<p>I am a freshmen in high school and I am enrolled in the AP U.S. Government and Politics course. This course is usually reserved for the upperclassmen at my high school (a one semester course), but I have taken the course the whole school year (two semesters). I have a very bad teacher who did not plan ahead and we have read 14 of the 21 chapters in the textbook currently. As there is only a month until the AP Exam, I am worried that we will not finish the book and be prepared to succeed on the exam. During the first semester, our teacher only instructed us by having us read six chapters, with about three weeks devoted per chapter. Then we would take the quiz for the chapter. Now, we have read one chapter per week and covered eight chapters this semester alone. I managed to get a low A in the course the first semester and I am currently managing a high B for my grade in the class. I have never taken an AP Exam before, because I am a freshmen, and I do not know what to expect and how to prepare for this test. Can someone please advise me on how to study for the test and what resources to use? Can you provide a good preparation book for me to use? I have looked at the test prep companies Barrons and Crash Course but I am not sure if these will prepare me for the test. I would like to strive to score a 5 on the AP Exam, with a 4 being desirable. </p>
<p>I have Kaplan, and like it so far.
It has a diagnostic test, which you would probably find extremely helpful. That way you know what areas to focus on since you don’t have unlimited time. </p>
<p>I know of Kaplan test preparation, but it seems long and I am afraid that I will not be able to study efficiently with it. I am mainly interested in a book that would be abbreviated so that I could read it very fast. I know of Crash Course, but the book recommends that the reader research and read Federalist Papers and other documents to prepare for the test. I looked at Barrons but I abandoned it because it is too long and I have heard that the book has additional unnecessary information that is not tested contained in it. Can someone who took the test last year and was successful provide guidance? </p>
<p>Mainly I am interested in just one book that would prepare me for the test. I do not have the ability to read multiple books because of time limitations. It would be good if it were short, enough to study for the exam with just that book, and is known to prepare students. </p>
<p>You should get Princeton Review or Crash Course.</p>
<p>I see on some of the comments on Amazon that the Princeton Review book is good, but those comments were from 2008-2009. I hear good things about Crash Course. Is Crash Course enough to study for the AP Exam by itself? In the book, Crash Course recommends that the reader do additional research. </p>
<p>I’d still buy Princeton Review or Barrons, even if it is too long. Use it for the practice tests at least, skim through or read chapters that you’re not 100% on if reading the whole book is not your thing. </p>
<p>I am wary of Barrons because of my experience with the book and what I have heard of it. The content review is very long and as there is a month left until the exam, I do not think that I can read it. I take all honors and one AP class and I have three stupid teachers that do not tell us about a test until two days before. I have to cram for pretty much every test the night before and as I usually still do well with straight A’s on my transcript, I am all booked up at the moment. I purchased Barrons in September and have been unable to read it since. The content review is very long (at least 250 pages). I also have the AP Gov 375 flashcards set from Barrons and that looks too long. I have purchased Crash Course and it seems good. I have skimmed a few chapters and it and it seems good for my situation. I think that I will mainly use Crash Course and maybe skim Barrons and take some practice tests. </p>
<p>The gov book is actually a little challenging to read, but the exam is super easy. Know every vocab and you’ll get at least a 4. It’s that easy. </p>