<p>OK, so I'm loading up with six AP's this senior year and I need review books for AP Calc BC, Euro, and Enviro, since those are my most "study-able" subjects. </p>
<p>Calc BC- Barrons vs. PR? Barrons seems thorough and well-organized but is it overkill? I'm not bad at math, but it is my worst subject (only because I excel in the humanities). The new PR comes out next month. Is it worth it? (People used to suggest arco... what is it? Peterson's seems too expensive and I have a short attention span). Also, I heard that PR is for the people who want tricks and shortcuts, but Barrons helps you udnerstand how and WHY something actually works.</p>
<p>Euro- Barrons vs. PR? I don't particularly care for timelines so that's not a deal breaker. I ehard barron's is weird and contradictory and PR is thick. Recommendations?</p>
<p>Enviro- PR vs. Barrons vs. Smarty pants guide? IDK about any of these. My sister may be able to help me as she is majoring in a related field.</p>
<p>For these suggestions it would help if you could include pros and cons, and mention how difficult it is relative to the AP exam. I particularly care about getting a 5 in calc, as that and AP vergil may be the only AP classes which will help me with credit/placement. Thanks!</p>
<p>I used Barron’s for Euro and it was great. It was all I read for the week prior to the exam and I am certain I got a 4 or 5. I used the barrons for the math2 subject test (not for Calc, but I probably will later this year) and it was also great, it is “overkill” but too much preparation is never bad. Also, be wary about the grade deflation in the practice tests. I got around a 570 on all of them, as compared to a 760 on the actual test. Euro washer accurate, but still deflated</p>
<p>I tried the level II and returned it immediately after I graded the math diagnostic… I really did not have the focus for overkill on math. History, I can handle overkill, so I’ll strongly check out barrons.</p>
<p>PR is not “thick.” It’s pretty concise. And remember, it does have 2 practice tests at the end. </p>
<p>Barron’s isn’t worth your time or money. The questions are completely unrealistic. Are the questions hard? Yes. Do they reflect the AP exam? Barely.</p>
<p>I too recommend REA crash course for AP European History. The book was uncanny in it’s accuracy in predicting what would be on the AP test - I vividly remember reading it the day before the exam where the book noted that Russian history and women’s history was always part of the FRQ section. Sure enough, both were on the test.</p>
<p>Just use your textbook for Euro. It may be more work, but you’ll be able to understand the material a lot better, and the AP exam will be a joke. The same goes with BC Calc, though you might want to try a few official practice tests too.</p>
<p>A review book isn’t necessary for calc, unless you have last minute cramming for topics that you didn’t cover in class. Otherwise, the textbook was suffice; the concepts aren’t that easy to forget once you learn them especially since you apply many of the concepts over again throughout the course.</p>