<p>Okay, well, with less than a month until the upcoming AP exams, I've been debating with myself how I'm gonna study for it.</p>
<p>I have the AMSCO and Crash Course book, and there have been two ways that I thought of for studying the exam, but I'm not quite sure which to pick:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Do two outlines out of AMSCO during the week, and four outlines during the weekends (I'm skipping about 3 chapters). If I do this, I'd be able to finish by next Friday, allowing me some time to review out of the Crash Course book.</p></li>
<li><p>Do the same thing as above, but instead of taking notes/doing outlines, I simply read the book. I'd still be able to have time to review.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>So, basically, I'm asking: is it better to review (with the amount of time we have left) through reading, or taking notes/doing outlines?</p>
<p>I’m in the same process of studying as well and I’m not speaking with much experience on successful AP preparation, but I think that since you’re just reviewing, you should just read it over and not take notes/do outlines. I was planning on taking notes for the prep book I’m using (REA: 8th Edition) but it turned out to take MUCH longer than I expected… and I only got to the 20th page. (The review section has ~375 pages. >.<) I figured I wouldn’t be able to continue at that pace and have enough time to take a few practice tests before the test, so I’m currently just reading through it and highlighting. </p>
<p>I’m reading Crash Course in any spare time I have so that I can get through it 2 or 3 times before the subject test in May.</p>
<p>the most important thing is to have read the whole textbook, you can do most of the multiple choice questions just with that…</p>
<p>for FRQ and DBQ practice…outline each ERA (i.e…Great Depression) …divide it into three sections: Economic, Political, and Social/religious/culture</p>
<p>pick out numerous terms (not too much) for each section and make sure you memorize them this gives you ample evidence for essays</p>
<p>then outline each war (i.e. WW2) and outline events leading to war and effects of war (political, economic, and social effects)…</p>
<p>main thing for essays is that you need to know enough terms for each category to use as evidence…dont try memorizing all the terms in same category (like dont try memorizing all of FDR New Deal Programs…just some to use as evidence)</p>
<p>Although I emphasized reading the textbook as your main source of knowledge for the AP exam, if you’re pressured by time, the most effective method to study at this period of time is reading the review book, especially AMSCO.</p>
<p>For those who are self-studying, outlining is recommendable.</p>
<p>For those who are taking the APUSH class this year, outlining would be a waste of time since you’re expected to do them for homework anyway or you’re going to be tested on a particular chapter in the class.</p>
<p>AMSCO is awesome…and outlining is the best way to remember things, unless you have a photographic memory…learn things in groups!
i have a huge timeline on my room ceiling filled with terms in chronological order and it helps a ton</p>
<p>I read the history review out of PR in the week before the exam and took the practice tests for a 4. I wouldn’t do more than that unless you want a 5.</p>
<p>If you’re really pressed for time and don’t mind spending about $70 to save your sanity, check out The Teaching Company/The Great Courses. They have a lot of really good lectures on dvd/cd/tape given by eminent college professors. I got the course for American history on dvd and it’s 42 hours long and packed with everything you need to know for the course. The three professors were awesome and made the stuff really memorable.</p>