How To Self Study APUSH (even if you are a huge procrastinator)

Test Preparation AP History & Social Sciences
1

I self studied APUSH this year and managed to edge out a 5 with minimal effort. College confidential helped me a lot along the way and I feel it is right to give back and give people advice, so here I go.

First thing I would like to say --> I believe it is possible to get a 5 and spend NOTHING on resources. Just watch the Adam Norris and Jocz Productions youtube videos online and take a practice test released by college board. However, I definitely would not recommend this or guarantee it for a 5.

For those who aren’t aware, the exam is broken into these parts:

  1. Multiple choice: 55 questions, 55 minutes, 40 percent of exam score
  2. Short answer questions: 4 questions, 50 minutes, 20 percent of exam score
  3. DBQ (document based question): 55 minutes, 25 percent of exam score
  4. LEQ (long essay question): 35 minutes, 10 percent of exam score

I strongly believe a textbook is not necessary in order to study for this exam - after all, you are trying to get a 5 on the test, not learn United States history comprehensively - right? If you are trying to also take the SAT subject test for US History I suggest you stop reading this thread.

This is all you need:

  1. REA All Access US History (NOT the crash course book) I believe this is a good supplement for a textbook. It is quite comprehensive and you definitely won't need to memorize every little thing in here. The only reason I recommend this over other review books is because it has good review quizzes online that go with each chapter.
  2. Princeton Review US History I recommend this only for the practice test that it offers. They are a lot like the actual test, but in my opinion they are harder. If you don't do too hot on them, don't freak out. I remember I took a practice test from this review book the day before the test and I only got a 35/55 on the MC and I felt really discouraged. Don't be. You need to understand how the test is formatted and develop a plan for yourself on how you will take the actual test - not ace what princeton review believes is a good test. After all, they probably make it harder than the actual test because if they made it easier, wouldn't you feel cheated if you took the actual AP test and found it to be harder?
  3. Internet to watch the Jocz productions and Adam Norris Videos Personally, I recommend Jocz over Adam Norris, but both are good. Jocz has very good videos on how to write the free response. I would recommend watching these videos instead of reading what the review books say (for the free response). Jocz productions and Adam Norris also have good "summary" videos for a day or two before the test just as a refresher.

Ok now here is a study plan depending on how much time you have:

10 months:

  1. Take notes from REA All Access and take the quizzes
  2. While doing step 1, watch the Jocz production/adam norris videos just as reinforcement (don't take notes)
  3. Watch Jocz productions's videos on how to write the free response
  4. Take the practice tests in Princeton Review
  5. Few days before the test, review your notes and how to write the FR, and watch jocz productions and adam norris "summary" videos

Couple of months:

  1. Read REA All Access (don't take notes) and take the quizzes
  2. While doing step 1, watch the Jocz production/adam norris videos (take notes)
  3. Watch Jocz productions videos on how to write the free response
  4. Take the practice tests in Princeton Review
  5. Few days before the test, review your notes and how to write the FR, and watch jocz productions and adam norris "summary" videos

3 weeks (me lol)

Weeks 1 and 2: Read REA All Access and watch the Jocz production/adam norris videos (don’t take notes at all), take the REA quizzes
Week 3: watch Jocz’s videos on how to write the free response, and take 1-2 practice tests from Princeton review
Night before the test: watch the adam norris or jocz productions “summary” videos (I believe adam norris is better for this)

1 day (I really hope you don’t end up here but…)

  1. Watch the adam norris “summary” video
  2. watch jocz productions videos on how to write the free response
  3. take a look at one test from princeton review just to see how it looks like and develop a “plan” on how you will write the free response
  4. pray

Of course, the more you procrastinate, the lower your chances of getting a 5 are, but I studied seriously only for about 3 weeks and I got a 5 so…

Please send me a message or reply to this discussion if you have any questions.

Best of luck!

2

Thanks! I also started a thread for 2016-2017 APUSH if you ever want to share any advice there too. :slight_smile:

3

Thank you so much! I also wanted to ask if a study book…AMSCO helps…It’s really popular and my teacher recommended us to get it. Also, how many hours per day did you spend in the three weeks study period?

4

I can second this. Adam Norris the US History prophet. He will turn the incomprehensible to the understandable. For anything just now taking the course, I would recommend looking over the first two periods before jumping into the course so you already have a head-start on how to handle the course material.

5

@AcademicIvyLover sorry for the late reply…I can’t comment on AMSCO because I never used it but based on reviews it looks good…and i probably studied 2-3 hours during that time…it comes down to how effective you are at studying and how much you can memorize in a time period, it varies with every person

6

I know this is an old thread you are a life saver. I haven’t payed attention all year in Apush and I haven’t read the textbook readings at all, so I’ve decided to start self studying from the beginning. I thought it was too late and there was no hope but this gives me hope that I can at least pass! I’ll probably use Barron’s instead of REA though because I already bought the Barron’s back in January when I thought I would get my act together in ap. Is REA similar, like a review book?

7

@stressedgirl21 just go with Barron’s since you only have about a month left, REA is comparable to textbook, it is very long and detailed