AP US History: The To begin the APs

Material Type(s)- Memorization, Theme Analyses, Concepts

Textbook Recommendation(s)- The American Pageant by Thomas Bailey, David Kennedy, and Lizabeth Cohen

Review Book Recommendation(s)- United States History: Get yourself ready for the Advanced

Placement Examination by AMSCO, REA's Crash Course to the AP US History Exam

Similar/Relevant Courses: AP US Government & Politics

Once you learn anyone that's taken an AP course/exam, chances are they took AP US History. Year after year, APUSH's been the most widely taken AP exam, with nearly 300,000 exam takers in recent years. APUSH covers US history and the development of American political institutions from the arrival of colonists to the New World. Many APUSH students are sophomores/juniors fulfilling a state/school policy of at least 1 or 2 years of American history. Despite its popularity, it remains to be one of the CollegeBoard's difficult APs.

AP US History will probably require lots of studying of facts, themes, and analyses of the facts and themes. For just a year long course, APUSH attempts to cover most of American history as detailed as possible. Lots of AP questions will demand a mix of numerous themes and facts. But studying's going in the future down seriously to reading your textbook/notes repeatedly. We suggest AMSCO's APUSH guide being an awesome review book for the depth and detailedness.

Despite its popularity, the AP US History exam is quite difficult. Half is multiple choice, and the other half is made up of data based question and two free response questions. Contrary to other AP histories, the APUSH DBQ is not any walk-in-the-park for you really to fluff up- it's likely to require an analyses of the given documents using background information. This isn't something to wing, we really suggest performing a few practice DBQs and using REA's guide to get a concept of what to expect regarding necessary background info. The other two free response questions consist of one analyses essay and one compare-and-contrast essay. Just like AP Euro, oahu is the details that'll give you that 4/5.

Don't underestimate any kind with this exam, especially the essay portions.

Really study for this 1, and don't procrastinate (although we'll say that about every AP exam). In 2010, an astonishingly low 29.8% of exam takers scored a 4 or 5 (compared to around 33% for AP Euro). We'd really recommend the utilization of REA's Crash Course when cramming, because it boils down one of the very detailed curriculums in to a 200 page outline with an array of tips and strategies to maximise studying efficiency for that test. Study utilizing your textbook/AMSCO all year long, just AMSCO 4-6 weeks prior to the exam, and Crash Course 1-2 weeks prior the exam. While Crash Course contains just want you need to know, it's no excuse not to build a solid foundation through the year.

Although certainly a difficult and detailed course, it's not impossible.

Despite what statistics indicate, just do work and study, and success is easily within your grasp. AP US Gov't & Politics also talks a great deal about American history specifically concerning politics and political institutions (obviously), and many have discovered the overlap to be adequate to self-study AP US Gov't concurrently while taking APUSH. With the majority of us AP students being Americans, we've no excuse not to learn our history and what made America what it's today for US History. While easily at the helm of the world, whilst Americans, we must remember- "those that cannot remember days gone by are condemned to repeat it"

My goal is to provide you with everything you need to get at least a 3 on the exam in May. I currently have videos and PowerPoints for two popular textbooks http://www.apushreview.com/tag/ap-us-history/