SAT US History Subject test

<p>what are the differences between the ap us history test and the sat sbuject test? i got a 4 on the apush test, so do you think i should take the sat us test?</p>

<p>As you probably know, the SAT is only multiple choice. So if the essay was your weakness on the AP, that could be a plus for you. I prepped for the SAT and AP for USH in the same way (same books). The main difference IMO is that AP focuses on questions of interpretation and analysis, whereas SAT has much more fact-based questions. Now, of course there’s overlap, but I’m noting a general trend here. What book did you use for APUSH? I found AMSCO to be great for both AP and SAT.</p>

<p>i used the princeton review APUSH prep guide 2008 edition</p>

<p>This is my all time favorite choice: [Amazon.com:</a> United States History: Preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination: John J. Newman: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/United-States-History-Preparing-Examination/dp/1567656609/ref=sr_1_1/175-2091587-7800736?ie=UTF8&qid=1237221225&sr=8-1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/United-States-History-Preparing-Examination/dp/1567656609/ref=sr_1_1/175-2091587-7800736?ie=UTF8&qid=1237221225&sr=8-1) </p>

<p>Go through this and your old AP book, and you should do great on the Subject Test. I want to emphasize that it’s good to focus on important details for SAT. That’s why I like the idea of having more than one book, so you get to see the information presented in different ways multiple times to really help you retain the information. Good luck!</p>

<p>thanks for your advice!</p>

<p>Hi, I looked at wewet234’s review book recommendation, and am wondering if a) he/she might comment on its length (long) and b) if he has any secondary recommendation. This is an expensive, older review, probably well worth it but time is of issue for us in review too. I appreciate your insight though, and may well order it up. TIA.</p>

<p>I guess I’ll just go over my study schedule for USH. For the SAT Subject Test, I read AMSCO in its entirety the week before the exam. The other prep books I used were: </p>

<p>REA (AP book): This would be my secondary recommendation. I read this the week before I read AMSCO. I used a really old version ([Amazon.com:</a> REA’s AP US History Test Prep with TESTware Software: J. A. McDuffie, G. W. Piggrem, S.E. Woodworth: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/REAs-History-Test-TESTware-Software/dp/0878913327/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237243343&sr=8-1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/REAs-History-Test-TESTware-Software/dp/0878913327/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237243343&sr=8-1)), but there’s a newer one available ([Amazon.com:</a> AP United States History (REA) - The Best Test Prep for the AP Exam: 7th Edition (Test Preps): J. A. McDuffie, G. W. Piggrem, Steven E. Woodworth, Gregory Feldmeth: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/AP-United-States-History-REA/dp/0738602183/ref=pd_sim_b_3]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/AP-United-States-History-REA/dp/0738602183/ref=pd_sim_b_3)). I liked it for many of the same reasons I like AMSCO, but it does give info that you just know is superfluous when you’re reading it. It’s much longer than AMSCO too. I’ve heard great things about a newer and shorter version ([Amazon.com:</a> AP U.S. History Crash Course (REA): Larry Krieger: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/U-S-History-Crash-Course-REA/dp/0738605603/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237243723&sr=8-1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/U-S-History-Crash-Course-REA/dp/0738605603/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237243723&sr=8-1)), but haven’t used it or looked at it myself. </p>

<p>Barron’s (SAT book): I would not recommend it. I did read through the whole thing, but my complaints are:

  1. It focuses way too much on political trends (it’s even divided up into sections based on presidencies) and neglects a lot of important social movements which I saw come up on the test.
  2. The practice tests are absolutely horrible. They test the most obscure details, are absurdly difficult, inaccurate. Overpreparing IMO is a good thing, but these questions are not even close to being representative of the actual test. </p>

<p>Kaplan (AP book): Nothing too special. I really didn’t like the book’s format. Basically, it presented key terms (people, events, etc.) from each “era” in alphabetical order, so it lost all sense of chronology which, of course, is key in a history course. Although mine was an old version, so this may have changed. </p>

<p>I read all four of these books. While taking the USH class, I read Kaplan. Then I got Barron’s, forced myself to read the whole thing (I say forced because it wasn’t such an enjoyable read) and took the discouraging practice tests. Then I got REA and AMSCO, decided to read them in that order. It was 2 weeks before my test, so I spent a week on each. It was a lot of reading, but I must say, these 2 books make an excellent combination and it’s well worth devoting your time to study. </p>

<p>EDIT: forgot to add, I did take a few of these practice tests and found them to be quite accurate indicators: <a href=“http://testprep.sparknotes.com/testcenter/sat2/history/[/url]”>http://testprep.sparknotes.com/testcenter/sat2/history/&lt;/a&gt;. </p>

<p>I have no experience with Princeton Review, but plbro81 or someone else may be able to comment on that. Hope that helped and good luck!</p>

<p>Thanks Wewet234! </p>

<p>It seems taking the time to review multiple sources, if possible, is a common theme on all these tests. In my day eons ago, I don’t even think we had specific review books, rather just old test questions. Still managed to go to college, then on to professional school. However you kids are up against a tough set of circumstances and being prepared will only help. BTW, I have ordered Krieger’s US History Crash Course as I heard it is good also, so maybe she can post back after reviewing it.</p>

<p>are multiple sources really necessary? i’m planning on taking the ap exam and satII, with my us honors course and a rea prep book. are those good enough?</p>

<p>Having multiple sources IMO is something that really helps you prepare. Would you rather A) read one prep book twice or B) read two prep books once each? The problem with A is that you get the same material in the same way, so it may not be as engaging the second time around and you’re more likely to get lazy and skip stuff. B, on the other hand, is an easy way to make yourself study more so you’ll be better prepared and you’ll retain more, not only because you read the course over again but also because you were exposed to the information in a different way. Option C would be read your one book once. If you’re confident that you’ve sufficiently retained the information and can meet your score goals, then go for it. REA is an excellent source IMO.</p>

<p>i have a feeling i’m going to skip over some info on the prep book already, and in the end its just going to end up screwing me over.</p>

<p>Hey, am I supposed to remember names like Dorothea Dir, Harriet Tubman… for the test? What am I supposed to bear in mind? Thanks ;)</p>

<p>Is there a European History SATII? I’m taking Euro AP next year and it will bug me if there isn’t one!!</p>

<p>[Let</a> me google that for you](<a href=“http://lmgtfy.com/?q=College+board+subject+tests]Let”>http://lmgtfy.com/?q=College+board+subject+tests)</p>

<p>okay, thanks a bunch jump jump</p>

<p>btw, nice username ‘jumpjump’ !!D</p>