Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

My counselor would like to offer me and a few other advanced students at my school World History AP online, instead of World History Honors online for the first time in the school's history. I have purchased the World History AP Barron's Guide and have been looking over it. It seems like an extremely hard class to handle for a sophomore. I will only be taking one AP class this year. Is it wise to take this class, or should I request a different class because of the difficulty, or is it not as difficult as it seems? Which is the easiest AP to handle out of these that I am interested in for this year since I can only take one, Psychology, European History, Micro/Macroeconmics, Human Geography, Biology?

By Ukulelemaster (Ukulelemaster) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 05:56 pm: Edit

I just finished sophmore year, and I found that AP World was very easy (I got a 5). I took this test on my own, without a class, while taking AP Chem, AP Latin, and AP Euro. I think taking the Euro may have helped, since I didnt have to study European history on my own, but the AP World exam is very general, not nearly as specific as the Euro exam. I say go for World, its a great subject and an easy test.

By Number9 (Number9) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 07:14 pm: Edit

What books do you think are best for a self-study AP World History, Ukelelemaster?

Im thinking about self-study Euro Hist as well. Whats a good book for a self-study on that?

By Ericng314 (Ericng314) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 08:44 pm: Edit

LOL AP WORLD HISTORY wasn't hard actually.... From my historical perspective, I think that European History is much easier. But World History is much broader.... I got a 5 on the AP World History with a CLASS. I also took the World History SAT II, 670. World History is a fun subject.... TAKE IT .

By Ukulelemaster (Ukulelemaster) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 10:07 pm: Edit

As for books to use, since my only choices were the Barrons and the Petersons Review book, I used both. However, the Ptersons was crap. I really just read the Barrons book once thoroughly, and then reviewed different sections of it. As far as I can tell, Barrons alone will give you the knowledge you need. The only other thing you need is the ability to write good essays, and knowledge of the particulars of DBQs etc. If you have a history teacher in any department who can help you write a few practice DBQs and essays, you should be fine on your own.

By Tanman (Tanman) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 10:27 pm: Edit

I didn't self-study WHAP but I used a couple of books to review and found the Barrons to be the best. It contained everything we had learned all year as well as some stuff my teacher didn't cover but was on the exam. You shouldn't really have a hard time self-studying as long as you read carefully and take some practice tests. As Ukulelemaster said, you'll need a teacher to critique your essays. A US History AP teacher should be able to do this easily. Good luck

By Number9 (Number9) on Thursday, July 03, 2003 - 12:21 am: Edit

Ill have AP USH this year, so hopefully I can establish a good rapport with him.

What about Euro History? Im particularly interested in Europe personally. I'm looking towards Barron's, that seems to be the majority favor when it comes to self-study AP subjects...

By Ukulelemaster (Ukulelemaster) on Thursday, July 03, 2003 - 06:49 pm: Edit

In the case of Euro, there is one clear winner for review books: REA. The Barrons Euro book is very short, a very surprisingly general overview( for Barrons) . In short, I dont recommend it. the REA book includes a very detailed review section, and a phenomenal set of practice tests. REA actually gives 6 full length practice Euro exams, and they are all very hard. This is a great preparation tool, since you get much lower scores on the practice tests, and the actual AP seems very easy. Using almost exclusively the REA to review after my course, I got a 5 on the AP Euro exam. You may want another book to review as well if you are self studying, but the REA European history book is a real winner.

By Aoe2guy (Aoe2guy) on Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 07:44 pm: Edit

ukelemaster what did u get on ur psats?

By And1baller (And1baller) on Tuesday, July 08, 2003 - 12:07 am: Edit

arghh..AP world history is crap.. i took the class this year as a sophomore also. The class i took was extremely difficult. There were 3 A's out of 45 students.. 18 people dropped the class after 1st semester. I got a B in the class. I dont know how well I did on the AP test.. i know i passed hoping for a 5 though

By Hahaha (Hahaha) on Tuesday, July 08, 2003 - 01:02 am: Edit

i thought the AP World history test was pretty easy, and not because of the class- the teacher sucked. She gave the wierdest tests, like what age so and so emperor died at, etc. there were 4 A's out of like 63 kids, it sucked. but i got a 5 on the test. The MC are pretty general, but the essays are a bit tougher.

By Number9 (Number9) on Tuesday, July 08, 2003 - 02:30 pm: Edit

Hmmm...general opinion on everything REA is that its full of mistakes...I was told to get 'The History of the Modern World' as a textbook for AP Euro

By Ukulelemaster (Ukulelemaster) on Tuesday, July 08, 2003 - 09:12 pm: Edit

Number9- I see what you're saying about REA, but believe me, the Euro review book is phenomenal. By all means, buy a text for your learning, but you honestly MUST use the REA for AP review- I guarantee it will get you a better score. The MC practice are great, and I noticed only 1 or 2 mistakes total. Regardless of their use in other subjects, REA Euro history is excellent. My school AP Euro class gets excellent scores- about 15 fives a year, and about 20 4s ,and then about 5 threes on the exam- and almost every student who gets a 4 or 5 uses the REA. Its really a great review book.

By Magicdragonfly (Magicdragonfly) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 01:06 am: Edit

I think probably Euro or Psych

By Magicdragonfly (Magicdragonfly) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 01:14 am: Edit

A History of Modern Europe- John Merriman
it is such an interesting book..I wouldn't quite suggest using it by itself as a book for the class- unless maybe you are planning on using it as your primary book but using others as well..
This was my book when I was in AP Euro..I only got a 3 on the test (crappy essays..thought I had less time than I did and such..plus I didn't really know how to go about writing the FRQs and DBQs- esp the FRQs..I knew the MC)- but I didn't really pay so much attention to the book until after the test..my teacher made me hate it somehow when it really is wonderful. Nobody in our class(like 20 people..mostly idiots who disrupted the class/had no business being there..I had the teacher for world history and I know she can do a great job- but she ended up getting really frustrated as the majority of the class wouldn't pay attention at all) got a 5..but a few people got 4s ((a lot of my class also decided to not even attempt the essays..))

By Thenarrator (Thenarrator) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 11:25 pm: Edit

are there any other books that anyone could recommend for World History?

By Wildrockangel06 (Wildrockangel06) on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 - 03:51 pm: Edit

I cant recommend you any books but can anyone tell me where i can practice tests or some kind of sturdy guide for the AP World History Exam?

By Wildrockangel06 (Wildrockangel06) on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 - 03:58 pm: Edit

bubbleyone-
I am a sophmore and i am finding AP World History difficult but it only challenges your mind, the reading is very top level reading and can sometimes confuse you on what is going on...i think that you will do fine in that class if you do consider taking the class, but dont worry i am sure that you will do fine. It my be hard but after a couple of weeks it is will be fine and you will be fine.