Self-Studying APs: Improving Your App

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
222

<p>Congratulations on all of your successes as an international AP scholar, oasis. Now the questions cometh! Next year will be quite a doozy for me; it is senior year, but I plan to still show my commitment to education. The AP Exams will still potentially be a deciding factor to my placement in college, since I will be going to college several weeks after the AP Exam scores come out. Also, some will be available via phone, so I could easily do that. The problem is, though, which APs should I self-study? The following AP courses are offered at my school:</p>

<p>AP Chemistry (taking), AP English Literature and Composition (taking), AP English Language and Composition (took, 4), AP Calculus AB and BC (took AB, 3; taking BC); AP Spanish Language (taking), AP Environmental Science (wanting to take), AP Biology, AP Statistics, AP Microeconomics, AP Macroeconomics (the teacher is decent, but students normally get 3s on the exam; he doesn't prep them enough, but all students do get As in that class), AP Studio Art (not into that, nor artistically gifted), AP Music Theory (again, no), AP Human Geography (offered to freshmen classes only), AP U.S. History (I wanted to take it, but it was tooooo much and my knowledge of history is not too extensive. I dropped out due to its difficulty; Junior Year course), AP World History (sophomore course), AP Modern European History (the same applies to these subjects, as well), AP Latin Vergil, AP Latin Literature (I've never taken Latin and I don't wish to learn it at all, I'm afraid), AP Italian Language, and AP French Language (again, no).</p>

<p>I was thinking of taking AP Environmental and AP Biology as self-studies. The AP Biology teacher at my school is also the AP Environmental Science teacher, and my old Physical Science teacher taught AP Bio before he did, so I have some good mentors. I have a copy of the textbook that they are currently using, along with a copy of "Biology for Dummies" that was available at my school's bookstore for 50 cents (I kid you not). It wasn't a prep book; the teachers made a mistake, so they charge students only 50 cents for it. And it was in perfect condition: huzzah. My courseload consists of four APs; an Honors, college-level humanities course; another Honors course that is high-school leveled, and a College Prep course taught by an AP teacher, so you can expect that the level of difficulty will be equivalent to that of his course. The only problem is that I am worried I will overload myself, what with my many clubs and activities, theatre performances, and boosting up my standardized testing scores to greater heights (150+ SAT, 4+ composite ACT), as well as the college application process itself. Should I at least take one of these as a self/independent study? Or should I just abandon it altogether and just focus on my four current APs?</p>

223

<p>I'm a rising junior and I'm debating whether to self-study Calc AB this year and then senior year BC or just study for BC in senior year.</p>

<p>Is taking AB one year and then BC the other year better than just taking BC later?</p>

224

<p>BC is equivalent to a two-semester course in college, the first semester of which being equivalent to the AP Calculus AB course. Elements of AB will be required to understand in BC. I encourage you take the AB course and the exam to get an idea of what the format is like, because the BC exam works as this, according to both my teacher and previous students:</p>

<ul>
<li>Multiple choice questions sometimes overlap. Some Calc AB questions are on the exam.</li>
<li>Free-Response: 4 questions from the AB exam, plus 2 BC topics: McLauren and Taylor series, if I recall correctly.</li>
</ul>

<p>So, I encourage you self-study both so you can have double the knowledge and therefore twice the chance to do well on both of the exams.</p>

225

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>On a related note, my brother who is a rising senior will be self-studying Calc BC and he was wondering how does the subscoring works.</p>

<p>Any idea?</p>

<p>thanks again,
ansar</p>

226

<p>


</p>

<p>Link: [url=<a href="http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/Pageflows/FAQ/VwDetailFAQ.do;jsessionid=WJ7ZLnXFTWwp5QfxfzYf5hTgYJPDvR7YLpyG7lhq0qywtQ7QTwhL!626034471?faqid=1198%5DSource!%5B/url"&gt;http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/Pageflows/FAQ/VwDetailFAQ.do;jsessionid=WJ7ZLnXFTWwp5QfxfzYf5hTgYJPDvR7YLpyG7lhq0qywtQ7QTwhL!626034471?faqid=1198]Source![/url&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/p>

<p>So there you have it; it's not specific as you want it, but it answers the question in some regard.</p>

227

<p>Ok, that explains it well. :)</p>

<p>thanks,
ansar</p>

228

<p>You're welcome. It's what we're here for.</p>

229

<p>Hi! I was just wondering if it is better to take AP Human Geography or AP Psychology. My school offers both and I was wondering which one would look better when applying for colleges and/or which one is more interesting. Thanks! Also, if I take one or the other, is it possible to self teach the other AP test.</p>

230

<p>My schedule doesn't let me fit that many APs so I figured I would try to self-study.
But then my sister (who selfstudied Physics) told me that the AP tests themselves don't matter as much as the classes themselves.</p>

<p>Is it worth it to self-study?</p>

<p>maybe I should've posted this under AP preparation.. -_-</p>

231

<p>@ sunlight_blue -</p>

<p>Go for the one that you like most. </p>

<p>Again, with these "am I able to take the test" questions, no one really knows the answer except you! Are you willing to be committed? HumGeo and Psych are generally considered to be the "easier" exams, so if you are willing to put in work then you'll be fine. </p>

<p>@ umm -</p>

<p>It's worth it if your school doesn't offer many AP exams. If your school already offers 10+ AP classes, take your AP classes!</p>

232

<p>Hey!
I'm a sophomore and taking two APs this year (AP World, AP Human Geo) and was wondering how much work self studying for the Environmental Science and Psychology classes would be. My school offers a lot of APs I'm pretty sure, AP ES being the only one I want to take that isn't offered. Is it worth it to self study them? The only reason I'm considering it is because next year I'll only be able to take 3 or so AP classes, and I really want to get a National Scholar award without having to resort to summer school.
Thanks!</p>

233

<p>So AP State Scholar is based on the cumulative amount of exams you've taken (and passed) throughout high school right?</p>

234

<p>How do one study for ap euro chapter test or evne for the class because I am having trouble.</p>

235

<p>I'm planning on taking AP Calculus BC, Physics C and Psychology. I go to a school where there are no APs offered. I have to self study them. The syllabus of my school has rigorous calculus and physics via calculus. Can I study all 3 and still manage to get a 5 on each ? I like all 3 of them.</p>

236

<p>Books for the following?</p>

<p>AP Calculus AB/BC
AP Macro/Micro
AP Spanish Language</p>

237

<p>for ap macro/micro u should go with princeton review. great book and helps you in class too.</p>

238

<p>What is a good book for ap euro during class?</p>

239

<p>@ Brooke -</p>

<p>Try them and you'll know. </p>

<p>@ Bears - </p>

<p>Yes. Though if you live in a big state (CA, TX) be prepared to take a ridiculous amount of exams (like in the neighborhood of 20's). Also, you won't know the result until the end of your senior year - so it's not that significant if you want colleges to know.</p>

<p>@ race -</p>

<p>By REA's AP Euro and study it (it's a bit dense, but if you sit down and take the time to really read it closely, it's very rewarding). It's only about 200 or so pages long, so it's much shorter than a conventional textbook - but provides enough information for you to ace the AP exam.</p>

<p>@ tristam -</p>

<p>If your school has physics through calculus, you'll be fine for Physics C. Calculus has a ridiculous curve so with studying, you should be able to also get a 5 in calculus without too much effort.</p>

<p>@ ansar -</p>

<p>Calculus - Princeton Review
Econ - PR
Spanish - dunno, haha. Practica mucho?</p>

240

<p>Hello. I am very much considering studying for AP courses and taking them myself. If I knew this last year, I would of taken the AP World History exam but I did not know that you didn't have to be in AP to take these tests.</p>

<p>I am currently a Junior and taking APUS History. Should I self-study for the AP Government test and take it in May? My high school does not offer the course so it would be impossible to take it in senior year.</p>

<p>I will take Physcology in Senior year/maybe even AP Physcology if my schedule allows it so Ill save that AP test for senior year.</p>

<p>Human Geography - What does this test? I have never heard of this one. lol.</p>

<p>Enviormental Science - I will probably start studying for this one. It sounds pretty straightforward. I plan to take AP Bio in senior year so Ill just study this this year.</p>

<p>And also, how do I register to take these AP tests? I think my school registers me for the APUS one I'm enrolled in. I would have to ask my school?</p>

<p>Thanks for all your help.</p>

241

<p>Oasis, how many APs did you take your freshman year, sophomore, junior and senior year?
I was also wondering if trying to take 5 AP classes along with self studying 3 is reasonable..
Our school offers AP Physics B which I am currently taking. I have already taken Calculus, so should i self study Physics C along with Mechanics?</p>