Book Suggestions for Self-Studying AP Exams

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
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<p>I'm in love with the <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ap-tests-preparation/201793-consolidated-book-suggestions-ap.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ap-tests-preparation/201793-consolidated-book-suggestions-ap.html&lt;/a> thread, but I've found one of its main drawbacks is that the majority of posts/suggestions appear to be for students that are also taking the AP courses. After all, it doesn't seem viable to self-study from a single Barron's/PR/REA/etc. prep book, especially for those of us who have absolutely no background in the topic.</p>

<p>Anyways, if you've self-studied these subjects before, PLEASE list any books you recommend under the corresponding AP subject. Also, feel free to make any comments about the books or your self-studying experiences. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. :)</p>

<p>----------English-related----------</p>

<p>English Literature & Composition</p>

<p>English Language & Composition</p>

<p>----------Math----------</p>

<p>Statistics</p>

<p>Calculus AB</p>

<p>Calculus BC</p>

<p>----------Science----------</p>

<p>Physics B</p>

<p>Physics C: Mechanics</p>

<p>Physics C: E&M</p>

<p>Chemistry</p>

<p>Biology</p>

<p>Environmental Science</p>

<p>----------History----------</p>

<p>US History</p>

<p>European History</p>

<p>Art History</p>

<p>World History</p>

<p>----------Foreign Languages----------</p>

<p>French Language</p>

<p>Spanish Language</p>

<p>Spanish Literature</p>

<p>Chinese Language & Culture</p>

<p>German Language</p>

<p>Japanese Language & Culture</p>

<p>Latin: Virgil</p>

<p>----------Government----------</p>

<p>US Government & Politics</p>

<p>Comparative Government & Politics</p>

<p>----------Economics----------</p>

<p>Microeconomics</p>

<p>Macroeconomics</p>

<p>----------Miscellaneous*----------</p>

<p>Music Theory</p>

<p>Psychology</p>

<p>Computer Science A</p>

<p>*I chose not to include Studio Art on this list because I have no idea how anyone would self-study that. If it is possible, though, please excuse my ignorance.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance! :)</p>

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<p>Well, I’ve taken 3 AP exams to date, Spanish, Bio, and Chem, and I’d say they’d all be easy to self-study. The only one I had a prep book for was Bio, it was PR, and I would recommend it even if you have not experience, as long as you DO have some Chem background because I didn’t even look in it until the week before the test and I got quite a bit (some of the diagrams were almost exactly the same as in the test). According to my friend, the PR for Chem is good, and I’d think it would be possible to manage a 4 with just that book, assuming the info content and depth is consistent with what pages I saw. Lastly, Spanish seems to be REALLY easy as long as you’re good with English. I don’t know what prep book you’d use though but the language itself isn’t tough.</p>

<p>P.S. I read that Barron’s is good for Psych, and it’s enough to get a 5 with alone.</p>

3

<p>I have never officially self-studied, as in take an AP exam without a class. However, I have had AP teachers that did not know what they were doing at all. As far as what I got out of those classes, it was self-studying. This was for AP English Language and Composition and AP Statistics. I used the following books:</p>

<p>AP English Language and Composition: CliffsAP
AP Statistics: Barron’s and REA</p>

4

<p>With Environmental Science you can just read PR.</p>

5

<p>I’ve never taken an AP test without the class. However, like byubound, I had a teacher this year that did not teach AP Euro, so that was a quasi-self study.</p>

<p>AP European History: REA Crash Course and (McGraw Hill?) AP Achiever</p>

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<p>I just wanted to put down everyone’s from above and also my own opinions on books.</p>

<p>----------English-related----------</p>

<p>English Literature & Composition: Barrons</p>

<p>English Language & Composition: CliffsAP, Peterson’s </p>

<p>----------Math----------</p>

<p>Statistics: Barron’s, PR, REA</p>

<p>Calculus AB: PR</p>

<p>Calculus BC: PR</p>

<p>----------Science----------</p>

<p>Physics B</p>

<p>Physics C: Mechanics: Barrons, James Mooney’s Book</p>

<p>Physics C: E&M: Barrons, James Mooney’s Book</p>

<p>Chemistry: Barrons, PR</p>

<p>Biology: Cliffs</p>

<p>Environmental Science: PR</p>

<p>----------History----------</p>

<p>US History</p>

<p>European History: REA, AP Achiever</p>

<p>Art History</p>

<p>World History</p>

<p>----------Foreign Languages----------</p>

<p>French Language</p>

<p>Spanish Language</p>

<p>Spanish Literature</p>

<p>Chinese Language & Culture</p>

<p>German Language</p>

<p>Japanese Language & Culture</p>

<p>Latin: Virgil: A Vergil Workbook, REA, Excelability in Advanced Latin</p>

<p>----------Government----------</p>

<p>US Government & Politics: CliffsAP</p>

<p>Comparative Government & Politics: Ethel Woods</p>

<p>----------Economics----------</p>

<p>Microeconomics: PR</p>

<p>Macroeconomics: PR</p>

<p>----------Miscellaneous*----------</p>

<p>Music Theory</p>

<p>Psychology: Barrons</p>

<p>Computer Science A</p>

<p>Human Geography: Barrons</p>

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<p>There needs to be a TEXTBOOK thread imo. I always buy a textbook if I’m self-studying an entire subject.</p>

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<p>Honestly though, I think a lot of people who post that they’re taking the class attend not so good schools where the class is not useful. I’m definitely one of those people. I feel that the review books in the consolidated thread are enough to get a 5 on the material even without a formal course because I didn’t learn anything in a lot of my courses but still managed to get great scores, and many other CC posters have similar experiences.</p>

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<p>@alittlemonster - I agree; I was hoping people would mention textbooks.</p>

<p>@An0maly - That’s…interesting. After my own difficulty with self-studying microecon from a Barron’s prep book, though, I think I’d prefer to hear more from other posters, just to be certain. After all, I’ve seen you often on these boards (I do enjoy reading your posts, btw), and I’ve gotten the distinct impression that what may be possible for you, is not necessarily equally possible for me. :P</p>

<p>@amimike, byubound, Pnutter, 314159265 and Salve! - Thank you very much for your suggestions! :)</p>

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<p>Can anyone comment on their experiences with textbooks for AP Physics B? Most of the typical ones seem to be poorly received on Amazon.</p>

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<p>I haven’t taken AP Physics (will next year) but a highly acclaimed text is Cutnell’s Physics. I have it, but haven’t really gone through it yet. It’s very dense and covers a lot of topics.</p>

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<p>----------English-related----------</p>

<p>English Literature & Composition - Cliffs</p>

<p>English Language & Composition - Cliffs</p>

<p>----------Math----------</p>

<p>Statistics - Barrons</p>

<p>Calculus AB - Be Prepared for the AP Calculus Exam</p>

<p>Calculus BC - " "</p>

<p>----------Science----------</p>

<p>Physics B - PR</p>

<p>Physics C: Mechanics - AP Advantage </p>

<p>Physics C: E&M - AP Advantage</p>

<p>Chemistry - PR</p>

<p>Biology - Cliffs</p>

<p>Environmental Science - ?</p>

<p>----------History----------</p>

<p>US History - Crash Course + AMSCO</p>

<p>European History - Modern European History</p>

<p>Art History - REA</p>

<p>World History - PR</p>

<p>----------Foreign Languages----------</p>

<p>French Language - ?</p>

<p>Spanish Language - Idk the title, the book by Jose M. Diaz</p>

<p>Spanish Literature - ?</p>

<p>Chinese Language & Culture - ?</p>

<p>German Language - ?</p>

<p>Japanese Language & Culture - ?</p>

<p>Latin: Virgil - ?</p>

<p>----------Government----------</p>

<p>US Government & Politics - ?</p>

<p>Comparative Government & Politics - ?</p>

<p>----------Economics----------</p>

<p>Microeconomics - PR</p>

<p>Macroeconomics - PR</p>

<p>----------Miscellaneous*----------</p>

<p>Music Theory - ?</p>

<p>Psychology - Barrons</p>

<p>Computer Science A - Be Prepared for the AP Computer Science Exam</p>

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<p>Our school uses Cutnell and Johnson for Physics B. I found the text to be really well-explained, concise, and interesting. The pictures are also pretty cool, which is a plus.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the suggestion.</p>

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<p>I agree with 314159265 for the Physics B book. Use either the Cutnell and Johnson book or the Giancoli one. But Cutnell and Johnson is made to be geared towards the Physics B exam (it even models questions after what might appear on an FRQ).</p>

16

<p>For anyone considering Econ, McConnell Brue is fantastic. It’s what my school uses for AP and it covers everything in depth. The AP exam seems like a cakewalk after you’ve read through it.</p>

<p>However, it does not cover a few major concepts. Deadweight loss, consumer surplus and the foreign exchange market are not covered/covered enough. This is minor though, as you can easily find those elsewhere.</p>

<p>Either Starr/Taggart or Campbell’s is good for Bio. I personally like Starr/Taggart better but there are some who stand firmly by Campbell’s. Either way you’ll be prepared.</p>

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<p>I self studied for SAT Chem (took test in Fall of senior year) and since I had all of the background knowledge, I flew through AP Chem (taking the class that same year). I bought both the Princeton Review for AP and SAT Princeton Review books. I got an 800 on SAT Chem (the Princeton Review said I would get a 680) and I’m pretty sure I got a 5 on the AP test. </p>

<p>Also, Sparknotes has WAY more information than you need, but it is still a good review.</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>If those aren’t covered, that would pretty much get you a 3 on both exams this year.</p>

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<p>Here is a thread that you may find useful</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ap-tests-preparation/837421-consolidated-book-list-self-studiers-texts-prep-books.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ap-tests-preparation/837421-consolidated-book-list-self-studiers-texts-prep-books.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>AP Psych: Barrons and Crash Course</p>

<p>APUSH: AMSCO and Crash Course</p>

<p>AP English Language: the practice tests in Cliffs as well as their vocab list</p>

<p>Just my two cents</p>