…History exam?
She’s confident about history up through the Civil War, but is anxious about more modern American history. She’s an auditory learner, so the AP exam prep books aren’t as much help for her as something she could see and hear would be. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
I took that exam! It’s not too hard. The essay questions are basically BS-ing. Unfortunately, I adore the Princeton AP review books and so I used the Princeton AP U.S. History book to study for it.
BUT, I did some snooping, and here are my favorite options (in no particular order) for your daughter :
1. AP US History Audio Learn
Pros – Mp3 files that can be burned onto CD’s, or put in the iPOD for listening on the go. Instant download after payment! The price is 50$ which isn’t bad compared to the test prep books.
Cons – The table of contents does not seem right for some reason. But I don’t really remember what all is covered so perhaps you should take a gander @ the contents here – http://www.audiolearn.net/table_of_contents.php?products_id=273
The other COOL thing is you can hear an audio sample of the test prep to see if it appeals to you. You can buy this review and hear the audio sample here on this page – http://www.audiolearn.net/history-audiolearn-p-273.html
2. REA’s AP US test prep is supposed to be good too. The book comes with TESTware software which "Includes CD-ROM software containing 3 of the book’s tests as timed, computerized exams that provide actual exam conditions with controlled timing and question order. Your score and test performance are automatically calculated plus the program provides analysis of your performance with suggestions for further study. " The pro is this is definitely more official and I expect it will be more comprehensive. You can buy it used for $8.69 or new for $90.81 on Amazon. (http://www.amazon.com/REAs-History-Test-TESTware-Software/dp/0878913327) REMEMBER, if you buy it USED and the seller does not mention whether it has the CD in the description, then message the seller and ask if it does have it before buying it!!!
Also, check out www.scribd.com . Lots of students post their reviews/outlines/study guides for all subjects. They have some good stuff for AP classes.
Hope this helps! Good luck to you and your daughter! PM if you have questions.
I took that exam! It’s not too hard. The essay questions are basically BS-ing. Unfortunately, I adore the Princeton AP review books and so I used the Princeton AP U.S. History book to study for it.
BUT, I did some snooping, and here are my favorite options (in no particular order) for your daughter :
1. AP US History Audio Learn
Pros – Mp3 files that can be burned onto CD’s, or put in the iPOD for listening on the go. Instant download after payment! The price is 50$ which isn’t bad compared to the test prep books.
Cons – The table of contents does not seem right for some reason. But I don’t really remember what all is covered so perhaps you should take a gander @ the contents here – http://www.audiolearn.net/table_of_contents.php?products_id=273
The other COOL thing is you can hear an audio sample of the test prep to see if it appeals to you. You can buy this review and hear the audio sample here on this page – http://www.audiolearn.net/history-audiolearn-p-273.html
2. REA’s AP US test prep is supposed to be good too. The book comes with TESTware software which "Includes CD-ROM software containing 3 of the book’s tests as timed, computerized exams that provide actual exam conditions with controlled timing and question order. Your score and test performance are automatically calculated plus the program provides analysis of your performance with suggestions for further study. " The pro is this is definitely more official and I expect it will be more comprehensive. You can buy it used for $8.69 or new for $90.81 on Amazon. (http://www.amazon.com/REAs-History-Test-TESTware-Software/dp/0878913327) REMEMBER, if you buy it USED and the seller does not mention whether it has the CD in the description, then message the seller and ask if it does have it before buying it!!!
Also, check out http://www.scribd.com . Lots of students post their reviews/outlines/study guides for all subjects. They have some good stuff for AP classes.
Hope this helps! Good luck to you and your daughter! PM if you have questions.
References :
I found the prep book on CD on Amazon
How to Prepare for the AP U.S. History with CD-ROM (Barron’s AP United States History (W/CD)) by William O. Kellogg (Paperback
.
And Flashcards might be useful
Kaplan AP U.S. History in a Box by Kaplan (Cards
.
I teach AP World History and the 5 Steps to a 5 series can be useful
Five Steps to a 5 AP U.S. History, Second Edition (5 Steps to a 5 on the Advanced Placement Examinations) by Stephen Armstrong (Paperback
.
With the test coming up in a few weeks, be sure to be working on a strategy for the essay exam.
References :
There’s a DVD series created and narrated by Alistair Cooke, called Alistair Cooke’s America, which is the visual equivalent of an unputdownable book, although it was produced in the 1970s and I don’t know where her history has to stop. You might also try Martin Sheen’s Kennedy, which is pretty accurate and doesn’t pull too many punches. There’s also a DVD set of Ed Murrow’s work – not just his destruction of McCarthy, but many of the See It Now and Person to Person programmes, which are quite fascinating; for example, in one of the See It Now programmes he revisits the original pile in Chicago where they worked on atomic fission and he’s chatting with the likes of Fermi – and you realise that it was less than ten years previously that they did it (OK, that may not be so interesting for her, but it may give a flavour of how seriously he takes the task).
I hope those help.
(I can’t give you the DVDs – the search widget comes up with utter nonsense, as so often).
References :