<p>I recently realized that I need 3 subject tests for Harvard ( and not 2 ). Hence, I need to take another one within the next month or so to make it for the Harvard EA deadline. I wsa debating between Biology E/M and US History. I have taken a US History course last year but it was pretty watered down. However, I am good at memorizing stuff so what would you guys recommend? I was leaning toward US History. </p>
<p>What is a good book for SATII Us History? I bought the PR SATII US History book but its too short and concise to be an actual representation of the test. </p>
<p>hmm. let's see. you've got a little over a month to the october test date. my idea (this may sound tedious. worked for me though.) if your school has an american pageant textbook, take it home. if not, try to get it @ your library. then go to apnotes.net and copy/paste the summaries into word. then delete everything except for the highlighted words. look at those study terms and focus on those terms in each chapter. </p>
<p>note: this was actually my technique for studying for the ap and the test was two days after the ap so all the info was fresh. i got an 800 if that encourages you at all.</p>
<p>well. apnotes.net is sort of a good summary plus they italicize those terms. HOWEVER they DO NOT help one understand the long term historical trends and this is important wwhen it comes to the SAT II and AP exams. there WILL BE questions on this idea, so it is crucial to understand the long range effects of, say, Jackson's Indian Removal Policy or the ruling in the Madison vs. Marbury case. it is also important to understand how to evaluate these trends from different perspectives. for example, there were economic motives, political motives, and social motives for starting the civil war. you need to be able to understand these. also dont really bother studying anything after 1980. little to no questions on that time period. hope this helps.</p>
<p>Are there any other books you can recommend which might be readily available?
I was thinking of buying the PR AP US History book... is it any good?</p>
<p>the apush book from princeton review is handy for two reasons:</p>
<p>1) it helps you to understand how to write a good dbq/free response (although , to tell you the trruth, i found their gridding method a little to constrictin when it came to the essays. let's put it this way: worked better for the fr than the dbq (for me @ least). nonetheless, i do think that it's understangind of what the reader's consider is a good essay is very helpful).</p>
<p>2)the list of terms they give is also very handy both for the mc and the essay sections of the test.</p>
<p>their strategies for mc are so-so. though, i usually don't find princeton review's mc strategies (whether for the SAT or the AP) to be particularly enlightening (though they were better for the AP IMO). also, their summary is not comprehensive and is very weak in certain areas. for example, they really don't discuss the gilded age of politics well enough to my liking. </p>
<p>with all that said, i think that investing in Sparknotes AP pack is wise. those flashcards are good not only in testing your know,edge of a particualr subject but in assessing where you need strength. also their timelines are wonderful. i skimmed the flashcards the night before just to tighten any loose areas and skimmed the timelines the morning of the test to jog my memory. i actually used one of the facts from the timelines in one of my essays.</p>
<p>ultimately, it was the time i put into studying the terms in conjunction with my textbook that really helped. prep books do not compare (IMO, of course). though i think it's safe enough to stay that those sparknotes timelines and flashcards would be sufficient to acheive at least a 3 if not higher. </p>
<p>oh one last thing. look at as many sample DBQ's and FR's as you can get your hands on. and try some yourself (about a week before the test). i took a pr practice exam one or two days before the test. timed and everything.</p>
<p>However, the SATII questions are only based on multiple choice questions and hence,practiciing dbq/frq wont help as such. I was thinking of getting the PR AP US History book since it seems more detailed. It seems however, from what you said that its not a great book and does not cover as much as it should cover. My question to you would be, does is it have enuogh material to get me a 700+ on the SATII?</p>
<p>o oops. i forgot i got caught up in the ap advice. but some of that will still be useful for your sat prep.</p>
<p>o and i cant really say whether or not youll get a 700+. the curve is a good curve, but i really dont know your knowledge or skill when history is concerned so i cant really say.</p>
<p>AMSCO/REA for the AP US Hist. should be really helpful for the SAT II also because both of them are very detailed and contain almost everything if not everything that you need for the SAT II even though the books are designed for the AP exam</p>
<p>How do all you cram for US History ? I mean the way you learn it. Does the history knowlegde automatically enter your head just by reading carefully ?
I'm in an extremely precarious situation now, for there is only more than one month left for me to cram for the test :( (not to mention I'm an international student, so don't have any chance to take any US courses). If I read extensively all the materials I have in hand (sparknotes, AP notes downloaded from the internet), will I stand any chance of getting a 650-700 ? (my dream score is exactly 700)</p>
<p>Please save my neck by telling me the most effective methods to prepare for the test. I know I'm exceedingly foolhardy to pick this subject but...I will sure follow your advice (except the advice to buy books because they aren't available in my country and my financial situation doesn't let me purchase ones on Amazon). Thanks a ton :)</p>
<p>lol... I'm in the same situation except that I took a watered down US History course whre I totally slacked off and got an A+! I'm gonna get so screwed now! </p>
<p>REA was not avaialble at the local borders/barnes and nobels. I bought the Kaplan book for APUSH since it was the only book available. Is that any good?</p>
<p>you can cram but thats not really an affective way to study for AP US, you have to understand the causes and effects, and how the history FLOWS as time goes on and why things happen as they did, if you understand US hist. as one big timeline, that will be much more affective than cramming and much easier to remember</p>