<p>I know everyone around here likes AMSCO or REA for knowing the material, but does anybody know a good APUSH prep book for strategy- tips for writing DBQs and FRQs, scoring, etc.? Anybody know the APUSH formula for scoring (like this: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ap-tests-preparation/393288-ap-english-lang.html#post4682534%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ap-tests-preparation/393288-ap-english-lang.html#post4682534</a> )?</p>
<p>AMSCO has strategies and tips for writing the DBQs and FRQs</p>
<p>I used Fast Track to a 5: AP US History and I got a 5.</p>
<p>o_O Thanks for both the responses. golddustwoman, do you think Fast Track to a Five would be better than Barron's or PR, etc.? and UnleashedFury- cool, I did not know that. I currently have REA and it has practice tests and sample answers, but no essay-writing advice. The type of stuff I'm looking for are tips I've seen on these boards and wouldn't have known if not for them- DBQs should have 50% from the documents and 50% outside info, you can refer to previous historical events but not later ones, etc.</p>
<p>I used the Fast Track too and it is DEFINITLEY better than Barron's and PR (i used both of them too). Fast track summarizes the info really well but doesn't leave out the important stuff like i found that PR did. if you can find the book online i would recomend getting it. i know that using that book was the reason i got a 5</p>
<p>I used sparknotes and Princeton Review. God bless sparknotes AP Powerpack-the procrastinators dream. P.S. I got a 5 ;)</p>
<p>yeah sparknotes for strategy would be good but i liked amsco for everything.</p>
<p>I don't really think that "strategy" is all that important--you need to KNOW the facts. No amount of strategies is going to help you on your DBQ if you don't know the material. That being said, Fast Track to a 5 + my textbook + loads of studying is what earned me a 5. I didn't study -any- strategies. I knew the information, I got a 5. It's that simple.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice, y'all. I'll definitely look into Sparknotes and Fast Track to a 5. </p>
<p>Some background: I'm in an online APUSH class, using The American Pageant. After reading the assigned chapters from the book, we have good, in-depth assessments/essays and outlines. I read the text carefully (and will probably get one of the prep books to review before the AP exam), and I'm confident I'll have a good grasp of the material from that combination. I was just worried because the class syllabus doesn't include specific AP exam prep for the essays and such. But, golddustwoman, if I'm reading your post correctly, if I know the material from the class (and have solid general writing skills), I don't have to worry about experience with how to write the essays?</p>
<p>Precisely. The DBQs are an information dump--if you know the information, you'll get it. You don't need to worry about writing an eloquent and creative essay.</p>
<p>Take this into consideration: When an AP grader goes to do your essay, they've got a ruberic with a list of "terms" or "topics" you should have covered. Say there are 8 total needed to get full points--they're just going to look through your essay and see how many you have. If you have 5, then that's that. You need to be clear and concise. There aren't any "hidden secrets" to writing a good AP exam essay. Just know what you're talking about and you're going to be fine.</p>
<p>It was lucky for me because with this past year's DBQ, I had studied a major part of what my essay would cover the night before. No matter what anybody tells you: Studying the night before HELPS SO MUCH. :)</p>
<p>So basically the DBQ and FRQ are just like any other essay with the supporting details and all that? So you don't need, say, the concession or anything?</p>
<p>Man, I was so worried about that part. Cause I get the facts easy, but essay-writing not so much.</p>
<p>Also, where does one find the AMSCO book? I went looking at the local Borders just now and couldn't find it. Got the REA though. :]</p>
<p>^^^ You can find AMSCO on Amazon, and I would highly recommend it!</p>
<p>Basically. You don't need the "Although I have this concession, this is my thesis because of X, Y, and Z." It's nothing like the AP language and comp exam.</p>
<p>Like I said before, you just need to take the topic they give you and give specific terms and dates, etc. Be able to connect things like farmers in X time to Y time to "Hey the civil war happened" so you know the economics and farming in the west and the south pre-war, the canals, railroads, and transportation system, the aftermath of the war, the way the farmers reclaimed stuff after industrialization (populism, goldbugs, william jennings bryan(t), etc.).</p>
<p>It's like amalgamating a lot of stuff into a cohesive essay filled with terms, events, and dates.</p>
<p>One more question: does anybody have (from a prep book or whatever) the formula for how essays and M.C. are weighted in APUSH scoring? What I'm talking about is like this, except that it's from a different test: </p>
<p>"Multiple Choice
(# correct) - (1/4 x # wrong, excluding questions left blank) = ___ x 1.296 = multiple choice raw score</p>
<p>Free Response
1. Score from essay # 1 (out of 9 points) x 2.933 = ___
2. Score from essay # 2 (out of 9 points) x 2.933 = ___
3. Score from essay # 3 (out of 9 points) x 2.933 = ___
Add 1, 2, and 3 together = free response raw score</p>
<p>Multiple choice raw score + free response raw score = composite score</p>
<p>Composite Score Range
114 - 144 = AP Grade 5
88 - 113 = AP Grade 4
67 - 87 = AP Grade 3
40 - 66 = AP Grade 2
0 - 39 = AP Grade 1"</p>
<p>multiple choice: (correct -.25wrong)1.125=max 90</p>
<p>DBQ: score out of 9 x 4.5
FRQ: score out of 9 x2.75
FRQ: scoreoutof 9 x 2.75</p>
<p>max essay score: 90</p>
<p>110-180 = 5</p>
<p>^^ thanks. What book is that from?</p>
<p>AMSCO = automatic 5.</p>
<p>Dropped out of US History, read it a week before the exam, made some notecards. Got a five... guess who doesn't need to retake US History? Me... that's who.</p>
<p>iin77, how did u possibly pull that off?
is amsco really that good? , and just to confirm i have the right book - its the mid size book with the american flag on front and back?</p>
<p>also, anyone know how good 5 steps to a 5 is?</p>
<p>i was wondering about the 5 STEPS TO A 5 book as well
im most likely gettin AMSCO and i dont feel like wasting too much money on other stuff
however, i heard AMSCO duznt have many practice tests
so shud i get a book with practice test or am i good to go???</p>
<p>i cant find the answers to the MC questions in amsco. where are they located? haha i feel dumb</p>