US Prep Books

<p>Ok, read the consolidated list and am trying to come up with my own prep book plan. I'm taking regular American history next year (they don't have honors and I can't take AP because of scheduling with AP Chem) and I want to take the exam because I did it with European history and got a 5.</p>

<p>Possible Review Books-
AMSCO- a definate. I figured I can use it during the year and to learn all the stuff that I won't be taught in regular American history. Would this have enough INFORMATION for a 5?</p>

<p>PR- because it's PR -</p>

<p>REA- detailed info, lots of practice tests</p>

<p>BARRON's- I've heard its good for essay practice</p>

<p>5 Steps to a 5- it looks organized and helpful</p>

<p>Sparknotes Powerpack- It's so pretty and seems like a cool way to review</p>

<p>SO. . .my question to you. If I were to get 3-4 books, what would be the best combination to secure a 5? I want a book to help throughout the year, one to "teach" the rest of the content, and a good book with strategies for essays and such. I'm probably being WAY too neurotic, but hey, I'd rather have too many books than not enough. Besides, I'll just sell them on Amazon when I'm done.</p>

<p>last question- do I need a textbook? Or would my regular text and Amsco or REA be enough? Our school uses "The American Pageant" and I;ve heard it is quite biased.</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

<p>Love,
katia</p>

<p>you guys use american pageant for reg us history? That what we use for ap. lol. Im using pr right now and am planning to apply the same plan as I did with euro last year: read through the book during the school year, prep with pr at mid-april, and re-read any hard sections. I dont think multiple prep books are necessary because I pulled off a 5 in euro.</p>

<p>No- I meant that's what they use for AP- we use something called "The Americans" Yeah I hardly did anything for euro, didn't take the class, my essays were based solely on stuff for Honors global, never finsihed reading any prep book, and managed a 5. But I've heard that US is harder, esp. since you actually need outside ifo for DBQ.</p>

<p>So am I good with my text or should I snag an AP one on the internet. What's a good text if so?</p>

<p>katia11 do you got to stuy? lol- if that's so, don't use the american pageant, you can cover your ground with just the amsco (maybe rea too if you want a supplement)</p>

<p>"do I got to stuy?"
er. . .yeah</p>

<p>I want to be prepared, I usually don't study, but I need to study since I am missing a good portion of the material not being in the class and I want to be accustomed to the essays on this test.</p>

<p>quite a lot of people who self-studied the exam at stuy got 5s and 4s without looking at the pageant book. (i being one of them) don't worry.</p>

<p>ok cool- AmSCO here I come!</p>

<p>any other advice?</p>

<p>you only need one book...REA or AMSCO...is you have to get more...2 is the most...AMSCO/REA combination is the most detailed/thorough combination and also has good practice questions and tests...you definetly dont neet more that that</p>

<p>yeah im getting rea and amsco and thats it.</p>

<p>I think AMSCO's the best, but I'd also reccomend picking up the Spark Notes AP Power Pack which has some useful charts, flash cards, and practice tests.</p>