<p>Which review books are you all getting for the new 2015 exam? Does anyone who took this class in the past think I should get the Crash Course book anyway even though it wasn’t made for the new exam? Did it just have really good information? Everyone loves it.</p>
<p>I took APUSH as a sophomore. I had an A+ the entire year, got a 5 on the AP exam, and a 750 on the subject test.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I feel like how difficult the class is really varies on your school and teacher, but APUSH is notorious for being very rigorous, with lots of coursework. Others have mentioned how many lectures there are, so maybe that’s a common thread. My class had tons of lectures. TAKE. NOTES. Even if nobody else is, and you think that you’ll remember the material anyway. Writing helps things to stick in your head, especially if your teacher’s lectures always overlap each other, so lots of material is repeated. But really, I was one of maybe 2 kids that regularly took notes in class. Near the AP exam, it got bumped up to maybe like, 4 or 5? </p></li>
<li><p>One of the best pieces of advice that I received in regards to APUSH (and really just AP classes in general) was from a senior that took the class when he was a sophomore, and got a 5. He was really fabulous and graded my practice essays, and was STILL ABLE TO REMEMBER LITTLE DETAILS. Little details that I, someone actually taking the class, totally missed or forgot about. And he came to all of our after school review sessions to help the teacher out. This was the guy that taught himself Latin and read his textbooks in his free time. We’re working with a genius here, OK? Anyway, he told me that he felt that as long as you read the textbook, you’ll get a 5. This was in the spring, a couple of months before the exam, and I was the only one still reading the textbook (really – he asked the class and I was the only one). I agree with him in principle. As long as you actually absorb the material, the textbook is your best friend ever, even if it’s really boring sometimes. My teacher had us do 10-40 guided questions per chapter, as well as 40-80 flashcards per chapter. Which really was arduous, but looking back on it, they really helped to reinforce knowledge. Most people just looked up all of the guided questions and flashcards (on like, Quizlet or something), and then they complained when they got 60% on their unit tests. </p></li>
<li><p>Which kinda leads me into my next point, which is that you WILL fail the first unit test. The first quiz. Whatever. It takes a bit to get used to the style of question, and learning how much knowledge you need to retain (hint: everything) to do well. Don’t let it discourage you. Learn from your mistakes and keep going.</p></li>
<li><p>Go to the after school review sessions. Go to your teacher in the morning for help. Take every opportunity that you can to get assistance. Your teacher will really appreciate this, and (sometimes) may even give you extra work or study guides. </p></li>
<li><p>My teacher only got to World War 2 in class before the AP exam. But in the after school review sessions, he covered everything past WWII, leading up to the second Bush administration. I was one of maybe 4 or 5 people that regularly attended review sessions after school (it was often only 2 people, sometimes just me), and it was nice to have a small group, because you got to ask really specific questions, and often designate what you would be reviewing that day. But anyway, going to the review sessions REALLY pays off. Because on my AP exam, the DBQ was on foreign policy from the end of WWI to the end of the Korean War. People that didn’t attend the review sessions later told me that they had no idea what was going on.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Anyway, in regards to review books, here are my thoughts…
I really just got my hands on any review book that I could. With experience from AP Government in my freshmen year, I kinda knew what I liked, but it’s a good idea to diversify with the books.</p>
<li>Barron’s: It can be a bit complicated. Good for use during the course, or reviewing really weak sections, but not for overall review. It would just take too long. </li>
</ul>
<p>-AMSCO: This book is WONDERFUL. Great help during the course, as well as review. It’s like a mini textbook. Really my favorite, I think. I HIGHLY recommend it!!!</p>
<p>-5 Steps to a 5: A senior friend just gave this to me, and it was OK. Better than Barron’s, and the practice tests were good, but other than that, just meh.</p>
<p>-REA Crash Course: This little thing is FABULOUS for review. Highlights important vocab terms. I used it in that I would highlight stuff that I didn’t know, and then go look it up in the AMSCO book.</p>
<p>Also, Barron’s flash cards are great for on-the-go review. And John Green’s Crash Course Youtube videos are great for when you don’t feel like reading or writing anymore, but know that you should be studying. Best of luck, and if you guys have any more questions, feel free to ask them!</p>
<p>I took the APUSH exam in 2013,</p>
<p>
AMSCO forever. Don’t get any other review book, unless you think you’re too lazy to read the whole thing, in which case get REA Crash Course. I found AMSCO helpful for the US History subject test, but Crash Course will suffice if you have less time.</p>
<p>
Easy. As long as you know your stuff, you got this. I’ve noticed that people in certain geographic areas tend to better (north > south), for some reason… makes me wonder what the teachers are teaching…</p>
<p>
I actually loved APUSH. I thought I hated history, but upon taking this class, I realized that it was really the teacher that makes the class, and now I’m going to take an American history class at my college.</p>
<p>
5.</p>
<p>
Pretty easy, if I recall correctly. It’s all very general, first of all, and not specific like the subject test. There were some I didn’t know, but if you play around with APPass, you’ll learn you only need to score a certain amount of points to get a 5.</p>
<p>
It was all right. I got tired after writing 2 essays. You can write it in any order you please, and personally I prefer most comfortable to least comfortable. You’ll probably know at least 1 out of the 3 or 2 options they give you, so that’s good.</p>
<p>
Class: Figure out what reading you have to do to ace the class. I actually did worse first quarter reading my textbook, but once I realized that reading the powerpoints to the textbook/getting a general idea from the review book saved more time (to work on other classes), I did that, and I received an A year average.</p>
<p>Test: I started reading my review book/AMSCO over April vacation. Basically start reading the book a month before, since it’s long. Take the US History subject test in May, and finish the book before then. For the writing, just make sure you know how to write a DBQ/essay.</p>
<p>Good Day.
I am a rising Senior, who took AP US History last year as a Junior. I will answer your questions with the best advice I can give you, based on my personal experience of course. Before I begin, I will say that I was able to get a 5 on the exam thanks to my teacher and other various sources. </p>
<li><p>What textbook did we use?
My class used The American Pageant 11th Edition. After having taken AP European History my Sophomore year (which I got a 1 on the exam) I can say that the AP US book was a godsend compared to the ■■■■■■ European History book - a piece of crap if you ask me. While the American Pageant is by no means an “easy” read, it is a tolerable book that I think did a good job on teaching history. Not to mention, I loved its jokes hehehe!</p></li>
<li><p>What did I think of the test?
My perfect score of 5 reflects the work of my teacher, as well as my individual work. In that sense, since my teacher prepared us quite well, I can say that the test was enjoyable. (yes, for the first time in my life I enjoyed taking a test). However, the reason to that was because I was very well prepared. My teacher gave my class 2 practice final exams; that served us quite well. In addition, the most amazing thing that my teacher did was to guess the exam’s DBQ! I know, sounds crazy right? On the second final exam, the DBQ question that she gave us was EXACTLY the same as the one from the actual exam (no kidding). The information was all the same. Basically, all I had to do was recall the information that I had put on the other exam and just put it on the real one. But nonetheless, the difficulty of the test will depend on how well prepared you are. Simple as that. </p></li>
<li><p>Good APUSH related books?
AP US History Crash Course and AMSCO were my two bibles. Those two combined will come as a bless. However, if you decide to buy AMSCO, read it ALL. Do not read it 2 weeks before the exam, otherwise you will want to die. </p></li>
<li><p>Do/did I enjoy AP US History?
Prior to taking the class, I was under the impression that the class would be a complete nightmare (based on hearing the experiences of those who had taken it). AP US History has the reputation of being a painful class. However, after having taken it, all I can say is that I enjoyed history like never before. It all felt like a long journey - from learning of the pre-Columbus era to the late 1900’s - it was fantastic. I was actually sad when the class ended. However, your enjoyment will strongly depend on the teacher. </p></li>
<li><p>How did I do?
I already answered this question.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>-What did I think of the MC?
Pretty straightforward. However, you really need to know your history A LOT. </p>
<li><p>What did I think of the essays?
I already answered this question.
I forgot to mention the FRQ’s though. I thought they were easy. Definitely the best questions ever. </p></li>
<li><p>What advice would I give you?
Coming from someone who got a 5, the best advice I can give you is to read the texbook! If your textbook sucks, then buy yourself AMSCO. It works as a textbook. In this class, you ACTUALLY HAVE TO STUDY. <em>gasp</em>
Yes, STUDY STUDY STUDY like hell. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>Also, I must add that AP US History is by no means an easy class, obviously. If you are not willing to dedicate approximately 1-2 hrs of homework daily, then this class is not for you. In addition, if you hate history in general, then do your self a favor and don’t waste your time. Don’t take it because someone is forcing you to, otherwise you will live in a nightmare for the rest of your Junior year. </p>
<p>In the end, AP US History was indeed the most time-consuming class; but it was also the most rewarding class. </p>
<p>As for your last question, do I love America?</p>
<p>Taking AP US History made me learn the dirty things the US has done in its past. But it also has its good things, ya know? It’s like a 50/50. Well, for me maybe a 60/50. I like it more than I dislike it. It’s the “country of opportunities” as many claim. But history has proven that all great/powerful nations eventually fall into ashes. Let’s see if the United States of America will be able to contradict that.</p>
<p>Got a 5 last spring. Can’t say that all review books are going to help, but the best one to choose is AMSCO for sure. Otherwise, there are a freaking TON of resources out there online that can help you with the course. Majority of people are not willing to share them with others due to wanting to keep the advantage to themselves. Anyway, you’re here on CC so why not?</p>
<p>YouTube videos: </p>
<p>There are surprisingly a ton of vids out there to help you out in APUSH. These are great if you need a quick recap that can deliver plenty of info specific to the course. Personally, they are far more helpful then John Green’s Crash Course. Crash Course is good for entertainment and some knowledge, but it can be a bit to broad in terms of information that you will need in class and on the test. They’re great imo, but they shouldn’ be the only vids you’re watching. </p>
<p>Channels: (SUBSCRIBE TO THEM!!!)</p>
<p>ADAM NORRIS – <a href=“Adam Norris - YouTube”>https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC223Rd7yCfDo9fv6ENdNp9Q</a></p>
<p>This guy is amazing. He does recap videos that cover each chapter in the American Pageant and a few other popular APUSH textbooks. His recap vids cover the basic important stuff you need to know for each chapter. These were great for reviewing before chapter tests. He also has some other stuff that goes deeper into important subjects and topics you need to know.</p>
<p>KEITH HUGHES – <a href=“Hip Hughes - YouTube”>https://www.youtube.com/user/hughesDV</a></p>
<p>Another great guy. He covers more specific topics in an entertaining way. He has a ton of stuff out there, ranging from elections to time periods. </p>
<p>RECAP VID’S: </p>
<p>I watched all of them two days before the exam. These will help get you a 5 for sure. Worked for me. These are great and help supplement whatever textbook you have. Everything covered in these vids appeared on the exam. They’re roughly 2 hours long each but are totally worth it. </p>
<p><a href=“The Super Duper Awesome #APUSH LIVE Review w/ Tom Richey and HipHughes - YouTube”>The Super Duper Awesome #APUSH LIVE Review w/ Tom Richey and HipHughes - YouTube;
<p>PART 1: <a href=“APUSH Review: Final Exam Review Part I (Colonial America - Civil War) - YouTube”>APUSH Review: Final Exam Review Part I (Colonial America - Civil War) - YouTube;
<p>PART 2: <a href=“APUSH Review: Final Exam Review, Part II (Reconstruction - Present Day) - YouTube”>APUSH Review: Final Exam Review, Part II (Reconstruction - Present Day) - YouTube;
<p>STUDY TIPS:</p>
<p>APUSH is a class heavily based on reading. If you don’t read you will set yourself up for disaster. I maintained an A throughout my class even when we transferred teachers two times through reading the book. The best thing to do is read each chapter TWICE. First time is to set yourself up with the main ideas, second to dive deeper into them. Three times if I had trouble grasping an idea. Majority of my notes were on subjects and their causations. You do not need to take every single detail down, just the general ideas. It’s important to know these key terms when you’re writign down your essays or answering the multiple choice section. Even with the change in exam format this should always apply. </p>
<p>THE BEST TIP OF ALL:</p>
<p>Enjoy it. You know how you tend to do worse in classes you detest, the same applies here. The more you hate APUSH, the worse you’ll do in class and on the test. The class can be annoying, I know, but try to find some enjoyment within it. </p>
<p>As always, keep track of assignments and due dates. NEVER BACK DOWN. Being organized and just doing your work on time is a lot more enjoyable and tolerable then doing it all last minute. </p>
<p>I’ll probably make another post on how to conquer the essay later. It really isn’t that hard so long as you know some tips. Even with the change in format, many things still apply in the long run.</p>
<p>~ FISH </p>
<p>-What are the best prep books?</p>
<p>Wouldn’t know, didn’t use any.</p>
<p>-What textbook are you using?</p>
<p>Pretty sure every school uses the AP edition of the textbook whose name I always forget. Something like “another road” or “another journy” or something. Kind of embarrassed I don’t remember it. I always forgot the name of it even when I was still in APUSH.</p>
<p>-Previous students: what did you think of the test?</p>
<p>Easy, focused wayyy too much on certain subjects (civil rights, ugh) though. Didn’t even touch upon certain periods.</p>
<p>DBQ was actually thought provoking, the other two FRQs sucked. </p>
<p>-How are you going to prepare for the test?</p>
<p>I didn’t prepare for the exam at all and I got a four. Honestly, if you’re intelligent (which you should be if you’re taking an AP class) you don’t need to study for a four. Hell, if I did all of my reading guides and wasn’t sick the day of the test I probably would have gotten a five.</p>
<p>-Good APUSH related books?</p>
<p>Dunno</p>
<p>-Do you enjoy APUSH?</p>
<p>It was pretty fun.</p>
<p>-How did you do?</p>
<p>4/5</p>
<p>-What did you think of the MC?</p>
<p>Easy. But like 10 questions were on subjects that we couldn’t even go over in class because it ended in June instead of may. Needless to say there was a collective “ugh” when we went over those subjects in class. Gussing I got 60-65/80 on MC</p>
<p>-What did you think of the Writing?</p>
<p>DBQ was amazing for what it’s worth, probably got a 5-6/9 on that. First FRQs were complete crap. Second FRQs were workable. Guessing 1/9 on first FRQ, 3/9 on second.</p>
<p>-What advice would you give to someone taking the class/test?</p>
<p>There’s a big curve from the “solid 4” to the “solid 5”. If you want a (solid) 5, you need to study your ass off for 30+ hours in the weeks leading up to the exam. If you want a (solid) 4, you simply need to pay attention in class.</p>
<p>-Do you love America? </p>
<p>Yes. A lot of people who take APUSH become disillusioned with America, and carry a lot of white guilt. It’s disgusting.</p>
<p>I’ll be taking APUSH this coming school year. Personally, I love history and have always been dissatisfied with the amount of knowledge my previous years in school have given me in the US History realm. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>I’ve perused various forums here on CC and also read reviews on various sites, and I, like many others, have concluded that AMSCO’s book (United States History: Preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination) and the REA Crash Course books are the best for test prep. I am unsure as to whether or not buying a 2015 edition of the AMSCO book will be necessary, hopefully someone else can weigh in on this. The AMSCO book I would normally buy a used copy for sake of money, but with the completely new test format in 2015 I feel like a 2015 edition of the AMSCO book would be more beneficial than an older edition. Granted, the cheapest I’ve been able to find the AMSCO 2015 edition has been for $18.95 + shipping and tax from the AMSCO website, and I feel like I’m going to buy the AMSCO 2015 edition just for sake of being current. Also, I would recommend REA Crash Course based on the praise people have given it. My plan for prep is to start reading AMSCO at the beginning of the year, both to prepare for the exam and supplement my textbook, and also review REA Crash Course about 2 weeks before the test. </p></li>
<li><p>My school is using the Out of Many: A History of the American People, Advanced Placement Edition, Revised Third Edition. It’s an older edition, I think it came out in '03, but that’s what my school’s using. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>I’ve also heard good things about John Green’s Crash Courses on Youtube, but personally I haven’t tried any of this out yet. Like some of you, I’m visiting this forum because I’ll be going into APUSH and I’m trying to do the best thing to get a 5/800. </p>
<p>Have any of you gotten summer homework? Our homework was sort of mild, four chapters out of the textbook with chapter outlines and vocab. IMO, the outlines for our chapters (31 chapters, each about 30 pages) take a very long time. Does anyone else share my dilemma? I’ve had to handwrite chapter outlines, and they’ve taken me like 3 hours each.</p>
<p>All in all, I’m looking forward to APUSH and the challenge it presents me. Good luck to you all!</p>
<p>@picknroll222 - YES. My school uses the same textbook as yours and we had to read the first four chapters for our summer assignment, too. I type my outlines, but they still take me ~3 hours to complete. Whoops…</p>
<p>Hey y’all I’m currently taking an APUSH class and we use Eric Foner’s Give Me Liberty as the textbook. A few friends of mine are compiling and taking notes that we hope to make into a course summary.(We did something with similar AP Stats last year) For those of you self studying or if you want extra study material feel free to notify me and I will share them with you.</p>
<p>D is using the AMSCO 2105 edition. Does anyone have the answer key?</p>
<p>adzima.■■■■■■■■■■/uploads/1/3/3/0/13303559/amscoanswers.doc</p>
<p>This is a word document download for the answers to AMSCO. </p>
<p>Do any of you guys have notes/outlines that go with the 2015 AMSCO book? I’m going to be reading it, but I find it helpful to have an outline too.</p>
<p>Are any of you in school districts or states that are protesting the supposed “left-leaning” APUSH standard?</p>
<p><a href=“Texas State Education Board Passes Resolution to Stop Redesigned AP US History”>http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-Texas/2014/09/20/Texas-State-Education-Board-Passes-Resolution-to-Stop-Redesigned-AP-US-History-APUSH</a></p>
<p><a href=“Texas Rejects New AP US History Framework - The American Interest”>http://www.the-american-interest.com/blog/2014/09/20/texas-rejects-new-ap-us-history-framework/</a></p>
<p><a href=“Jeffco students protest proposed “censorship” of history curriculum – The Denver Post”>Jeffco students protest proposed “censorship” of history curriculum – The Denver Post; </p>
<p>The practice test for the new format is now on the college board website. Does anyone have an answer key for this?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>@somanywindows Can you post the link</p>
<p>I took the class last year and got a 4. I don’t want to repeat everything people have said already but here are a few of my thoughts looking back on it.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I don’t how people can think you don’t need to study “if you’re decently smart”. There’s so much material to get through and so many little details that just paying attention in class isn’t enough. READ THE BOOK! Take notes as you go so you can come back to them later and remind yourself what in the world you read. If you think you’ll remember everything, give up that dream now. </p></li>
<li><p>The MC really isn’t that bad. They definitely cover almost everything, but when it comes down to it, there’ll only be a question or two on a given topic. It’s luck of the draw as to what will be asked specifically, but don’t stress out over remembering every single fact/date/detail. </p></li>
<li><p>The essays on the other hand are almost like the lottery. They can ask about anything and everything, and you just have to hope you’ll be familiar enough with a particular subject to write about it. I think the reason I got a 4 and not a 5 was because one of the essays was about very early America and I just couldn’t come up with enough info about it. There are a few things you can expect, like what time periods the essays will be pulled from, but other than that just try to know a few facts about every main era. As for the DBQ, DO NOT WORRY. AT ALL. It is literally the easiest essay you’ll ever write, because they give all the information you need. As long as you have a basic understanding of the documents and can take facts and use them as evidence to support your point (which you’ve been doing since 2nd grade), you will be fine. </p></li>
<li><p>Read books about things that interest you. Often times, the people who write incredible essays read a book on the prompt and know it inside-out because of it. This goes for the MC as well. Books are just another way to help you become more familiar with the material, and they’ll go much farther in-depth than any textbook will. I read Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, and much to my surprise, there was a MC question referencing it. It was total luck, but it certainly helped. I also read a book about the building of the Panama Canal, and though there wasn’t anything on the test specifically about that, it gave me a whole new perspective on the earlier 1900’s and some of the foreign policy during that time. </p></li>
<li><p>Don’t drive yourself crazy remembering dates for every single little event that happened. You’ll go insane before it starts helping you. Keep track of the super important ones, but you don’t need to remember everything. Instead, memorize the presidents. This was a requirement for my class, and though it was torture at the time, it helped SO much. Make flashcards of each president, the dates of their terms, and 1-3 major pieces of legislation/big things that happened during their presidency, and memorize them in order and you’ll be set. For the essays, you’ll have facts to associate with a time period and a person, and this will also help with the miscellaneous MC questions. </p></li>
<li><p>Practice, practice, practice! I’m sure that’s an obvious one, but don’t wait until the week before to start doing some practice MC’s and essays. A big thing with the MC is managing your time. It won’t help if you don’t even get a chance to look at the last ten questions, so work on pacing yourself more than anything. As for the essays, work on your thesis. My teacher always said tell them what you’re going to tell them (intro/thesis), tell them it (body paragraphs), and then tell them what you told them in slightly different words (conclusion). This isn’t English class. Forget the flowery language and work on getting your point across clearly and efficiently. Back to my original point, your thesis will serve as your guide. If you can come up with it within two minutes or so, you’ll have much more time to do the actual writing of the essays. It will help you stay on topic and make sure you don’t forget what you were going to talk about. </p></li>
<li><p>Find review videos on Youtube. Personally, I loved John Green’s Crash Course, but I’m definitely biased there for reasons I don’t need to go into (if you get my username, you’ll know). Don’t use this to learn the material the first time around, but rather as a second source to help keep your memory fresh and help you understand what you’re reading in your textbook. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>I think that’s all I’ve got to say for now, so hopefully this helps some of you! </p>
<p>So I’m just curious, how far is everybody so far? My teacher’s been gone for the past two/three weeks so I’m afraid that we won’t finish on time. Right now we are in the 1800-1860s period, maybe a few chapters away from the civil war</p>
<p>@Zeppelin7 My teacher has been here all year and we’re just at the antebellum period now, just finished Jackson last week, so it doesn’t seem like you’re too far behind!</p>
<p>Also, does anyone have a good way to study for the new multiple choices? It’s been a steep adjustment from the more structured AP Euro for me, especially since neither teacher nor student knows how to deal with this new, funky format.</p>
<p>Are any of you planning on entering the College Board/Atlantic essay contest? I took APUSH last year and my teacher hunted me down in the hallway to tell me all about it. </p>
<p>Hello, I am a senior who took the APUSH course and test in Junior year
I will try to answer your questions as best as I can </p>
<p>-What are the best prep books?
For me, personally, the Barron’s books are good - you should buy the Barrons AP Gov book and the Barron’s crash course book which is a lot more concise, but it’s a good guideline </p>
<p>-What textbook are you using?
I think I used the American Pageant Textbook (which was a College textbook I learned) </p>
<p>-Previous students: what did you think of the test?
I thought that some questions were very easy, and very difficult.
You should know your current history WELL and details are very important too</p>
<p>-How are you going to prepare for the test?
I started studying a month before the test</p>
<p>-Good APUSH related books?
didn’t really use any; but I took a lot of practice tests online which was very important </p>
<p>-Do you enjoy APUSH?
It was my favorite subject, and I thought it was easier than other history subjects because America only has 200 years of history </p>
<p>After scores are received/Students who have taken it already:
-How did you do? I did better than I expected - 4; but there is a better curve on this test and I had a HORRIBLE teacher who did nothing but showed us Youtube videos about unrelated stuff so basically I had to learn everything by myself
-What did you think of the MC? - some of them asked very detailed questions, and they were very long
-What did you think of the Writing? it wasn’t bad; but you should know major events and eras. And, you will be writing a lot. I was very tired and I had to take a short mental break.
-What advice would you give to someone taking the class/test? - don’t rely on the teachers and study on your own </p>
<p>hope this helps! </p>