Worst AP Cramming Ever?

<p>For USH I’d recommend picking up Amsco instead of a textbook to save you time. Its about 600 pages (but easy reading and much less text than a textbook) and its all you need for a 5.
APWH I’d use PR over Barons if its the only book your using.
Since C requires an understanding of Calc, you should probably study for BC before Physics C.
AP English Language If your a great writer you don’t really have to study too much. Familiarize yourself with the three prompts and look out how the multiple choice is structured. Not too much to memorize, and you can easily get a 5 without memorizing rhetorical strategies</p>

<p>I’m in these two classes:</p>

<p>AP Chemistry: Read all of Quest for Insight and do it’s odd problems and take 2 practice AP’s.</p>

<p>AP Calculus BC: Review Chapters 1-9 in Varberg and Purcell and take 2 practice AP’s.</p>

<p>I’m in Honors Physics (covers all the material on both parts of AP Physics C but with just algebra), Honors English II (just like AP English Language because we write TONS of essays, read poems, plays, classic novels, and learn 200 vocab words), and Honors World History (covers everything up to and including WWI).</p>

<p>AP Physics C: Read Ch 1-13 and 21-32 in University Physics and take 2 practice AP’s. I’m basically just learning it all with calculus. Do 2 practice AP’s for each part.</p>

<p>AP World History: Read all of Barron’s and do 3 practice AP’s.</p>

<p>AP English Language: Review the vocab, read Cliff’s, do 2 practice AP’s.</p>

<p>These two I am starting from scratch:</p>

<p>AP US History: Read all of AMSCO and take 2 practice AP’s.</p>

<p>AP Computer Science A: Read Intro to Programming Using Java by David Eck and take 2 practice AP’s. </p>

<p>Please evaluate my chances of getting a 5 for each subject next month with these books and the numbers of practice AP’s I’m taking. Also, please suggest any additions or improvements.</p>

<p>AP Chemistry and Calculus BC: Since you’re taking these classes, you might want to only review topics that you’re struggling with. For example, if you can easily integrate by parts, you can pretty much skip over that chapter. Save yourself some time.</p>

<p>AP Physics C: You’ll need calculus regardless. There could be problems where you’ll have to use integration or solve a differential equation. Look at a practice AP exam and you’ll know what I’m talking about.</p>

<p>AP English Language: You’ll have to know terms such as “synecdoche,” “anaphora,” etc. as well. Also helps to know what they’re looking for on the free-response section.</p>

<p>AP US/World History: Don’t know much about the tests; if you do a couple practice tests you should know what the test and the document-based questions (DBQ) are like.</p>

<p>AP Computer Science A: If you already know Java or C/C++, you’ll be at a great advantage. You’ll have to know how object-oriented programming works, know how to apply algorithms and loops to do the task in an efficient way, and be fluent with logic. If you don’t know Java or C, learning it in 3 weeks will be painful (it’s possible, but not easy).</p>

<p>It seems like you’ll be taking ~20 practice AP’s, which comes to ~1 per day. Eek…</p>

<p>From my experience, if you enjoy the subject and are very good at it, you can easily get a 5. I got 5’s on Physics C (mechanics) and both calculus exams with very little AP preparation. If you’re taking the test just because you want to skip it in college, and don’t really enjoy the subject and/or not good at it, a 5 will be next to impossible. Right now, it seems like getting 5’s on all eight AP’s is certainly not an easy task.</p>

<p>Also, get more sleep!</p>

<p>Is it common for students in your school to take an AP after taking these honors classes? If so, I’m sure you have a great chance at all 5’s.</p>

<p>Also, your algebra based physics class will not teach you certain things with E+M that AP Physics C does. Remember, your honors physics class covers ALL topics whereas E+M is usually focused on for a full year. </p>

<p>Step back and ask yourself why you are taking all of these AP exams. For the challenge? Credit? To put on your app?</p>

<p>In case your studying AP Econ too, there’s a point when the marginal benefit of taking an AP test is lower than the marginal cost.</p>

<p>If I were you, I’d skip on AP Physics C. Take AP Physics B and you’ll have minimal studying (an algebra-physics based AP exam). This alone could really help you get 5’s in the rest with ample amount of sleep.</p>

<p>If worst comes to worst, see if you can take any of these tests during the make up time. For example, if you write to AP and tell them you have a school exam that day that must be taken (assuming you do) you can pay a $50 fee and take the exam at a later date. This would allow you 10-20 extra hours to focus on your other exams, and you can study for the other one AFTER normal AP week.</p>

<p>I think with the time I have, it’s better for me to just go through review books for all 8 of these subjects. Here’s a list with some changes. As before, please improve/comment:</p>

<p>AP Chemistry: Barron’s Review Book and 2 Old AP’s.</p>

<p>AP Computer Science A: Barron’s Review Book and 2 Old AP’s</p>

<p>AP Calculus BC: Barron’s Review Book and 2 Old AP’s</p>

<p>AP US History: AMSCO and 2 Old AP’s</p>

<p>AP Physics C-Mechanics and AP Physics C-Electricity and Magnetism: Barron’s and 4 Old AP’s of each section</p>

<p>AP World History: Barron’s Review Book and 2 Old AP’s</p>

<p>AP English Language: Cliff’s Review Book, Barron’s Review Book, and 2 Old AP’s</p>

<p>Reminder: Please let me know if going through all these review books will ensure my getting a 5 on all 8 of these tests. If not, please recommend another review book. BTW, I’ll still have to sleep 1 hour a night and have a half hour nap per weekday but I’ll get 4 hours of sleep Saturday and Sunday each if that’s better.</p>

<p>You don’t need review books to get 5’s.</p>

<p>Just like cc123sb said, you might want to ask yourself why you want to cram for all these AP tests. If you’re a junior or lower, you might want to spread them out, maybe take four or five next year. If you’re a senior, I can assume the only reason is to obtain college credit. In this case, take only the ones you can afford to skip while in college, and/or the ones that will obtain college credit.</p>

<p>If I were you, I’d probably skip the AP exams for which you have no prior experience (AP US, AP Computer Science if I recall). Unless you already know Java or C/C++, there’s no use trying to learn an entire programming language in two weeks.</p>

<p>For Chemistry and Calculus BC, you may not need review books if you know the subjects well. I got a 5 on the BC test last year b/c I knew the material and knew how to write good solutions (for FR questions), which came from prior experience of taking the USAMO exam.</p>

<p>You might be able to get a 5 on the Physics test, but you’ll have some more learning and theorems to know. Calculus occurs frequently on both tests, so you’ll have to know how to apply it correctly to physics related problems. For example, if I told you that the temperature of an area in xyz-space was modeled by a function T(x,y,z), would you be able to find the average temperature throughout the space?</p>

<p>And for the other tests – if you know what synecdoche, enumeratio, syllepsis, scesis automaton, and zeugma are, you should be fine on AP Language or Lit. Regardless, eight AP tests is an overkill for anybody – I took/am taking seven spread across three years (soph, junior, senior) and never regretted it.</p>

<p>I don’t care what you have to say about whether or not I can learn this stuff in 2-3 weeks. I am just asking now if the set of review books I have started using and can be seen in my last post are sufficient to get a 5 if gone through fully. If not, please suggest another review book. If you only can discourage me from attempting a subject or you are just mad I’m doing this fast or something, please refrain from posting.</p>

<p>Perhaps Crash Course by Larry Krieger for APUSH? I just got it and it looks very concise.</p>

<p>Its too concise with no prior AP US history knowledge ^^</p>

<p>But, if you took a normal US class in the past year crash course may be sufficient.</p>

<p>And if your question is if you can get a 5 from just reading a review book, the answer is yes if you know it cover to cover. If you think you can actually memorize everything in a book I’d say you could do crash course for US instead of AMSCO (It’ll save you about 8 hours too).</p>

<p>Not trying to discourage you from taking the exam (I frankly don’t care) but you won’t be able to function on one hour of sleep. If you don’t believe me by day 3-4 if your not already hospitalized you won’t be able to retain any information efficiently. My advice (and reality of situation): Either cut down on the studying, or cut out an AP exam. I’m not a doctor but I’d say 6 hours a night is the minimum you should be getting.</p>

<p>Not to detract from the OP’s thread (and man, must he or she have a lottt of self control), but how would you recommend prepping for AP Chem in my situation?</p>

<p>I have basically 4 units to go: Gases, Kinetics, Equilibria (Acid Base)</p>

<p>I found a set of videos from Rene Mccormick, who writes the AP exam ( here: <a href=“http://apchemistrynmsi.wikispaces.com/AP+Chemistry+Class+Lecture+Notes+AND+instructional+videos[/url]”>http://apchemistrynmsi.wikispaces.com/AP+Chemistry+Class+Lecture+Notes+AND+instructional+videos&lt;/a&gt; ) if anyone wants them, and am planning on watching all the videos for the units I haven’t done yet.</p>

<p>I really, really, reallyyyyy need a 5, or I’m absolutely screwed. Do you guys think this is sufficient? I’ll supplement with Barrons and maybe take a practice exam the day before the test.</p>

<p>Thanks guys :)</p>

<p>You can get 5’s if you know everything in the review books, but it’s going to be tough regardless. Review books aren’t really for learning new subjects; they’re for “review.” For example, you could read through a Java book and supplement that with your AP Computer Science review.</p>

<p>Since you’re under a very tight schedule, you might want to forgo some of the studying in the subjects you’re best at. If calculus and chemistry are your strongest subjects, for example, you probably don’t need to do every chapter in the review book. This will save time and allow you to study for other subjects (or sleep).</p>

<p>I smell trolls a-trollin’.</p>

<p>@FawkesGoldman: Who are you calling a ■■■■■?</p>

<p>Wait a minute…you posted previously, “The reason I’m in this mess is that I was not sure till a couple of days ago that I would be ALLOWED to take these AP’s.”</p>

<p>Are you allowed to take them at a different high school? I’m pretty sure the College Board allows you to do that.</p>

<p>Okay, here’s my take on this. First of all, you’re ■■■■■■■■ for letting it get this bad and for expecting to study this much. But I’ll forgo that and give you my experiences. A little background, first. I’ve actually taken all the AP classes (though the teachers weren’t necessarily good…or anything of the sort) that I’m taking/I have taken AP tests in. I’m very intelligent as well (132 IQ), but have little retention when reading, though I can recite back almost anything that’s been said to me in the past 24 hours and recite back the important things from my entire life (with the exception of when I was super little…I mean, that’s ridiculous). I’m also very lazy. Anyway, here’s my experience with each exam:</p>

<p>AP Chemistry- I haven’t taken it, but my intelligent friends took it, I think they used Barron’s (and occasionally 5 Steps). I was in Pre-AP Chem and my teacher sucked and I heard it got worse for AP so I chose against it. The vast majority of the students at my school studied their butts off and got a 4, though a few got a 5. If Chemistry comes relatively naturally to you, you should be fine.</p>

<p>AP Computer Science A: Again, haven’t taken it, but I’d say if already know some Java and such, if you read the review you should be relatively fine, but if not you’re screwed and should spend extra time on this subject.</p>

<p>AP Calculus BC: I’m taking this this year. I’ve slept through all the classes (I can still retain some information and I’m awesome at math), but I’ve gotten a 5 on every practice AP test we’ve taken in class, so I’m not doing anything for it. If you take the practice AP test and seem fine, I suggest you do the same (more time to review for the harder exams).</p>

<p>AP US History: I took this last year. I had an awful teacher and used the Princeton Review (I suggest Princeton for history classes). The night before I went through about half the review book then went to sleep and pulled off a 4, which is surprising because I’m AWFUL at history (and the teacher didn’t teach a thing).</p>

<p>AP Physics C Mechanics: I’m taking this this year as well. I think I’m going to use Barron’s and cram the night before. You should be relatively fine for it if your honors goes over Physics C stuff and not B stuff. Just watch out for the second order differential equation as you probs haven’t learned it in Calculus. Once you review it it’s easy, though.</p>

<p>AP Physics C E&M: Again, I’m taking it this year. I’d say your ****ed. Just because I find E&M awful. I’ve been making fours on the practice exams. If your good at details you’ll be better off than I am, but personally I just get lost in all the similar but entirely different stuff. I’m going to study the weekend and day before using Barron’s, which I think should be enough to pull off a 5. I’d say pay special attention to Maxwell’s Equations, as I find them hard to understand.</p>

<p>AP World History: I took this a few years back after learning it from a pretty awesome teacher and got a 5. I crammed the night before using Princeton and got a 5. I’m not sure whether it was because of the teacher or me, but be forewarned, there’s a lot to know.</p>

<p>AP English Language: Don’t bother studying for it. I took it last year, didn’t study and we didn’t do anything in class and got a 5. It was basically like the Critical Reading in the SAT. Review the vocab right beforehand and you’ll be fine.</p>

<p>You claim to have an IQ of 122 but you want to sleep 1 hour a day. Anyone else notice the discrepancy? I smell a ■■■■■. 5/10 good effort</p>

<p>What the heck @xthrillakillax? What do you mean? I know you’re IQ is higher but what are you getting at?</p>

<p>Oh, you mean sleep 1 hour a night? I meant to sleep one hour in every 24 hour cycle (a day).</p>

<p>Eh, I might as well share my AP experiences.</p>

<p>AP Calculus BC - easy peasy lemon squeezy. Math’s my strong subject though…did USAMO and such. Got a 5 without any additional preparation.</p>

<p>AP Language & AP Lit - my weakest subjects. If you achieve 700-800 on SAT CR and know some poetic/rhetoric terms, you can get a 5. My AP Lang/Lit classes were fine, but we didn’t really prepare much for the exams. Got 2’s on them, oh well.</p>

<p>AP Physics C - Mechanics - took this last year, got a 5. We spent the whole year covering mechanics since it’s not a very easy subject and you can apply Newton’s laws to almost anything (which is nice).</p>

<p>AP Physics C - E/M - not taking this one, but my classmate is self-studying it this year. He knows me well; he even says I might have a difficult time preparing for E/M in one month.</p>

<p>AP Chemistry - I’m not the best at chemistry, anticipating a 3 or 4 on it. If chemistry’s your strong subject, you should have no problem getting a 5, with or without extra studying. For me, I honestly don’t care about AP Chem…I’m going to MIT next year, and they don’t accept AP Chem, regardless of the score.</p>

<p>I’m sure you’ll do fine on the subjects you’ll excel in. For such subjects, you can easily get 5’s with minimal preparation. If you’re taking AP’s in subjects that aren’t your strong points, or ones that you don’t enjoy…the 5 is going to be tough to get.</p>

<p>I’m predicting you are going to fail a Majority of the ap exams you take.
You will be crying about it soon enough</p>