[KisforKARENx3]

Question:
Should I take an AP test even if I know I'm not going to get a 3+ on it?
Or does just the fact that I took it mean something to colleges?


I already took an ENG300 and ENG302 course at my local community college last year, but I'm taking an AP Lit & Comp this year because I'm in a honors program that requires that I take the class or else be kicked out of the program.
So is it worth anything to take the AP Lit test since I'm done with my college english classes and don't need the (possible) college credits that I'll get if I pass the test?
Or do colleges, specifically UC's, care that I gave the test a try?
I'm actually suffering in my lit class and I can't stand writing anymore essays T_T

[oubliette]

wonderfulness : In general, I actually dislike Barrons. I feel that it's not on the standard of most AP tests at all - completely different ball game. I think that the best book really depends on the particular AP test. I have a ton of AP books from this year and past years stashed away in a cupboard in my house, and they are from completely different companies. Don't just buy a book based on the name, look for reviews first. Hope that helps!

kisforkarenx3 : If you're not intending to pass the AP test, don't take it. It's a waste of money and if anything, it would look bad to the colleges.

However, since it's only January, I'm sure that if you put your mind to it and started studying now, you could easily pass the AP test. good luck!

[skadoosh!]

LaLaLi : both are good, but I definitely recommend Peterson's.

Lyh fei : Don't worry too much about AP Stats' FRQs. Yeah they suck, but the truth is that the multiple choice is INCREDIBLY easy and you can get the majority of your points from there so it's no biggie. I know I failed practically all the FRQs when I took the AP test, including the Question 6/huge FRQ , but I think I did awesome on the multiple choice (probably only missed a couple out of all the problems) because it was really easy - and I did well in the end. So yeah. But good luck!

ah, okay thanks! since the whole test gets 'curved' anyways, it doesn't really matter right?
by the way, did you use any test prep/textbooks?
right now we're using statistics & data analysis by peck/olsen/devore.






general question: how long does it take for you guys to generally do the 'crackdown' studying before any AP test? like, when should mega major studying start?
like, "i lock myself in my room for a week" or "an hour" or "start a month before!"

[oubliette]

^ Use Barron's for AP Stats, it's the best without doubt. I didn't touch the textbook all year because we had the crappiest textbook for school (my teacher recognized that too so she didn't even make us do homework except for the occasional worksheet once every other week or so), and I somehow understood everything thanks to Barron's. I'm not usually a Barron's fan for AP prep, but their Stats book is very good.

As for mega major studying...I guess it just really depends on how many other AP tests I have, because you have to balance them out. Last year sucked...I think I crammed hard for APUSH for a couple days, Bio for one day, Enviro for one day, Spanish for two-three days, and Calc for two days. But in the end my results were great and everything worked out super well, so I guess it really just depends how effective you are.

I would have never guessed that I'd be able to cram all of AP Bio into one day (and I literally knew close to nothing before then btw, I had taken a practice test the weekend before and gotten a 2), but somehow I did manage to cram REALLY effectively and got a 5 on the actual test! I still can't believe how lucky I was - I literally pulled an all nighter before the AP test with the damn review book (I know, I know, bad bad but I was certain that I'd fail otherwise). By the way, I give 100% of the credit for my score to the Cliffs Book by the way. I feel that getting the right study book is 50% of the road to get a 5; the other 50% is reading it, hahaha.

But the more time the better!

[★ rain-a-sky ★]

QUESTION ABOUT AMSCO APUSH REVIEW BOOK:
Is it safe to use the 1998 edition to review for the test? Or are there major changes/added info in the newer editions?

[oubliette]

^ AMSCO 1998 is perfectly fine - it's the one I used and I had no problems at all. Good luck!

[xoflora]

to APUSH'ers:

I recommend the Princeton Review book. There are probably better and more precise books out there,
but if you don't want to spend a WHOLE lot of time reading a huge book, the Princeton review is good for refreshing your memory.
I started studying from it the week before the AP test (I crammed probably 1-2 hours a day >_<) and I ended up with a 5.

It might be useful to create a timeline for yourself like I did.
I never got to finish mine but it runs from 1600 to 1910.
I thought it was really helpful though.

[touchthesky]

I dunno if I should take AP stats or AP calc next year T_T

I'm planning on AP Bio and AP Gov for next year. How's AP gov? I was gonna take regular gov but after going to the electives fair I don't think AP gov would be that bad.

And I was actually really set on AP Chem instead of Bio but after the fair I realized AP chem would kick my ass. Even though I enjoyed chem more than bio.

[ms cowie]

I'm a sophomore, and I'm taking my first AP class this year- AP Gov. I'm not doing that great in it- I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a B for my overall grade, which is the only thing that appears on the school transcripts/
I was really hoping to get straight A's this year, but I guess not.

My question is: Will it hurt my acceptance chances into college if I get one B in an AP class as a sophomore? Even a teeny bit? I'm really regretting not studying for my midterm >_>.. it basically killed any chances of pulling off an A for the year.


Alsooo, are you allowed to retake an AP exam?

[monaero]

^It's not going to hurt your chances. I'm surprised as a sophmore you can take that class. At my school, you have to be a senior to take the class.
I was going to take AP Govt this semester, but I dropped to regular Govt at the end of last semester. That was one of the best decisions I ever made.

[oubliette]

Yes, you're allowed to retake AP tests, but I personally don't know anyone who ever has, considering that 1) you would have to wait a whole year to retake it, 2) colleges probably wouldn't care anyways, 3) it's just a waste of time.

I personally don't find AP Gov that bad, but it obviously depends on teacher and school. At my school, APUSH was more work/more memorizing, so if you're willing to put a little effort into Gov it's not bad at all.

And no, getting one B in sophomore year is not going to affect your chances of getting into ANY college (and yes, I mean ANY. I don't think Harvard would care if you had a B in sophomore year, if the rest of your grades were straight As).

[★ rain-a-sky ★]

thanks oubliette!

ugh studying for the apush final is so tedious

To ArJaii I think if you really like history then you should be fine b/c it's mostly reading but the class is really time consuming(about a chapter a week). The class is hard imo b/c my teacher always put questions on the test about something really random that the book only mentions about in like one sentence out of an entire chapter so you never know what to focus on n__n


To AP Psychology people, what prep books do you guys recommend? & Is studying from a prep book enough for the test if you're self studying w/o taking the class?

Thanks!~

[ArJaii]

AP US History.

Who has it tough at their school?
I'm debating whether or not I should take it... people at my school say that APUSH is hekkuh hardd...
And I'm all for the challenge but I don't want an extra AP to actually take my GPA downn.

What do you think is hardest about it? How much time worth of homework do you get every night?

Haha i need you guys to help me decideee :]

[oubliette]

★ rain-a-sky ★, you're welcome :]

For AP Psych, I felt that 5 Steps to a 5 was by far the best. I owned Barron's as well, and I think another one (don't remember which), but 5 Steps was basically what I used...and it worked. Just know the vocab for Psych and you're set.

ArJaii - APUSH was killer at my school, but I actually loved it. I think it just depends on the teacher and the student, but I would really recommend taking it.

[HELLA COLIN]

For all who have taken the AP Lit exam, would you guys recommend taking it along with the AP Lang exam?


A few of my friends and I are skeptical about whether or not we should do it 'cause the situation at our school is that the AP Lit teacher is not suited to teach the class. ALL of the seniors have been complaining (I'm not exaggerating) about him, and they even signed a petition begging him to actually teach them the curriculum to prepare them for the AP. He literally said, "I'm not here to prepare you guys for the AP!" UHH, why are you teaching an AP Lit class then?!

I was planning on just taking the AP Lit exam this May along with my other ones so that I won't have to take AP Lit as a class next year. However, I'm wondering if this will ruin my transcript considering it'll go from 1a, 2a, 3AP, 4. But quite frankly, I don't wanna waste my time doing a crapload of useless work from a teacher who doesn't even know what his objectives are. Do you guys recommend me doing independent study, and if so what prep books do you guys recommend?

[`Star]

AP Biology

I think I need to start studying for the big exam now--reviewing what I've learned that is.
Any studying tips?

I'm going to go over my notes and read through my cliffnotes/sparknotes study review book--but is there something else I can do as well?

My friends and I are thinking about forming a study group..getting together once every two weeks to aid in studying..but yeah.

What else can I do?

[unbleached]

Question:
Should I take an AP test even if I know I'm not going to get a 3+ on it?
Or does just the fact that I took it mean something to colleges?

Yes, please take it. It looks much better that you attempted to take it than not. I have counselors and AP teachers (who've gone to numerous seminars) that can back me up on this.
What's the point of being in an AP class if you're not going to take the test?

For all who have taken the AP Lit exam, would you guys recommend taking it along with the AP Lang exam?


A few of my friends and I are skeptical about whether or not we should do it 'cause the situation at our school is that the AP Lit teacher is not suited to teach the class. ALL of the seniors have been complaining (I'm not exaggerating) about him, and they even signed a petition begging him to actually teach them the curriculum to prepare them for the AP. He literally said, "I'm not here to prepare you guys for the AP!" UHH, why are you teaching an AP Lit class then?!

I was planning on just taking the AP Lit exam this May along with my other ones so that I won't have to take AP Lit as a class next year. However, I'm wondering if this will ruin my transcript considering it'll go from 1a, 2a, 3AP, 4. But quite frankly, I don't wanna waste my time doing a crapload of useless work from a teacher who doesn't even know what his objectives are. Do you guys recommend me doing independent study, and if so what prep books do you guys recommend?

Well, this depends on what "crapload of useless work" is. Does it pertain to Lit at all? I'd suggest you suck it up and just take it. :X We have a few incompetent AP teachers also, but people would just self study and pass the exam. At least you'll be taking another year of AP AND you'll have a year to self study, as opposed to the next... 3 months. However, if you think you've covered poems and literature comprehensively during your sophomore year, you could try. That's my two cents.
For review books, I recommend using Cliff Notes.

[Yui.]

Question:
Should I take an AP test even if I know I'm not going to get a 3+ on it?
Or does just the fact that I took it mean something to colleges?

I actually took 2 AP classes last year, but didn't take the exam because I knew that I won't get a 3+ on it. Plus, it costs money. This year I also have 2 AP classes, and I'm going to take the exam because I'm sure I could at least get a 3, lol.

Even though you didn't take the exam, I'm pretty sure it shows effort in you trying an AP hard class and trying to pass and do well. But most teachers would advise you to take it, so you make the decision in the end.

[OneSky.]

AP Psychology

Taking this year and was wondering how rigorous the subject was.
Like most, the AP Psychology teacher tried to use the scare tactic on the students when
she was explaining the course. It may be true. She said we would be receiving no homework but
are expected to read the chapters, know the vocabulary and contents for the test. No extra credit.
How was the course for you? What books would you recommend for this subject?

AP Biology
Taking this at the moment. Like `STAR, suggestions and tips on how to study for it would be
really appreciated.

AP Statistics
Taking this class next year as a senior. I heard it was easy math but the understanding of problems is
what's hardest? What did you guys think about this course? How hard/difficult or easy was it for you?
I'm pretty good in math. I took math up to precal [thinking of taking Calculus during the summer IF
they offer it at my community college], and managed A's. I got B+ in Precalculus though, because I was in
my "I have no freaking time" mode with AP US History, AP English 3, and AP Biology. But now, everything's
manageable. We're on a four by four scheduling by the way, hence--I'm done with Precal. Anyhow, tips
would be appreciated.

[JANG.]

^ this is in response to your questions, haha.

i'm not taking AP Psychology (although i think i'd really enjoy that class), so i can't talk about that one...

AP Biology - i'm also taking this at the moment; most of what we do in class is either notes or labs, so there isn't much of a way for me to study other than reading over my notes, but for the AP exam, my teacher (he's the best one i've had) highly recommended cliffsnotes to review with, and i've heard from other people that it's the best review book to get. our class also gets online quizzes to do from this mcgraw hill online learning center and those help, as well as the other studying tools they have on the site, like flashcards, visuals, labeled diagrams, etc. i'm not sure if other bio classes use this site too, but it's helped me with the course.

AP Statistics - i'm taking this class right now! since it's only a semester long (my other AP's are year-long courses due to a program i'm in), the lessons go by really fast, and it's hard to keep up at times, but from what i've seen so far, it isn't too bad. it's definitely a lot harder than pre-calculus, but then again, it's completely different. pre-calculus is all math, and stat has more writing than anything, really. it's not all about solving problems using numbers and formulas in that class; it has a different approach - it's more about applying and understanding the math, rather than doing it. the AP level questions i've had on some tests are hard, and i'm actually a big math and science person, but overall, it's not a class that's so difficult it'd be impossible to get an A in. it's just tedious work; my HW assignments are like...4-5 pages long because of all the writing assigned in the problems. if you have a good teacher, you're all set. mine teaches really well, so i don't feel like i'm really struggling as of now, but the course isn't easy. it's an advantage that you're good at math; i wouldn't worry too much. (:


...er, i didn't really help much at all, haha. ;x