I recently bought the Kaplan AP U.S. History 2011 book, and I’m not liking it at all. It doesn’t hold my attention, I can’t understand it very well, the few terms that it has aren’t explained well or at all, and the end of the chapter exams are only 5 questions and don’t have much to do with the reading. Last year I took AP European History; I started studying in April from 5 Steps to a 5 and the REA Crash Course and, thinking I would get a 3, I got a 4. If I got that same combination of books (5 Steps to a 5 + Crash Course) and I started studying in January, would I able to confidently think I got a 4/5? The class is easier than European History. I think I understand the general idea more than I did last year and I can write more smoothly than I could last year.</p>
Nevermind, I ended up getting the Crash Course and the Sparknotes guide (the 5 Steps to a 5 for U.S. History is a bit too jumbled for me).</p>
Best books for APUSH are REA Crash Course and AMSCO.</p>
Since we’re still six months out, I have to say I LOVED the regular REA book. The practice tests were REALLY realistic, and the review was concise enough to read, but lengthy enough to provide a good review.</p>
… I got a 5, btw.</p>
I actually borrowed an older edition of the longer REA book a week ago that I get to keep until after the AP exam 
I used it for European history last year too and it was very helpful and detailed.</p>
free and better than any prep book since it tells you what you need to study based on your exam results:</p>
[-</a> AP US History Practice Tests - AP US History Exam Review Course -](<a href=“http://www.apexamreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=562&Itemid=70]-”>http://www.apexamreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=562&Itemid=70)</p>
What about PR? I already bought it but do you think I should get something else too?</p>
PR is good. I almost bought it, but I purchased Kaplan and Crash Course instead. It was an easy 5, thanks to Crash Course. You MUST get that book.</p>
I have heard good things about Crash Course. I used AMSCO and skimmed over Princeton Review. I got a 5.</p>
I really liked the REA book with the practice tests on CD when I took it last year. I followed the suggested schedules in the book (with a few modifications for when I got lazy lol) and I feel like it prepared me pretty well, since I got a 5. Good luck with however you decide to prepare.</p>
Did you guys just read the book or take notes along with it? I’ve been taking notes and it’s taking me too long and I’m afraid I won’t be able to throughly review if I keep doing so…</p>
I read the textbook and I outline and it takes an extremely long time, but I can’t understand the textbook if I just read it so I have to outline. I’m sure I’ll be able to review enough to get a 5 (I took euro last year and went in knowing very little and feeling not confident because I was so nervous and I got a 4).</p>
how about the DBQs? so far throughout the whole year our class has only done 1 DBQ for APUSH and our teacher keeps saying its easy since you have the documents but HOW do i actually write/use the documents, etc. effectively? oh and does Crash Course also help with the other FRQ since FRQs require like details?</p>
^ What is the best resource for the DBQ and Free Response Questions? Why is it the best?</p>