What APs can you self study in three months?

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
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<p>Hi all - I'm currently a freshmen and looking to take some AP exams this May. I've read through the boards and everything, but I'm still not Quite sure which AP exams I can study for in three and a half months and get a 4/5 (if any--Preferably 5...). I'd be able to put in a some time, maybe two hours a day. So if anyone could tell me the amount of reading or study time per day you'd have to spend on these, and for how long (as in, "1 hr/day for three months"; or, "No way you could self study that in three months"), that'd be awesome. ^_^</p>

<p>Interested in:
1) Macro/Microeconomcs
2) English Language
3) Environmental Science: I'm taking normal Biology this year, as it's required for freshmen at my school.
4) European History: Apparently just with PR you can get a 4.
5) Comp/US Gov & Politics
6) Human Geography: One person studied for a week and got a 4/5? Although I guess it could be considered a waste of time/money...
7) Psychology
8) Statistics: I'm currently taking Algebra 2/Trig, and my sister said (a while ago) that it's easy and that I could do it, but I'm not sure if three months is enough time.<br>
9) World History</p>

<p>Extra Questions (not for this May): </p>

<p>Biology: I'll probably eventually have to choose between Chem AP and Bio AP for school (heard all the chem teachers at my school bite, though). I'm pretty sure that Bio is easier to self study, having looked at the board and because of what my cousins have told me. But what do you do about labwork when self studying?</p>

<p>Computer Science AB: How easy is it to self study for? My mom's a software engineer and my sister majored in Computer Science (still lives at home, and will until 2007-2008 school year), so I'd be able to get oodles of help...The only reason I'm not sure is because my sister asked me if I really thought I'd learn as much self studying as in class... What do you think of that? o.O Also, someone tell me about time commitment for it?</p>

<p>English Literature: Thinking of taking this at school my senior year (you have to take some kind of english all four years...), but not sure if it's worth it to spend time on a class, because I've read it's really easy...Kinda wanted to do another kind of English class that a really awesome teacher teaches. I realize AP classes boost your GPA, though. Advice?</p>

<p>Physics B/C: If you take a normal Physics class (no AP at my school), how much will you need to study in addition to take C?</p>

<p>US History: AP class at my school is ridiculously hard and not really that useful... How much studying in addition to the normal class?</p>

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<p>This is something I wish I did as a freshman(I was a MAJOR slacker). I would recommend taking 2 easy exams this year. As a freshman, thats probably all you will have time for on your own and thats 164 dollars right there. It all really depends on your strengths but my recommendation would be to stay away from math/science/english AP's because those can be intense. </p>

<p>I would recommend:
1) Human Geography - if you understand anything about the world and read barrons from cover to cover you can get a 5 with a week of studying(no joke)</p>

<p>2) Environmental Science - I am currently self studying and while it does take much more time up than Human Geo, its fun and its not that hard. </p>

<p>I would stay away from exams that your school has classes for because it would be a waste to self study for these tests when you can get hs credit and college credit later on with them. </p>

<p>If you get 2 5's by the end of freshman year you are wayyy ahead of the game.</p>

<p>I would never self study calculus, physics, or major science AP's(Chem, Bio)</p>

<p>good luck.</p>

3

<p>I would think AP CompSci A is pretty easy if you have some programming background (which you seemed to have) since it is mostly basic programming that works similarly on most platforms, though AP tests you on Java.</p>

<p>I would go against learning AP English Language unless you have really good critical reading / writing skill. For many people, it is the hardest AP, even harder than Calc B/C and Chem.</p>

<p>It's only your freshmen year, so as ryan said, don't burden yourself too much, but do take some moderate amount of APs as they will lessen your burden greatly as you move into Junior year.</p>

<p>Also could someone clarify the difficulty of self studying both econ classes? I know it has been discussed greatly, but probably many people (including me lol) will want to know how long it took, in terms of hour approximation, to study for a 5.</p>

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<p>Looking at your extra questions OP, I don't think it's a very good idea to take Phys C based on only a normal physics class. Phys C covers Calc-based physics which is not even touched in Phys B, so I doubt your normal physics class will cover it. It would take some serious amount of time to do that, and to learn the Calc behind it.</p>

<p>For Chem, there are lab questions on the test (only written, no actual labs) but you can get by them without having actually done the labs. You only need to know the concept behind them.</p>

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<p>I did it. In Feb laster year I moved America.I had three month to prepare AP tests
Cal AB 4
PHYC MECH 4
E&M 5
At least 5 hr per day. No weeked every day is work day</p>

<p>my friend did it too( get in caltech)
calAB 5
PhyC MECH 5
E&M 5
Chem 5</p>

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<p>My High school have no PhysicsC E&M class and Chem Class</p>

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<p>APs in three months??man thats impossible with school and everything.
If you can use all your energy in Aps for at least a month, thats a different story...but...maintaining GPA is as important you know. But if you really want to take the exam, I would recommend human geo cuz i never heard of anyone saying its hard.</p>

8

<p>Quite frankly, I think it is a little too ambitious to self-study AP tests three months before the exam date, unless you have a lot of time on your hands. Me, I self-studied Music Theory AP and got a 5 freshman year.</p>

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<p>Yeah, only just thought of this, unfortunately. I wouldn't be too devastated if I ended up not taking anything XD, but I thought it'd be good to ask. I'll need to look at some books before really deciding, but geo environ sci, maybe psych (?) sound like plausible ones.</p>

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<p>thats ridiculous it is not too late. Maybe only too late for bio, chem, calc, lit, languages, art</p>

<p>Everything else is doable.</p>

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<p>Of the ones you mentioned, I would do Statistics, Psychology, and/or Economics. Easy to self-study for. Don't do English Language or World History.</p>

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<p>I have a question-</p>

<p>I was thinking about doing the same thing, because my school doesn't offer a lot of AP's. I'm a junior right now and each year several students take the AP US History exam by self-studying for it. They, however, did have a regular US History class and did not completely do it themselves.</p>

<p>I am thinking about doing this; however, I was wondering how hard it might be. I was also wondering if I could COMPLETELY self-study for AP Psychology (having taken no class at all) and get a 5. I might either do that, or take a class at the local community college. Which do yall recommend?</p>

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<p>sry about that</p>

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<p>Physics C takes a lot of studying, and it requires you to learn a lot about setting up Riemman sums. It is definately worth it, as it is the second most interesting class.</p>

<p>Stats is the best subject there is, and it worth self studying, and the ap test is very easy, at least the Practice tests. You can learn a lot about sets, and space (sample and sets), but this could just be because my teacher is into it. It does have a lot of applications especially in programming.</p>

<p>CS AB - Me and my cousin self studied it this year. We finished the curriculum in around 2 months, and now we kind of sit around. The case study has questions and all the answers are online, so thats a way to check your work. With your sister's help, you should do fine.</p>

<p>Economics is another that is easy to study, because it is a lot of logic. Micro is a joke, and I havent worked on macroeconomics.</p>

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<p>My friend self studied Psychology and Statistics (he took a statistics class at a community college)</p>

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<p>Actually, I have read facts about scoring in past years, and people tend to score higher on the Calculus AP tests than Statistics...so it may not be as easy as it seems.</p>

<p>Those facts came straight out of my Statistics book this year, ironically...heh...cited and everything, of course.</p>

17

<p>Okay so, micro, probably macro, environ science, human geography, psychology, and stats are doable. Nobody's mentioned comp/us gov or euro history yet, although I think euro would be about the same difficulty as world history. I own a copy of the 2000-2001 edition of PR Cracking the AP US gov&politics, and it looked easy at first glance, but second opinions are welcome. Is the essay writing hard at all? o.O</p>

<p>Edit: Forget US Gov, I'll just take it for a semester senior year. ^^; But how about comp gov?</p>

<p>I don't think I'll do CS AB because I might as well just take the class and get HS credit/extra GPA points, but I'm not completely sure. I'm also leaning towards puttting off Stats for sophmore year. Should you do macro & micro at the same time, in one fell swoop?</p>

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<p>I'm just now starting to self-study for the Government and Politics AP Exam.</p>

<p>I'm planning on getting through the text book itself by the end of february, leaving ample time to actually prepare for the exam.</p>

<p>Oh, and in response to your inquiry on Comparitive Government and Politics - From what I understand, it's essentially comparing the US Government to other governments around the world. So I'd definately reccomend against self-studying for that prior to either self-studying for the Government AP Exam or taking the Government AP course.</p>

<p>I'm also interested in Psych though. Any opinions?</p>

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<p>I don't know much about self studying. I did self study Chem and Physcics, but I took a regular course and only had to do the extra stuff on my own.</p>

<p>You could study for the English language one in 3 months if you are already good at analyzing literature and writing essays in a short amount of time. I didn't find this test all that hard. And the class (at least mine) was just practicing and practicing the stuff for the exam. We really didn't have to learn anything new.</p>

<p>I haven't taken any of the rest you are thinking of.</p>

<p>For your additional questions:</p>

<p>I think Chem AP would be easier to self study for, especially if you don't like the teachers. I passed the test with a 4, and didn't study all that hard outside my regular class or do all the AP labs. But I haven't taken the AP Biology test or class, so I don't know for sure.</p>

<p>Literature: For your senior year, I'd say take the class you like. But then, my philosophy is that your senior year should be more laid back, at least in theory (it hasn't quite turned out that way for me, though.) Moreover, your senior year GPA doesn't count for as much as the previous two years. It does look better on your applications if you are taking the AP class, but if you are taking other AP classes and have good test scores it won't matter (though of course, it depends on the college). </p>

<p>US History: What do you mean by "really not useful?" My AP class didn't help me practice specifically for the test, but it taught me the information. With just a little review, I got a 5. So I guess it would take as much studying as you need to really know the information.</p>

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<p>I'd recommend AP English Language, if you have decent verbal skills. I took it last year with no prep whatsoever, and I managed a 5. I was a junior, though, so take that for what it's worth, I guess.</p>

<p>Edited to say that Psychology is definitely doable, probably in less than three months.</p>