What the hell is up with Barron's AP Statistics?

<p>Hey all. I am taking the AP statistics exam this year. I bought the Barron's book to study for it and find it very frustrating at times. I've always enjoyed stats and always get good grades in it. My main problem is the questions at the end of every chapter. Several of them require you to know a whole lot of rules and relationships. So I was wondering whether such questions which require you to have a detailed knowledge of such concepts appear alot in the exam? Or is the exam more calculations-intensive? I know Barron's is tougher than the actual exam but do you need to know everything (as required with the Barron's questions) to get a 5 on the exam?</p>

<p>I'm not super-familiar with the Stats exam, but my colleague who is says that one of the toughest things about the AP Stats exam is deciding which test is relevant for which situation.</p>

<p>If that's what you're referring to above, then I would say probably.</p>

<p>Barron's sucks and destroys self esteem... I bought a Barron's book for Math I, and was missing about 40% of the questions (putting me at less than 650). I ended up with a 720, which isn't stellar, but it's certainly better than what Barron's said.... that book almost destroyed my math-self-confidence.</p>

<p>Barron’s is reputed to over-prepare most students, but that’s not a bad thing. Learning facts about a subject you are studying and how to problem-solve in that subject is a good idea.</p>

<p>I think Barron’s is terrific! Much better than PR! It’s so hard that it makes the AP test (any other test!) look like a piece of cake! I used the SAT II Spanish book and did close to horrible on the practice test; however, when I took the actual test i got 780! This was the same thing for the native speakers. So, just stick with Barron’s even if you feel like a complete failure, it pays of in the end. It’s kinda like having a really stick parent saying that 2350 on the SATs is unacceptable…</p>

<p>I know that Barron’s is tougher. But can someone tell me from personal experience how well the Barron’s works for the AP stats exam?</p>

<p>BUMP! Anyone?</p>

<p>According to this thread, it’s the recommended one to use for preparation: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ap-tests-preparation/201793-consolidated-book-suggestions-ap.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ap-tests-preparation/201793-consolidated-book-suggestions-ap.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Yeah i know thats one of the reasons I bought it. But I find it awful. so can anyone tell me how its preparation compares with the actual AP exam?</p>

<p>Ummm use PR, 10x better. I got a 5 by reading through PR twice. and know all your calculator functions for stats.</p>

<p>i used Barrons, went through it once, and got a 5 last year. PR doesnt go in-depth enough.</p>

<p>Know that the review is great but the MC look nothing like the test. If you pick up a released exam and go through the MC, it will definitely be easier/more subject concise than Barron’s questions. Also, I’d totally advise practicing with the FRQ from the College Board site–they will give you the challenge to apply statistical inference and thought that Barron’s lacks with its questions.</p>

<p>P.S. Just more proof that Barron’s MC are unreliable–my AP Stats teacher uses now some MC from the practice tests to make up his own class tests. More often than not, most of us struggle with those questions and he ends up just giving us answers. He uses released exams’ questions, though, so they balance out. The difference between the two is painfully obvious because those from Barron’s are just not well-written (one asked about mistakes made by a student calculating probability that said he calculated a negative probability somehow as one of the answers. Yeah, not an AP level question).</p>

<p>Thank god! Because the Multiple Choice Exam Questions were my main concern. Thanks!</p>