<p>Hi! I've been thinking about self-studying both macro and microeconomics sometime this year. I'm a rising junior and have only taken one AP test (Geography) because my school generally doesn't allow sophomores to take APs, and APHG is the exception. </p>
<p>Anyway, I was wondering if it would be relatively easy to self study Econ during my junior year. I'm taking AP English: Lit/Comp and APUSH and have a lot of commitments with dance and volunteering, so I am looking for advice from people who have already self-studied Econ or any other AP, even!</p>
<p>Basically, my questions are:
- How hard are the AP Econ tests?
- What textbooks/review books have you had the most success with?
- What was your timetable for studying?</p>
<p>AP macro happens to be one of the easiest tests, especially for self studying. The princeton review is really good and like 150 pages with micro and macro combined. You could honestly start the week before (assuming you can easily commit what you read to memory), read the book and do the practice questions and ace both exams.</p>
<p>PR alone is suffice. I only took AP micro this year, but it’s very doable; I started a month before the exam, studying it a few days per week. I heard that AP macro is harder, but I haven’t taken it. Self studying it next year.</p>
<p>The AP tests are very easy, but there is a harsh curve (~80% ~ 5). That said, it is easily achievable. I read the Economics book by Krugman and used PR to review. You could easily just use PR a month before and get a 5 on both exams. For me, macro was more interesting than micro and therefore I found it easier. Though truth be told, micro covers material that is easier/more intuitive. Note I have not yet gotten my scores for the exams, but feel pretty confident about getting 5’s on these two tests.</p>
<p>I self-studied three tests last year in addition to taking five in school, and of them, I think AP Macro was the easiest. The concepts are quick and simple to grasp, and I felt that the PR book was a great resource. As long as you space out the book, you should be fine (don’t try to cram it in a couple weeks before the test when you’re studying for your other tests).</p>
<p>I had to self study for econ because my school doesn’t offer it, and I’ll be a physics and economics double major… so it was crucial that I took this test, which was quite easy! Good luck to you!</p>
<p>I found AP Microeconomics and Macro to be challenging, but that’s probably because the logical skills needed to make the subjects easy were lacking in me, and it took me a while to grasp the basics.</p>
<p>5 Steps to a 5 was a stupendous help though, and my teacher (a graduate Econ student and former professor) recommended it above all others.</p>
<p>Next year, as a junior, I’ll be taking AP Macroeconomics myself (with a teacher that supposedly doesn’t do much) and then self-study AP Microeconomics. I’ll be using the 5 Steps to a 5 book myself. Looking through it, it has lots of practice problems, something that’s necessary in a more applied conceptual subject. </p>
<p>Plus, if you’re someone with a pet peeve for good quality books, 5 Steps to a 5 is printed with a nice glossy cover and has pages that aren’t toilet paper quality. A step up from other prep books.</p>
<p>i self studied both econs in one-two weeks with a bunch of other APs at the same time. its very do-able. i personally thought macro was a lot harder( i thought i got 4 in macro, but i called CB and got 5s on both). i used a combination of princeton review and barron’s and it worked well for me. good luck!</p>
Good luck to you!</p>