I am currently self studying for the AP Psychology exam however I would like some advice/tips regarding what/how to study for the exam from people who took the test & got a 5. I have the following resources:
-Baron’s Review Book
-Baron’s 500 Flashcards 2nd edition
-REA Crash Course
-Mc Graw Hill 5 steps to get a 5
So I have 2 questions:
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If I study these books will this be enough to get a 5 / master the material needed for the AP exam? If not, what other resources are needed? Which is the most important review book to study from?
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Also should I only look at review books like the ones listed above or should I get proper textbooks?
Please respond if you can give some helpful advice on how you studied and got a 5 on the exam! thanks
Hi there! I too am self-studying for the AP Psychology exam. The only resources I’m using right now are Barron’s which is more than enough (it overprepares you, the practice questions are harder than on the AP exam), and Myers’ Psychology (not the AP edition). Sometimes Barron’s can explain a few concepts or definitions in unclear or more complicated ways, so if I’m not feeling confident about a concept, I will look it up and read about it on the textbook to refine what I know. I barely use the textbook, only for clarification of things.
So far, I think I’m doing quite well. I study by taking notes on the material in each chapter, then doing the practice questions at the end. I scored pretty well on a practice midterm I got online, and I’m pretty confident about this exam. When it’s almost exam time I’m planning to get Princeton just for the extra review questions, and to see if Barron’s missed anything that Princeton didn’t (I doubt though).
So yeah. In summary, yes, those books are more than enough to get you a 5. If you want to be safe, get a textbook to refine your knowledge. It’s up to you, and how confident you feel.
My D got a 5 self studying. She used the Myers text book, Crash Course, and 5 steps to a 5. She needed and used all three. She studied for three weeks. Based on research that I did, I determined those were the best study guides. The text book is necessary. Good luck.
How are the flash cards working out for you? I am also self-studying AP Psych, and I only bought the Barron’s book and the Princeton Review book. Both of those seem to be fine, but I’ll get whatever resources it takes to get a 5 xD