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The Best Test Preparation for the Advanced Placement Examination: European History

The Best Test Preparation for the Advanced Placement Examination: European History

List Price: $20.95
Your Price: $14.67
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not Bad
Review: This book contains all the information you could possibly want to know for the AP test. The information is also nicely arranged and easy to understand. However, there are too many details that aren't worth studying, and the practice tests are nothing like the actual test. Overall it's not bad, but it's a bit much.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Too detailed
Review: This book is way too detailed for the AP exam. It got into some extremely specific events my textbook didn't even cover. The tests were way off, emphasizing too much of some eras and too little of others (the official breakdown with time periods and questions can be viewed online at the college boards site). I was surprised at the quality of this review, seeing as how the US History version of REA's review was almost flawless. When it came time to review, I was overwhelmed by all the information -- a good deal of which was unnecessary.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: One Left For A Five
Review: This book is well written in the essays and DBQ's but not on the multiple-choices. The multiple-choices in the real AP Euro. History is more longer and more in depth analysis.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good information, but some flaws
Review: This book isn't half bad, but there are LOTS of typing mistakes, and some places where even the fonts get changed for a few paragraphs. The software is decent, though all of the questions in this book are only based on the REAL AP questions, they ARE NOT REAL AP QUESTIONS. I suggest that you opt for the more expensive review book and get the read AP questions.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Recommend as the best
Review: This book was recommended by my teacher and it was the best that I used. All you need is to take the tests and read the explanations and you will do great. Review is very good too.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Waste of time and words
Review: This book was WAY too detailed and wordy for the AP test and I feel, having taken the test, that I wasted my time. I went through the entire review section, highlighting, convinced that I wasn't going to remember anything. I'm sure I retained some of the info, but, looking back on it, I know that I would've been better off with a different review book. The AP test requires you to understand the big picture ideas and concepts, not little teeny details that the book gives you. You aren't asked to know THAT many details. This book wrecked my ability to see the big picture. The tests in the back are very hard compared to the real test questions, so that frustrated me and made me feel stupid. I would not recommend buying this book.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A very valuable study tool for the AP examination.
Review: This is a very valuable study tool to use in preparation for the AP European History examination, but it needs to be used correctly to be effective! Reading through some of the previous reviews, I fear that the problems some students have noted may not be the fault of the book, but rather of their own study habits. Trying to read the entire book a week or two before the test will NOT work. The material is extremely concentrated and covers more than 400 years of history. Trying to absorb it all in a couple of weeks will do nothing more than mix you up hopelessly and almost guarantee a poor score.

Pacing yourself is the KEY to success here. Buy the book as close to the beginning of the school year as you can, and follow along throughout the year. Highlight and take notes where needed. Then, as the test date approaches (i.e. 1-2 months ahead of time), start a more rigorous program. Re-read the material you've already gone over. Then take the practice tests. Over and over and over. Until you can consistently answer almost all of the questions on all of the practice tests correctly. It may seem like overkill, but it's worth it. After each time you take a practice test, check your answers, AND read the detailed explanations given for the answers that you got wrong. These explanations are invaluable.

Of further use are the sample DBQ and essay questions given in the book. It's up to you how far you want to go with these. I found that actually writing out an entire essay wasn't necessary. But I would suggest at least compiling an outline for each question, to ensure that you have enough information to provide a good answer. If you find yourself only able to put together a skimpy outline, then read up on the subject and try again.

True, only a very small portion of the material covered in the book will actually show up on the test, but you have no way of knowing WHAT portion. This book compiles sample questions from numerous past examinations. There is a LOT of information here. But as my teacher pointed out (and I'm inclined to agree), it's rather like training for a marathon with weights on your legs. You'll get really good at running with weights, and then when you take them off for the actual race, it will seem super easy! I found that to be very true when I took the test after studying with this book.

Another handy feature of this edition is that it comes with software that can be used with either Windows or Macintosh. This way you can take the same practice tests on your computer, if you prefer that to studying by hand. It's also easier to check your answers this way, rather than flipping back and forth through the book. AND the software times your tests for you, so you can make sure you're able to cover all the material within the time slot you'll be allowed on the actual test. Overall, this is a great study tool, and should help you immensely if you take it seriously. Good luck!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Study Guide, Worthy of purchase
Review: This is the best AP Euro book I saw in my prep for the exam. It gives great background on social and cultural issues which this years exam had a lot of questions on. My friends and i all used it and we all got 5's on the test, this is an incredibly helpful book.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Too long, too much, too useless
Review: This prep book is way too much to read, especially a few weeks prior to the exam. It lacks a lot of basic info. Instead, it gives a lot of useless info that is impossible to memorize and was useless on the 1999 AP Euro Exam, in which half the multiple choice and essays were social history. It was useless, and I couldn't even get through the first hundred pages. The 6 practice exams were way too hard and insignifcant compared to actual test.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The ultimate source, no other required
Review: Well, my first look at this book brought on a wave of overwhelming feelings (It's nearly 600 pages). But don't be alarmed. I was an A (94-96%) student in AP Euro, and I can recall facts generally within a time FRAME pretty well. I've already taken the exam, and I can guaruntee you this: There are about 8-10 questions from this book ACTUALLY ON the AP Exam. This book COMPLETELY BEATS the Princeton review, if that's what you're thinking of using. Most of my friends found that the Princeton book actually had time periods MISSING. Use this as your primary study source (or your only study source) and study AT LEAST 2 weeks prior to the exam, and you're set. I haven't gotten my results back yet, but I'm almost certain of a 4, with most probably a 5. Good luck to all that take it, and bring some Gatorade and PowerBars, that 15 minute break is crucial!


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