<p>I received An F. Ugh not only that but the teacher suggested that I drop the class! I agree that I should have studies more but it's to late now. Did anyone totally bomb there first test? Ugh I'm upset but I won't let it affect me for the rest of the semester. It's just one test right?</p>
<p>I got an 85 on my first test. Just read the book, re-read, read the notes, re-read, pay attention in class etc. History is about memorization.</p>
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<p>Then you’re doing it wrong.</p>
<p>I will have to agree with OtherWindow. History is also about having good organizational skills and the ability to understand human motivation and ideas, among other things.</p>
<p>I only read half the required chapters for the test. And I skimmed through my notes. Still made like a 92. I used to make nearly straight 97s in AP world, so APUSH is definitely a more challenging class. Still, I don’t think you should drop the class. History is something that most people get better at with practice.</p>
<p>I got an A in the class and a 5 on the test. I did it right.</p>
<p>^
That’s all that matters? A score that represents around 65% of the maximum score? Yeah, you’re definitely a historical scholar now.</p>
<p>History definitely isn’t about memorization. It’s about being able to connect ideas and themes together, etc…</p>
<p>Memorization can only take you so far.</p>
<p>Don’t mind the people who are just taking the class for the credit and exam, Otherwindow. And I don’t think any of us can count ourselves as ‘historians’ unless we hold a degree. Try not to provoke them.</p>
<p>Although I have to admit that from my experience with AP world, the exam is actually quite easy if you just know the main material. I know people who made B’s on the class and a 5 on the exam. It’s meant to be INTRODUCTORY material.</p>
<p>I didn’t claim to be a historical scholar. This thread was about becoming successful in AP US History, NOT about mastering the concepts and theories of history…</p>
<p>while I agree with CantConcentrate that memorization and cramming won’t get you everywhere in apush, if you work hard you can easily master the MC at least. two words: practice quizzes. not only are they more effective than taking notes/reading, there is also tons of virtual apush GOLD just floating around the internets, ready to be snatched up and used. for free!
try:
[Kennedy</a> American Pageant 12e – ACE Practice Tests](<a href=“http://college.cengage.com/history/us/kennedy/am_pageant/12e/students/ace/index.html]Kennedy”>Kennedy American Pageant 12e -- ACE Practice Tests) this one has hard questions directly from the american pageant, if you use that textbook.
[USQuizMainPAge[/url</a>] (this one’s my favorite <3)
[url=<a href=“http://www.sparknotes.com/history/]History”>History Study Guides - SparkNotes]History</a> Study Guides - SparkNotes](<a href=“http://www.historyteacher.net/USQuizMainPage.htm]USQuizMainPAge[/url”>USQuizMainPAge) this has a very looong quiz at the end of each section. it’s simpler and more factual but still good practice.
and of course I highly recommend that you purchase AMSCO, which is literally the best review book i’ve ever ever ever had for apush. just read it and you’ll understand. there are quizzes in there too!
sometimes, for really hard sections, I even do the practice quizzes twice, just to make sure I’ve learned from my mistakes. </p>
<p>so, in short, DON’T WORRY. the apush class at my school starts off with a bunch of kids failing/doing poorly every year (my teacher even warned us not to cry as she handed back the first tests). yes, some of them drop, but others just stick to it and pull off great grades by the end of the year! if you just put your mind to it and work hard, you’ll be fine.
so I’d suggest you tough it out for a while and see where things can lead :)</p>
<p>You have to actively study something like history. Simply reading your notes/book is not very effective. Turning those notes into flashcards is. Or you can try summarizing your notes into smaller review sheets. Simply the act of creating the review sheet will force you to figure out what’s important and will in and of itself be an effective tool for studying. Also, try to write questions in the margins of your notes, so that as you read through them, you aren’t reading, but actively thinking. Coming up with good questions should help focus your study efforts too.</p>
<p>I got a 67% on my first test, but it was the highest grade in the class. If this is your first AP class and your teachers makes questions that seem like they could be on the AP test, remember that you need to pick the best answer, not just one that is true.</p>
<p>Depending on the teacher, memorization can get you through the class. There’s a difference between memorizing facts and understanding why things in history worked out the way they did, though- if you have a good understanding of history’s common themes (events do tend to repeat themselves in different forms over time) and the effect of religion and economies on humanity, you won’t have to spend so much time memorizing cause/effect type stuff. Teachers who like to ask questions focusing on big picture stuff will want you to have that sort of skill. Of course, names and dates are always going to be memorization.</p>
<p>Don’t drop the class. It’s OK, people have their bad moments. Today, I bombed an AP Psych quiz. Also, it won’t matter in the long run, only what you get on the AP test. Just because you didn’t know some information now that will be on the AP test doesn’t mean that you will never know that and that you would be forever doomed for the AP test; that doesn’t happen. As long as you learn from your mistakes, you will be completely fine for the AP test.</p>