I know there have been several threads made about this topic, but I want these recommendations to focus on the AP Classes I am taking next year. The parentheses next to my AP class is the book I am planning to buy. If you recommend other brands, please feel free to give me advice (:
Thank you!
Do people actually use AP books to prepare? If I took the course in school, our teachers prepare us more than enough…
@Frigidcold Sometimes it’s a requirement made by the teachers to buy the review book, but basically, some teachers don’t teach at all and the review book is better than their teaching.
And I just researched more about the AP Calculus review books and they said that Barrons provide more information and over-prepares you for the exam, whereas Princeton Review is more straightforward and the problems are easier than what is on the exam.
I just use Barron’s for everything.
@Frigidcold Did you take AP Calc AB before?
Yeah, took it last year. Didn’t have to buy a book for it. Was mostly referring to SAT and such. But I imagine our teacher did pull some of the practice tests from the Barron book.
@Frigidcold Yea, I may stick to Barrons because I heard Princeton Review doesn’t prepare you enough for the exam.
Ditto Frigidcold. Princeton does have some pretty cool mnemonic devices and all, but I feel like Barron’s has been the best for all the AP exams I’ve taken so far, which is 8. I guess Princeton would be fine for easy self-study APs like Psych or Human Geo, where you don’t need to go so in depth, but for most AP tests, better safe than sorry.
AP Lang - You’ll probably be fine if you don’t use a review book, but if you are, get Barron’s.
AP Chem - PR and Barron’s are both pretty terrible and have a lot of errors. I just found a PDF of Peterson’s and Brown/Lemay online, then thoroughly read the textbook to “review” a month or two before the AP. Some people may think that’s overkill, but this is AP Chem. 
@glasshours Can you post the PDF?
I can only speak for AP Calc and AP Chem but I have used both PR and Barrons and I think they’re great together.
@alwayswonderines But there’s no time to cover both books for the AP exam because you’re short on time (test is May). If you had to narrow it down to using 1 book, which one would you use?
For AP Calc Barron’s is the best. It definitely overprepares you for the test, so when you’re actually taking the test everything feels easier.
@Camilouisee Did you feel like the AP exam was very easy?
i liked pr for psychology
@Gatortristan I heard barrons is better for psychology. Anyway do you think Princeton review is good for Chem?
@AnniiT Never used barons for psych so I can’t comment on it but in reviewing a couple days before the exam, princeton review went over most topics well enough for the test. I never took AP chem so i don’t know about the book for that sorry
I thought it was pretty easy, but I had an amazing teacher which helped a lot
@AnniiT If I had to pick one I’d pick PR because generally they are same difficulty as the tests.