<p>I have a few questions. If you think this is repetitive or redundant in this forum, don't answer.</p>
<p>The review books published by Barrons, REA, PR, etc.: are they just consolidated textbooks, or do they only contain the necessary "goods" to get a 5 on the AP test? </p>
<p>Are textbooks necessary to get a 5? Should I be taking notes the entire year out of my textbook, or should I get a review book? Or both?</p>
<p>How difficult is the APUSH test relative to other AP tests?</p>
<p>What are the best review/prep books?</p>
<ol>
<li>Generally, a review book of any kind does not provide sufficient material for you to earn a 5 on the AP.</li>
<li>Both would be the best solution. The textbook is your best resource throughout the year; it provides the greatest detail and thereby helps the most with the essays. Having said that, no one remembers every single factoid from the book and this is where the review book comes into play. In my opinion, you get the most out of the review book if you use it say a month before the AP exam to briefly review the material and hopefully spark your brain into action so you can remember some of the texbook factoids.</li>
<li>This is way too subjective to answer with any degree of certainty because some people prefer sciences to history and your interest in a subject always makes it "easier." I enjoy history, so I found the AP very easy. From what I understand, a lot of people take the exam so the surve is relatively generous.</li>
<li>My class used the American Pageant so I found the Course Notes to be the most comprehensive, but quite a few people like REA.</li>
</ol>
<p>I beg to differ...the Sparknotes SATII books was the only source from which I learned APUS last year (besides the few lectures in class that I paid attention to) and I got a 5. That book is good, so get it.</p>
<p>I agree with s snack.<br>
I highly doubt you will need a textbook. The US Hist. REA book is pretty good. Just cram from about a week before the test.</p>