<p>I have a question...is the textbook for AP [insert course here] really a sure-fire way to know everything on the exam? It's troubling because I looked at the 2009 AP US History free-response + guidelines and found one of the outside information for Japanese-Americans were that they served in the 442nd regiment during World War II. Now, nowhere in American Pageant (14th ed) does it state this fact! It does state that Japanese-Americans loyally fought in the war, but it wasn't that specific.</p>
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<p>Furthermore, the AMSCO review book states quite a few more information that the textbook does not state.</p>
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<p>So here's the question: Is it better to think thematically (try to find lacking information regarding a topic outside the textbook) or just by the chapters of the textbook? I would think it helps in Biology to do so anyway, why not for every textbook?</p>
<p>For AP USH, I NEVER studied throughout the school year and got a 96 in the class. I crammed with a cram packet the night before the AP and got a 4. If you know everything in the textbook, I’m sure you’ll have no problem getting a 5…the test was really much easier than what I was expecting it to be.</p>
<p>I did the exact same thing as ghscheer92 and had the same results. Textbooks are good for understanding concepts and truly learning the material. Review books are good for passing exams.</p>
<p>In the course description of some AP subjects, it stated that students taking the exam are not expected to know everything. So, knowing about the Japanese regiment is one of those things that many of the students are not suppose to know.</p>
<p>Btw, how is the 14th edition American Pageant? any better than the 13 edition other than the fact that 14/e has a glossary?</p>
<p>AFAIK, there doesn’t seem to be significant changes other than what you stated, but I can’t tell you for sure… The student website is really helpful though.</p>
<p>Also, it really does depend on the exam. For some tests, reading a textbook is entirely unnecessary. For others, like Euro, reading a textbook would give you a better understanding of a wider range of topics, and provide you with many details that could potentially be tested. If you’re taking a class, reading a textbook will help, but you can probably get a 5 with just a review book.</p>
<p>The primary market for textbooks is educational institutions who want to teach you things. The primary market for review books is students who couldn’t care less so long as they do well on the AP test.</p>
<p>So yeah, if your only goal is to get a good score, review books are going to work much better.</p>
<p>Textbooks are designed to teach a specific subject.</p>
<p>Review books/websites are designed specifically for the AP exam.</p>
<p>"The primary market for textbooks is educational institutions who want to teach you things. The primary market for review books is students who couldn’t care less so long as they do well on the AP test.</p>
<p>So yeah, if your only goal is to get a good score, review books are going to work much better. "</p>
<p>Thats exactly right. Thats why you see so many textbook publishers coming out with all of these great teacher aids - power points, homework assignments, project ideas, mock syllabus so on so forth. Meanwhile the textbook provides little to nothing for the student. There is a reason textbooks cost 100$+ each. All of which simply burdens the student with extra work to do. Its no wonder that so many students are opting to self-study the exams, its way easier not to mention you can prepare for significantly more exams that way.</p>
<p>If you look at the prep materials market its the exact opposite. Everything is designed specifically to prepare the student to take the exam. You have everything from flash cards, review courses, timelines, mini lectures, step-by step guides you name it. Oh yea, and significantly cheaper $10-30.</p>