<p>I'm really confused, I've read the consolidated book suggestions thread but it's all a bunch of questions with little answers. Basically, my teacher for next year is not very good. So:</p>
<p>Barrons</p>
<p>Princeton Review</p>
<p>5 Steps to a 5 </p>
<p>Petersons</p>
<p>Other</p>
<p>which one/s? Please let me know and why you go with your choice. THANKS!</p>
<p>I have no idea what Peterson’s is. I thought Kaplan was pretty good for review, Barron’s as well. Maybe go with Barron’s since it’s the most accurate (Princeton too tough and Kaplan a bit too easy). Although Princeton’s has really hard practice tests, the review is not bad either. Honestly, it’s up to you, any will suffice. You could also use a combination like I did.</p>
<p>I used Ethel Wood’s book and I most likely got a five. It is everything you need for the multiple choice as long as you think about the connections between civilizations, how they changed together et cetera. It also has practice MC DBQ CC CCOT at the end of each section. I personally haven’t used any of the other review books listed.</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> AP World History: An Essential Coursebook (9780974348148): Ethel Wood: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/AP-World-History-Essential-Coursebook/dp/0974348147/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274758729&sr=8-2]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/AP-World-History-Essential-Coursebook/dp/0974348147/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274758729&sr=8-2)</p>
<p>I used Princeton Review and I got a 5. That being said, I only really found the history review and the DBQ sections helpful - I wouldn’t follow their advice for COT or CaC essays, and I only used the book at the end of the eyar, for review.</p>
<p>Princeton is amazing. I followed it through the year before each unit test, and then read it once again before the AP test. I only used one practice test and I didn’t find it too helpful… But the history review is Magnificent!</p>
<p>I read Princeton two days before the test and got a 5. It explains the DBQ and other essays well, and I think there was a useful timeline (review)… So definitely buy Princeton…</p>
<p>It depends on what you are looking for in a review book. I thought Princeton was a great, concise review for the month before the test. The practice MC were a lot more difficult than the actual MC questions. I thought it prepared me well, though my opinion probably isn’t very helpful since I haven’t gotten my scores back yet.</p>
<p>I did not use Barron’s myself, but the general consensus seems to be that it is much more detailed than PR. If that appeals to you more than the general (but still useful) info that PR provides, then go with Barrons. Or you could get both of them.</p>
<p>I took the test this year, so I can’t tell you authoritatively that Princeton helped me since I don’t know my score (but I felt like I got a 5). </p>
<p>However, I think that Princeton definitely over-prepared me - their “rubric” thing was “aim for 50 + raw score on multiple choice to get a 3 or above” where 45 or above is a 5 usually.</p>
<p>I think that’s a GREAT thing because it made me less nervous on the actual exam - it felt like a breeze.</p>
<p>In class, we took a practice exam (the 2002 version) and I got 57/70, compared to 47/70 on each of the Princeton review tests. That just shows you the difference.</p>
<p>With a bad teacher, I would read the Princeton Review. It is very good at explaining topics</p>
<p>I used the PR a couple of years ago, and it was great for the exam. My teacher was decent though. Nevertheless, as long as you keep up with textbook readings throughout the school year, PR should get you through!</p>
<p>How about the AP Achiever for it?</p>