I will be self-studying using Ethel Woods. Anybody know of any other good resources (ie. ppts, links, ect.)? Thanks, and good luck! =]</p>
Ethel Wood’s latest edition(2009) may be slightly outdated: this year, there was a FRQ about the British Supreme Court, which didn’t exist when that book was published. I’m wondering how many recent changes will show up on next year’s exam.</p>
Am I the only one who is unlucky enough that his school makes him take a combined US and comp gov class? and we take both exams? ugh…</p>
Are you forced to take both exams?</p>
Unfortunately, our school makes us take US Gov and Macro, so we miss out on the other half of both Gov and Econ.</p>
yep. we do take both tests. Unfortunately, since it’s a combined class, I don’t feel like I will be prepped well for either ultimately, but it’s the only way the school can fulfill the county’s senior year US gov requirement</p>
Self-study Microeconomics! After you take Macro, learning the rest of Micro using Princeton Review is very managable. You guys DO know that Micro is the foundation of Macro?</p>
^That’s good. I was planning on selfing Micro and Comp anyway. Also, US Gov is not an AP class, so I may have to self-study it(though I can answer 90% of the sample MC questions correctly already). The big problem is that I may forget the material of whichever class I take 1st semester.</p>
Cram the night before XD</p>
So, how far are you in Ethel Woods? I’ve finished Britain, Russia, China, and Mexico, and I’ll probably finish Iran and Nigeria tomorrow.</p>
It actually just came in the mail on Monday, along with Freakonomics and Bringing Down the House. I chose to read the more interesting books first hahaha :)</p>
@garfieldliker</p>
Hold your horses a bit. Just blazing through the entire book a year in advance isn’t going to guarantee you a five. I did a one semester self study for Comp Gov, and all I can say is that while you should finish reading all of Ethel Wood’s book, that book didn’t seem terribly helpful to me for some areas of the test, mainly the specific MCs, like, “Which of the following countries use AV, multi person constituencies?” I did get a five (somehow rather) which definitely was a pleasant surprise, but there’s a study guide from the 2011 AP Comp Gov thread that was really helpful and that everyone taking this test must have.</p>
Also, if anyone else here has any questions about self studying for Comp Gov and the exam itself, don’t hesitate to ask.</p>
@yankeefreak127</p>
Thanks for the info, I was under the impression that just thoroughly reading the book is more then enough to get a good score. So tell me, what other resources do you recommend for one who is self studying AP Comp Gov?</p>
Well, I would say that the book is helpful if you use it in the right way. For example, in the section on China, there are all these terms like fangshou and some others (none of which I can even remember now) which never really showed up on the test, so while I wouldn’t say that you shouldn’t study the terms in the book like those, if you’re cramming, I wouldn’t study those terms first.</p>
Secondly, you should definitely get the Ethel Wood book and read it, but make an outline of each country that covers the material that is straight memorization, such as the really specific MCs on the exam that ask, “Which of the following grouping of countries use single member, first past the post electoral districts?” I think it will be pretty clear what material in the book falls into that category.</p>
Lastly, you must, and I cannot stress enough, must memorize every single term in the first chapter of the book down cold because the FRQs will ask you to define those terms and you will get no points if your definition is off.</p>
When I went into the test, I studied basically just for the FRQs and threw the MCs out the window, which wasn’t the best strategy, but I somehow still got a five. If I could do it over again, I wouldn’t cram and I would have also focused on some of the specifics I probably missed on the MCs.</p>
If you get through the Ethel Wood book by Christmas and make the outline as you go along, you should be fine. I self studied in a semester, and while I felt very rushed, I still did get through all of the material, and as I said, I somehow also got a five.</p>
During everything before Christmas, don’t worry at all about the exam itself. Just read the material in the Ethel Wood book, highlight of course, and make that outline. Come second semester, then start looking toward the exam itself.</p>
If you ever have any questions about this test or anything else AP related (I can also give you pointers on the ACT if you need help as I already got a 34), don’t hesitate to PM me.</p>
i’m taking ap comparative in school this year, were using the ethel woods book. we’re mainly outlining on our own the whole year and having class discussions so it should be easy</p>
Self Studying AP Comparative Government. Besides Ethel Wood’s book, what other resources do you guys suggest?</p>
I heard something about briefing papers… I think their on the collegeboard website but ull really have to search hard…</p>
There was one link on here somewhere about AP Comp Gov from last year that had some really good link, but I can’t seem to find the thread. I self studied last year, and if I find the thread, I’ll be sure to provide you the link with the study materials.</p>
Sorry for the double reply, but I found an insanely good study packet for all of you that are self studying. While I really wish I could have had it when I took Comparative Government, I still ended up getting a five.</p>
<a href=“https://sites.google.com/a/ans.edu.ni/ap-comparative-government-politics/ap-exam-review-material[/url]”>https://sites.google.com/a/ans.edu.ni/ap-comparative-government-politics/ap-exam-review-material</a></p>
Awesome. Thanks, that link looks really helpful.</p>
I couldnt open that link. Can you mabe send it in a format that isn’t on google sites? Or maybe its something on my computer</p>