Official AP US History Thread 2012

Test Preparation AP History & Social Sciences
21

Try AMSCO’s self-scoring interactive quiz here: <a href=“http://amscoelearning.com/book/5/83[/url]”>http://amscoelearning.com/book/5/83&lt;/a&gt;. After you take it, you can use the checklist to see which parts of the book you need to study.</p>

22

lol - I think the best books changed over the years in this order: </p>

REA → AMSCO → REA (Crash Course) → Direct Hits → …</p>

:).</p>

23

Well I had a class where they did nothing. All we did was watch videos and only read about 5 chapters in the American Pageant and whatnot, did 1 dbq and no essays. I used the Amsco book, if you read it 5 times. I assure you that you will get a 5 on your test. It is possible to self study. But over look some essays and dbq. You’ll get a 5. US History is a joke.</p>

24

is this the AMSCO book that you guys keep talking about? Cause I’m planning to self -study so I need to know which to buy</p>

[Amazon.com:</a> United States History: Preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination (9781567656602): John J. Newman: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/United-States-History-Preparing-Examination/dp/1567656609]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/United-States-History-Preparing-Examination/dp/1567656609)</p>

25

^Yes, that’s AMSCO.</p>

26

^^how many pages does it have?</p>

27

AMSCO has about 700 pages while DH has about 300 pages.</p>

28

700 pages? that’ll take forever -.-</p>

29

^^AMSCO could honestly act as somewhat of a surrogate for your actual US History textbook. I used it to study for our class chapter tests and it worked like a charm. I remember attempting to finish reading the entire thing a week before the AP test, but I could only read about 2-3 chapters per day.</p>

AMSCO really pays off though and I’d highly recommend it. Just be sure to start early!</p>

30

That AMSCO is from 2003! Isn’t there a newer edition?</p>

31

The picture is of the old edition. However, Amazon sends you the 2010 edition.</p>

32

You’re all starting way too early for this. Enjoy your summers.</p>

33

I am reading Zinn’s book.</p>

34

Get five steps to a five! Read it before every new topic you start in class because, although it is not the MOST detailed review book, it portrays the meat and bones of the course in an interesting way.</p>

35

I’m sure 99% of the people in our classes would sell their bodies to have our grades either way :D</p>

36

Get the AMSCO 2010 edition. You can find it here [Product</a> Category](<a href=“http://amsco.extendsales.com/AMSCOPUB/control/product?categoryId=19&catCode=MAH]Product”>http://amsco.extendsales.com/AMSCOPUB/control/product?categoryId=19&catCode=MAH)</p>

37

So far what I’ve garnered through this thread is that these are the books that I will be buying next fall:</p>

Direct Hits
AMSCO
Crash Course
Princeton Review</p>

38

YOU DO NOT NEED ALL OF THESE BOOKS! The test isn’t THAT hard and you won’t need to study a lot, especially if you are in a class. 4 review books is overkill.</p>

EDIT: Zinn will not teach you what you need for an AP test, but it is a good book to read for free time.</p>

39

Don’t get 4 prep books. You’re going to spend all your time trying to get through them and then won’t actually study the information. I only had one prep book for APUSH, so I used that, plus flashcards, and studied class notes and got a 4.</p>

40

Just get Direct Hits or AMSCO, seriously…</p>