AP US Government and Politics Textbook?

Test Preparation AP History & Social Sciences
1

I am just beginning to self-study AP US GOVT with a textbook called “Government in America: people, politics, and policy”

However, I bought the 2012 election edition when there was the newest 2014 edition available. (I thought 2012 was the most recent one)

So here’s my question

  1. I heard that keeping up with dates is very crucial to succeed in this exam . true? Should I turn this back and buy the newest version of the textbook?

  2. And do the current events appear in the exam? do I have to keep up with them? If so, how? I dont understand a single thing in politics so just simply going to cnn and reading politics section doesnt help me. I just dont understand.

  3. Where do I get textbook online notes?(I couldnt really find it in google) Cuz I find taking my own notes very time consuming.

Thanks

2
  1. No. It usually takes 5 years minimum for new content to get on the exam. Dates are in fact very important but having the 2012 edition in 2015 should make no difference in your performance on the exam.
  2. Yeah some current events do appear on the exam, not specific events, but rather large, broad areas of events (i.e, environmental policy as opposed to environmental policy change in 2015). It would serve you well to just read the New York Times and watch CNN. Also I know this sounds weird but watch the Colbert Report. Before trying to read the politics section you should have a fundamental understanding about how the Legislative, Judiciary, and Executive branches all work, and of the current government.
  3. Taking your own notes is really boring and time consuming but it does help. If you need quick review, you should watch the Crash Course Government videos on Youtube and Adam Norris’s AP Government Chapter Reviews (Also on youtube).
    Hope I helped! :slight_smile: