review)</p>

15

Redondo Dave, your son’s website rocks, although some of his language was kind of unexpected, but that’s just my opinion.</p>

16

^ really? I don’t think his language got worse than “sucks”</p>

But I agree, Hank’s History Hour is awesome.</p>

17

Guys, do any of you have any ideas what might be on the FRQ’s this year?</p>

18

anyone have any released exams they’d be willing to share???</p>

19

So, Princeton Review is good enough for a 5? I’m using PR and Crash Course, can I get a 5 you think?</p>

20

I’m using Kaplan…Idk, I used Kaplan for AP history last year (APUSH) and liked it, so I got that for AP Euro too. However, I think my textbook is a better source, so I’m probably going to study that more than the Kaplan book anyways.</p>