AP US History HELP!

<p>To former AP US History takers-
how do you take on the multiple choice section? Our class's tests are all previous AP mult choice questions and I do terribly on these tests! It seems that no matter how hard I try and study, I'm still gambling on the questions... Every choice seems like potential answers! How should I study the American Pageant book? Which prep book should I get? Where can I find real practice AP US History questions?</p>

<p>I can't answer most of your questions, but when I took the class we got real AP US questions and most of us got like 80-90%. On the actual test it was a pretty similar experience. Maybe you aren't using a very good book or your teacher isn't very good (we're lucky to have a very good APUSH teacher). Btw, the material I used hands-down more than anything else (actually, I only studied from this) is the infamous Brown Book, written by Mike Mladineo, Edward Liu, and Michael Liu. If you try a google search for ~ "brown book" AP "united states" ~ you should find it. I think it's actually titled "Discover America" or something. Indispensable.</p>

<p>read Amsco on the section you are on before every test. BTW I have both Pagaent and "Enduring Vision" and Enduring Vision is a much better book.</p>

<p>I know a special trick from Sesame Street and I got above 32 every time it's a song "one of these ones is not like the other ones, one of these ones does not not belong" lame I know but it works, 3 of them are always similar like all of them are nationalist policies or something like that. use your knowledge to deduce, kind of like analogies on the SAT eliminate the ones with the similar relationships</p>

<p>The Pageant is the APUSH Bible. Treat it with reverence.</p>

<p>As for the AP multiple choice questions... they're tricky! But read the question and the answers carefully. A lot of times, you skip over nuances, and a nuance might be the difference between the right + wrong answer. Do you find your problems are knowledge based or a problem in understanding the question? If they're knowledge based, spend more time studying + take better notes. If you're having problems deciphering the question, take your time, and relax... you'll get better with practice.</p>

<p>My advice is to take lots and lots of notes. I normally don't have to take notes, but for APUSH I would typically write 6 to 7 pages of notes per chapter of the Pageant. I always did great (set the curve all but once) on the multiple choice tests we did. Knowing every little detail, however mundane, definitely helps immensely. And, what's good is that even if it's something you didn't straight-out learn, you can put all the pieces together and figure it out easily.</p>

<p>I haven't taken the test year but our teacher does the same thing and I do pretty well on the tests. My advice is just look for the big picture. There are many common causes/effects that occur throughout history (depression leading to the spreading of new ideas, new political parties, etc.) Find trends because if you know basic trends then you can use deductive reasoning even if you are not completely sure. Also, my teacher also suggests not memorizing dates, but memorizing time periods because it is easier to group American history into administrations. If you focus on the dates and every little detail you are going to drive yourself crazy. Just my advice...I hope it helps!</p>

<p>My APUSH teacher is amazing...my advice to you is before you studying the text in depth, get the whole picture (the MAIN IDEA)!!! This is really important so that you understand the main trends. Skim the headings and stuff. Then, go into further detail by taking good notes. You should review your notes every now and then so that you don't forget. Then, before the test, go through the main headings and the main ideas again and don't get caught up with the little tiny details. And do skim through the AMSCO book - if you own it, highlight/underline. Good luck!</p>

<p><a href="http://www.irvinehigh.org/academics/socialsciences/resources%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.irvinehigh.org/academics/socialsciences/resources&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Ctrl+F and look up "Sewell", there's notes organized by years.</p>

<p>I read about 1/4 of the REA book and studied this thing the day before the test. The funny thing is that the test is laughibly easy compared to what they give you in the review books. Got a 4.</p>

<p>I use "The American Promise" and "The Story of America"(textbooks)...along with the REA APUSH Study Book and software...</p>

<p>beware of "The American Promise"..the book is HUGE like a dictionary and it doesn't have alot of pictures (college textbook)...I have to force myself to do the homework our teacher assigns us...the chapters are like 30+ pages long and no specific vocabulary or glossary..."The Story of America" is easier to understand though..I just use the REA book to study for tests</p>

<p>Thanks!!!!!!</p>

<p>If anyone wants my American Pageant notes (averaging about 4-5 pages typed per chapter), just send me a PM with your email and I'll send them to you.</p>

<p>Oh man, I loved APUSH.
I used REA, which was good for me because it's pretty detailed so I could really review sections I didn't remember that well, like colonial era. I never actually did a whole MC test, but the questions seemed around the same difficulty. I actually wish I had gotten that book earlier in the year, but luckily there was <a href="http://www.course-notes.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.course-notes.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Oh, and I have a whole folder of APUSH links on my comp at home, with sample tests/essays/sites/etc so I'll post that when I get home.</p>

<p>I used the Princeton Review book before the AP test and really liked it.</p>

<p>Don't use Enduring Visions as that one guy said in the beginning beacuse i use it too and it SUCKS BUTT</p>

<p>dang. You're lucky that you have all MC from AP tests for your class tests, cuz we're ALL ESSAYS. Like 7 essays in 50 min. CRAZY.</p>

<p>i need help with my notes</p>