So I’ve been trying to decide if I should buy barron’s, crash course, 5 steps, or PR, and I see there are pros and cons to each of them. I think I’ve narrowed it down to crash course. what do you guys recommend? thanks in advance</p>
There is no better review than a boring textbook. It is also the best bang for the buck - I’ll explain. If you rent a GOOD AP Gov textbook from Chegg, it’ll run you around $10 if you’re a new member. Get it for two semesters (or the equivalent of a full school year). </p>
I rented an AP Gov book and studied for 10 weeks, which is about the time it takes to finish a class on the quarter system. I had no support from my government teacher, who to be frank didn’t really teach anything (really - most times people would be on the computer or we’d watch a movie). Using this really boring method, as well as reading the newspaper everyday and watching a cable news show from time to time, got me a 4 on the exam.</p>
I recommend American Government by Wilson and Dilulio. It is an excellent book. I read two-thirds of it (ran out of time - stretched self too thin, etc.) and felt well prepared for all of the multiple choice.</p>
[Chegg.com:</a> American Government by Wilson, James Q. | 0618299807 | 9780618299805](<a href=“http://www.chegg.com/details/american-government/0618299807/?omre_ir=1&omre_sp=american%20government%20wilson&omre_rn=14]Chegg.com:”>http://www.chegg.com/details/american-government/0618299807/?omre_ir=1&omre_sp=american%20government%20wilson&omre_rn=14)</p>
Also, if you are looking for a brief review book, you can’t go wrong with the Princeton Review’s books. I was not really impressed with Barron’s Gov book.</p>
The hardest part I would think most people would have problems with is the public policy and vocabulary questions (e.g., an amicus curae (sp?) means). Other than that, it is a remarkably simple exam. Know how the government works inside and out and how the people and interest groups interact with it and you will be fine.</p>
PR is the best review book by far. Read through it twice and got a five on the AP exam. Just make sure you look over free response questions from previous years to get a feel for the FRQs. Government FRQs are quite different from the U.S. History/World/Euro questions in terms of structure. It is possible to get a five without any political knowledge, so things like watching the news or following the political scene aren’t as beneficial as one might expect. Government just tests your knowledge of the system and its history.</p>
It’s true that you can get a five without knowing what’s going on in politics, but it certainly helps to have every bit of knowledge you can get going in. Besides, following politics is fun. :-)</p>
a full textbook is completely unnecessary. I self-studied AP US Gov, read crash course twice, and got a 5.</p>