<p>This year I was planning on self-studying the following:</p>
<p>APUSH
APES
AP Psychology
AP Comparative Government and Politics
AP Micro/Macroeconomics</p>
<p>These seemed like the APs that were easier than the rest.
Now, I've been actively viewing different posts on this website, and I have found that the AMESCO book for APUSH is seemingly the best. I've read through half of it, and planning on finishing it in a few days. Then re-reading. I've also been looking at some teacher notes and different notes on the web as I read for APUSH.</p>
<p>I have, literally, no idea where to go with APES. Now, my school does not offer this course. I've taken a Freshman class of Biology, but I have no idea where to go to study this other than just buying the Barron's and studying it. Anyone who was successful with this course have any other tips for this AP.</p>
<p>Looking at the posts on here, AP Psychology, I think that the Princeton Review and the 5 Steps to a 5 book would be plenty for this course. Again, anyone who was successful with this course have any other tips for this AP.</p>
<p>I have not started at all with the fourth one, but through this website, I bought the Ethel Wood's guide. Do I just read it and do the corresponding exercises?</p>
<p>With AP Micro/Macro I've got the 5 Steps to a 5 and I am reading through it. I may also be taking a semester of Macro at my High School next semester. Any other tips for this AP.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance to any CC member that can help me in this dilemma.</p>
<p>APUSH - you’re good
AP ES - Smartypants guide to environmental science, which is recommended on the consolidated book suggestions thread
AP Psychology - Many CCers say Barrons and even my friend who self-studied the course and got a 5 said so, too.</p>
<p>I just started Ethel Wood’s AP Comp. Gov and Politics (4th edition) and have gotten through the first 50 pages. Unfortunately, I’m not too impressed. I am often left with many questions once a concept has been “explained” and sometimes the explanations don’t make much sense. I hope it gets us a five, but I ordered an actual textbook as well. Hopefully I won’t have to use it.</p>
<p>APUSH - don’t do it. It’s a huge amount of material, and you’re self-studying other courses.</p>
<p>APES - Smartypants or PR.</p>
<p>AP Psych - Barron’s Barron’s Barron’s. The practice questions that Barron’s uses are all from old AP exams.</p>
<p>AP Comp Gov - Ethel Wood. Contrary to what the previous poster said, I find the review book to be very helpful and informative. The concepts are explaiend well, and they are often repeated several times to reinforce the concepts in one’s head. Because of this, rereading the book cover-to-cover is not necessary.</p>
<p>AP Econ - I’m not sure how 5 Steps to a 5 is for econ, but I wouldn’t recommend self-studying these, either. Although the courses are very easy, tackling the graphs can be a struggle at first; it is rare to find a resource that explains them well.</p>
<p>While I agree that Ethel Wood’s book is the best out there for comp gov & politics, I still have many questions about concepts that the book doesn’t address. Maybe my questions are too detailed, and maybe the concepts that aren’t fully explained to my liking are less important and I don’t need to know all the details. I guess this is why I prefer reading textbooks opposed to prep-books. </p>
<p>Keasbey Nights, did you self-study econ? If so, did you use PR? I haven’t received the book yet (ordered it a few days ago), but most people seem to recommend it. I also got the Mankiw textbook which is supposed to be very detailed. Does anyone know if it adequately teaches graphing?</p>
<p>I just reread my post and would like to clarify that Ethel Wood’s book is extremely informative, and I learned a ton, I just like more detail Great book if you procrastinate and only have a week or so until your test :D</p>
<p>WannaBYalie - well, from what I can tell, Ethel is an AP master who knows what’s going to be on the exam. I have to worry about seven other (non self-studied) exams this year, so as much as I love political science, it’s useful that she elaborates what’s needed for the exam.</p>
<p>Now, for econ, I took the courses on Florida Virtual School, so it was pretty much a self-study. I used the Princeton Review to help study for the exam, along with the Economics textbook by Krugman and Wells. The course also provided lessons for each topic. With three resources (plus the help of friends), I learned to understand the graphs very well. However, I never would have learned from just the Princeton Revoew. I’ve heard good things about Mankiw’s textbooks; you should be fine.</p>
<p>I think that I am too far into APUSH to stop now. I’ve got a good grasp on the material, and many other CCers have been successful in this endeavor like me.</p>
<p>For APES, I will be taking IB Biology next year. DO you think it is a better idea to take the test after that. IB Biology is a more intensive course than the AP version.</p>
<p>Also, if I complete that book and have a firm grasp on the material, will I be viable for a 5?</p>
<p>IBAPman - perhaps other CCers have done it, but you’re taking on a very large self-studying load. How far into the US curriculum are you? As for taking AP Bio after the IB Bio course, I have a friend who did that and got a 1. (He got a 6 on the IB Bio exam.) The curriculums do not mesh well. I can’t give details on the IB curriculum, since I haven’t taken it, but if you want to take the time to learn what isn’t covered, go ahead.</p>
<p>Keasbey Nights-
Oh, I was thinking about taking the APES exam with my IB course. I’ve talked to a few of my older friends and they were able to get 7s on the IB course, with 5s in both APES and AP Biology.</p>
<p>I’ve almost studied up to the first World War. I’ll be able to finish book/notes in the next 1-2 days. Then I will read again. And again. And again. Then start whatever testprep book.</p>
<p>If your goal is to gain admission to a top university or LAC make sure your AP prep does not prevent you from rounding out your HS experience. Most schools are looking for 5 to 6 APs. Once you reach the threshold it does not appear to matter much. Indeed if your school does not offer APs they do not expect you to take any.</p>
<p>@ appdad: that’s not entirely true for HYP etc. Many times a high school will be skipped entirely if it doesn’t offer any APs and is underfunded as it is. If you do attend one of those schools, you must show initiative by going above and beyond the means of your high school. If you have motivation and go to a very severely underfunded school, I would definitely recommend self-studying APs. It sends a very positive message to colleges. </p>
<p>@ Bassir: From what others have said, Mankiw is the way to go. He is a professor at Harvard and is on the AP economics panel (helps write the exam). One would assume that if he assists in the writing of the AP economics tests, that he covers everything on them in his book. </p>
<p>On the other hand, I have heard good things about Krugman, but nonetheless I am personally using Mankiw’s book.</p>
<p>I’m self-studying the exam as well, and am using the 3rd edition (I think). I doubt that everything in the book is on the exam, but I would imagine that most everything on the exam is in the book. Certainly enough to get a 5.</p>
Great book if you procrastinate and only have a week or so until your test :D</p>