US history Subject Test..prep question concerning

<p>Hello, thank you for clicking on this post and reading... ;)</p>

<p>Okay, I am going to take US History test this month and I am studying from the Kaplan book, then I am planning to read Barron's book and then the McGram Hill AP book. However, after finishing half way through the Kaplan book, I looked at the Barron book and it is really hard.</p>

<p>So here is my question, (well not really a question but a thought) I have not taken AP U.S yet ...I took honors U.S histoy 1 my freshman year. Then U.S history 2 my sophomore year.
Now, I am a junior and taking World History...</p>

<p>(Here is my question now..) If you, or people you know, (who took this test and did good 700 +) take the AP US history class?</p>

<p>I am asking this because the Barrons questions really scared me....</p>

<p>and yes I have heard about amsco....
thank you</p>

<p>bump???? anyone</p>

<p>I'm currently in APUSH right now and my teacher says that
amost everyone who took the APUSH test and scored 4 or 5 scored
around 800 in the subject test. (Well, he says.)
So I think it'll be great prep if you take the AP class.
But since you already took US 1 and 2, you're probably ready.
Just keep using prep books and look over the material!</p>

<p>And who can blame you for being scared at Barron's questions.
They're known to be difficult (especially compared to Kaplan)</p>

<p>thank you so much mniyks, but wait are the Kaplan questions too easy because I don't want to get my hopes up...I actually answer the Kaplan questions correctly...</p>

<p>So is Kaplan questions easy..if they are does anyone know which book is better besides AMSCO?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>The Barron's US History questions are far harder than the actual test. I would go with AMSCO if you can find it, and otherwise, anything but Barron's, all that does for history is scare you.</p>

<p>You could even use one of the other AP books if you want, they cover pretty much the same material (though there are more random, specific literature/art questions on the SAT than the AP).</p>

<p>you're welcome. i don't know about the AP US book,
but the Kaplan SAT prep book is easier than the real SAT test.
so i would use another book besides the one from Kaplan.</p>

<p>The book my APUSH teacher recommended was REA.
here's the link if you want to look at it
Amazon.com:</a> AP United States History (REA) - The Best Test Prep for the AP Exam: 7th Edition (Test Preps): J. A. McDuffie, G. W. Piggrem, Steven E. Woodworth, Gregory Feldmeth: Books</p>

<p>as fhg said, Barron's is way harder than the real test,
so I'd recommend you to go with some other brand.</p>

<p>thank you fhg and mniyks, I am going to try to get the REA book as well</p>

<p>do you guys know if the McGram Hill AP book for U.S history is any good, its called 5 steps to a 5... </p>

<p>thanks you guys once again, i should have really researched before buying these books, I really appreciate the info.</p>

<p>Just a bit of personal experience... if you are going to be spending a lot of time reading all of the prep books you have listed, you may want to consider just reading as much as you can from an APUSH book such as the American Pageant or something similar.</p>

<p>The American Pageant is rather thick, but not too difficult of a read. If you can read the book in a month and remember a good deal, I can pretty much guarantee 800 on the SAT II and a 5 on the AP test if you choose to take it.</p>

<p>Is this the book you are talking about?</p>

<p>Amazon.com:</a> American Pageant: A History of the Republic: Thomas Bailey, David M. Kennedy, Lizabeth Cohen: Books</p>

<p>Yes it is. BUT... before you go shelling out $130 for the book, I would simply ask your school's APUSH teacher to borrow an extra copy for the month (or try a library to find a similar textbook if none are available). </p>

<p>In my experience, any teacher would be glad to lend out a book that you plan on reading as long as you promise to bring it back.</p>

<p>I took AP US history last year and passed the exam with a a four.</p>

<p>The Barron study aid is the best book to study from. The fact that the questions are harder than the subject test is beneficial to you so you'll be more than ready for the test.</p>

<p>I hated 5 Steps to a 5 (too vague and badly written), but really liked the other McGraw Hill book, AP Achiever. I didn't love REA...it had a lot of excess info and I didn't like the organization.</p>

<p>My school passed out free 5 steps to a 5 for US History and it looked way too general to be useful in a meticulous exam like the US history SAT II. I'd stick with AMSCO (from personal experience) or REA (since it has a good rep).</p>

<p>Reading Pageant might be a bit of an overkill for the SAT II; if you go through a textbook, might as well try the AP exam.</p>

<p>We used REA for AP prep and I thought it was really really good.</p>

<p>I also used Kaplans (read over it, did one practice set) like the week before the June SAT and it really helped. I thought Kaplans did a good job. Covered most of the info on it. I really didnt pay attention to the questions much but all the info on the test is covered (I mainly used it for the review section not the questions)</p>

<p>Got a 4 on the AP and with a little bit of review from the SAT Kaplan book (didn't use this for the AP exam), got a 800 on the SAT. The SAT has more detailed questions in my opinion but it was easier in the fact that it didn't have any free response and was only an hour.</p>

<p>thank you guys so much, i really appreciate you help.</p>

<p>my school will have a AP U.S history class starting next year, which will be my senor year so we will most likely get new books.</p>

<p>i am going to get the REA book from the library if possible or just buy it.</p>

<p>however, which book would be best for SAT test, the AP REA book or the SAT one??</p>

<p>bump ^^</p>