Which review books do you recommend, and which do you not recommend? My study group and most of the kids in my class use Princeton Review, but I'm not that happy with it. I think a book with more detail and more practice questions would be better. Any thoughts/opinions/suggestions? Also, please include specifically what you do/don't like about various review books, to help me make my decision.
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I think the Cliff Notes is the best. My friend has it and it looks really good!!!
I like REA, its really good and in depth
Because the Ap exam is so close. ( Ah... i am scared). I think the best thing is the cliff notes because it puts all the info together and gives questions after each section and tips for essay questions
The Kaplin Review book is really good. (Get a higher score garenteed:) is there
motto. It has lots of practice multiple choice as well as DBQ's and Essay
practices complete with grading scales. It gives each era a section and includes
key vocabulary, a timeline, and an overview of events for that era. I really
like this book as a review/study tool! (You can get it on Amazon.com I think)
Barron's is good, has a time line with all the important dates of acts/laws/wars/elections etc. Also has details on all the important events. Has the Eras in sections and explains important things for each along with practice questions at the end of each. Says how to write a good essay and dbq. Has 2 practice exams. lots of good stuff, also has a disk to go with instead of reading the book. was $30.00 but is good.
Don't get the SparkNotes PowerPack. It's got two practice tests (good), a diagnostic test online (good), and basically timelines of colonial-Civil War/Reconstruction-present. The timelines are not very in-depth, and the test/strategy book in the thing doesn't give any help on how to write DBQs. Also, the answer explanations are basically a restatement of the answer and do not explain why wrong choices are wrong. Example:
"Reagan's economic program, nicknamed "Reaganomics," generated criticism that:
C) A huge federal deficit would only be passed onto future generations" (I left incorrect answers out)
Answer explanation: "Critics clamed "Reaganomics" created huge deficits that would only be passed on to future generations to pay back"
The diagnostic test really helps to see what you don't know, but it's not very comprehensive and only has 40 questions. All in all, not a great thing. I wasn't looking for a review book as much as I was practice tests, however, so it works for me.
deff. REA AP US History! I use princeton review for key terms and some practice test (though they tend to be easier that the real test) and REA for in depth review. but REA is the most helpful one. Sometimes I took test just by reading it and do really well.Princeton Review is very brief. Baron makes me confuse, but good for timelines review. They have a good essay questions. the best I think but some books and use it by their best part (ex. essay & DBQ-> Baron, Princeton review->key terms, REA->review) I borrow most of them in library though ^_^