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Should I take AP US History?

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Shinzaburo's picture
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Joined: Jan 2008
Should I take AP US History?

I am a sophomore right now, and I am starting to create my schedule for junior year. I took Advanced Honors US History in the first three weeks of school, but since I didn't take it seriously, I failed the first test. So then I switched to Honors American History I, and this class is really a joke. In my school, AP US History is a two-year course, but ironically we can still take the class if we get an A in Honors. I was thinking about trying it again next year, but then I realized that I wouldn't have any notes from the first year besides the notes from my Honors class. Now that I had experienced an AP class, should I go for it again and take it more seriously?

Nymcha421's picture
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Joined: Dec 2007

um, how badly did you fail? some people in my AP US class fail just about every test (not saying this is a good thing) but can still make it in the class. but it would help to take it seriously. you might be a little at a disadvantage about essay writing, but you would probably know most of the actual content from your honors class. so i'd say go for it if that's what you want to do.

Shinzaburo's picture
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Actually I did well on pop quizzes, and somehow I got a score of 8/9 (which is 95% in that class) on my summer assignment essay. I just never knew how much time I had to put into that class until that one test in which I got 24/50 correct. When I switched out of that class, my average was 73%. I'm just worried about how I am going to review the material from Advanced Honors US History.

Nymcha421's picture
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Joined: Dec 2007

well, i guess it depends on your school for the difficulty of the class. i think once you're in the class (if you do decide to take it), you'll catch up pretty quickly with anything you missed or didn't go into as much detail for it in honors.
personally, i think you get used to low test score in AP classes pretty quickly. i mean, it happens. sure, you should try for an A, but I am normally an A student and i often get C's or even D's on AP tests. i think it's still possible, you'll just have to put in a little more time and effort. (this is really hard for me, b/c i am a procrastinator and i get in the habit of not studying very much for my other classes, so that kills my grade in history when i disregard studying like i might in another class.)

Shinzaburo's picture
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Joined: Jan 2008

Yeah, I really hope I could catch up quickly.

xxomgitslcxx's picture
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Joined: Oct 2007

yeah i love the class. dont take it though if your gonna slack off. you have to study and work hard in it but i think it's worth it.

apharel's picture
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Joined: Jan 2008

APUSH is the most challenging out of all the AP classes. However, if you invest time into reading the textbook (and purchase the amsco APUSH book), then A's and B's will be relatively easy to achieve. My current APUSH teacher lectures out of Course-Notes outlines and, more so than often, he will divert the class to a random topic, so I learned to utilize the best of my resources, and it reflects on my scores. ;3 Good luck~

Shinzaburo's picture
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Any more advice about how I should approach this class?

a.reyes's picture
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Joined: Jan 2008

well if you do take the class don't fall behind on the reading

jros14's picture
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Joined: Nov 2007

I usually do my notes the day before (Yes day, not night, becuase it will take awhile) or two days before they are due so i can use this as my studying. I've actually found that procrastinating (only slightly) will help because it will be fresher on your mind. But then again when i do my notes, i put a lot of effort into it and spend like 5 hours at a time.

bethanykate's picture
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Joined: Dec 2007

The difficulty level of the class really depends on your teacher. In my school, for example, AP US is probably one of the most time consuming AP classes, but the only part that is actually hard are the quizzes and the rest is pretty standard. However, my cousin is taking the same class at a different school and she always complains how there is no such thing as a simple assignment. If you do decide to take the class, it's very important that you take it seriously and manage your time wisely.

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