<p>I read somewhere that studying Nigeria, Mexico, and India are optional - you pick one of the three. However, I thought all six were mandatory, and there was no India. Could someone clear this up?</p>
<p>The test changed in 2006 (check out the questions on AP central...there's a huge change in format for '06). Before, Nigeria, Mexico, and India were optional, and you only had to study one of the three. Now, the test has been refocused on six countries, and you're right, all are mandatory. There is no India, either--just Britain, Russia, Mexico, Nigeria, Iran, and China, and the test should cover each one fairly equally. </p>
<p>Looking at the old questions, I'm actually pretty happy with the changes. Best of luck on the exam...17 days!</p>
<p>It seems as though the exam is easier now, even if you need to know all 6 countries. It's kind of like the difference between AP World and APUSH. One covers a lot of material in little detail, while the other covers a little material in great detail. Good luck!!!</p>
<p>How's everyone planning on studying for this? I took a look at Ethel Wood's guide - is it enough for the AP? It doesn't seem to cover much.</p>
<p>It's a tricky exam to study for. The only useful book is the Ethel Wood one (the only other one is by Ken Wedding and it's really really bad. It says stuff like, "You need to know what ________ is for the exam," but it never explains ______), and it lacks a bit of information, but it's good enough for getting a 5. When it comes to getting a textbook, there really aren't any good ones because none are made for the AP class (they don't cover all the countries, or they cover many more in much much smaller detail).</p>
<p>Hm....yeah, I have Ken Wedding as well and it sucks. XD I guess Ethel Wood's the only way to go, then. But her book is behind by about a year or so, so I'll have to find other sources to keep up to date.</p>
<p>Actually, our textbook (Introduction to Comparative Politics by Mark Kesselman et al, 4th edition...the "AP Version") is pretty good. It's designed for the new version of the exam, covering only the six countries in question and spending a pretty good deal of time on each one. We're using the newest edition (printed in 2007) and it seems a bit more current than Wood's book.</p>
<p>Still, I think Wood is plenty for the exam. I'm just re-reading each section as we go over them in class and writing up really short comparative notes for each country.</p>
<p>I'm studying out of the Ethel Wood book.. I'm screwed though. I'm self-studying for the exam, and I've only studied for about an hour total (and that was last month).</p>
<p>skaterarabia: Could you give me the ISBN number of that textbook, or its amazon link? I think I might buy it, but I can't find the edition you have on amazon.</p>
<p>Well, I can't find it on amazon either, but here's a link to it on the McDougal Littell website.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure there's a link off the first page to the ISBN number. I'll get it from the book itself tomorrow.</p>
<p>Thanks so much!! I just found it on amazon.</p>
<p>Yeah I can confirm this. We use Kesselman in class and it's pretty comprehensive. It covers countries like the US and Japan as well but you can just skip through those.</p>
<p>No problem...good luck on the 7th.</p>
<p>I roll with the blue study guide (Ester Wood or something). I'm self studying an find it easy. I took the 2006 exam and no problem, all the questions were fairly easy. I think that just getting the big idea is good for the FRQ essays (yes, Iran is a theocracy, in case anyone happened to be wondering). For the MC those terms Wood puts at the end of each chapter are great. Though she does focus on leaders a bit much, its not a history course. And taking AP World History concurrently helps (a lot).</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, which is your favorite country?</p>
<p>I like Mexico because of the complexity and the fact that NOWHERE is the illegal immigration problem to the US mentioned. At all...</p>
<p>The Ethel Wood book (I think that's the one you're talking about, lol) is not blue. It has a really lame and nondescript cover.</p>
<p>Anyways, I like China because of the communism. In my IB philosophy class, we discussed the philosophy behind a lot of different political systems, and I found communism, and marxism in general, to be really interesting.</p>