Hey guys,</p>
So right now, I’m taking regular US History, and didn’t sign up for ap us for specific reasons. However, I want to take the ap test, and I bought a few prep books (Amsco, DH). I’m wondering if I use the books and the class to study, could I get a good score on the actual Ap Test?</p>
Thanks in advance.</p>
Yes you can. 
All you really need for the AP test is DH. Amsco is a tad much.</p>
I recently learned that you can take any AP class you want, and can even self study for it.
So I would buy a prep guide, and read a couple pages a night, and if you are an A student in your regular history class and study the guidebook, you have a chance to do well on the AP test.</p>
Alright, thanks guys for the replies 
</p>
It seems pretty similar, cause I’m starting to learn about Columbus and stuff :P</p>
I’m only in an Honors course, not AP (only lousy teachers teach that class) and I’m wondering the same thing. But what exactly does DH even stand for anyway? Abbreviations can be really confusing sometimes. I did the summer course but could NOT do the summer reading project which had us reading A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn, and I swear to god it would not help me at all for the exam! Any advice?</p>
^DH stands for Direct Hits I believe.</p>
Yes, the AP test isn’t that difficult if you know how to study. :)</p>
I’ve taken a honors US History course (Stupid school doesn’t offer APUSH (IDK why);)) and last year, took the AP Exam and recieved a 5 (the highest score.) </p>
What I suggest is CHOOSE THE BOOK THAT YOU THINK YOU WILL USE. I read the Princeton Review. Some won’t agree with me, but I think that book really hit the points FOR ME. For you, it could be REA, Barron’s, Direct Hits, or as many people profess to be great on here (I don’t know, never used it) AMSCO. READ whatever book you get, cover to cover, and think about conclusions you can draw as a historian (or a history student) from the information. The AP Multiple Choice require you to not simply recall information,they present questions to you to force you to make connections to other time periods, infer, and the DBQ (Document-Based Question) and FRQ (Free-Response Questions) ask you to USE what you know to make conclusions, not simply reiterate facts. And this is the key difference between people who get 4s and people who get 5s. </p>
If you don’t know what the format of the test is, i.e. you don’t know what the hell I’m talking about when I say “DBQ” or “FRQ” MAKE SURE YOU LOOK IN YOUR REVIEW BOOK AND PRACTICE THEM AT LEAST ONCE! This is a KEY point in your preparation. </p>
Thanks for listening to me drabble But I really do believe that anyone who follows this technique will achieve the score they desire. And you want a 5, right? Of course, I’m assuming that since this IS CC, and you ARE a typical, over achieving CCer </p>
Good luck! And I know you’ll succeed! It’s written in the stars (Sorry, that reference to Tinie Tempah’s song was bad!) ;-)</p>
The Amsco book is fantastic, I used it for prep last year. I did learn some valuable things in the actual AP class though.
Always remember: study ALL sections. Even though they give you different choices for essay responses you want to make sure that you’re prepared to answer anything. I had to write an essay about Chesapeake colonies in the 1600s or something, and I didn’t know much about it.</p>
I assume that if you want to do well you have the full ability to do so! Good luck.</p>
Yes you can self study.</p>
You MUST buy the AMSCO book and read it front to back. Do all the multiple choice in each chapter as you go along and use the practice exams as well.</p>
Secondly, you MUST buy each and every released AP US exam that you can get your hands on and use those for practice. Also use AP Central for all the FRQs as practice.</p>
Lastly, see if your teacher can help you with anything. Be sure to take the SAT II for US History when that rolls around.</p>