As your AP exam approaches, you may have noticed that there are a number of AP study guides on the market. You may also be asking yourself which one is the best AP Book. The answer to that question lies in this article, which will explain the pros and cons of the major AP study guides.
Disclaimer: While this article is partly an editorial based on my experience from taking eight AP exams, it also draws on the experience of other students and various professional reviews.
Princeton Review
By far the most popular review book, Princeton Review boasts of “proven techniques from the test-prep experts.” I recommend Princeton Review to students who have a firm grasp of the material on their AP exam.
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Barron’s AP
Barron’s, the main competitor of Princeton Review in the AP study guide market, promises that they are “The Leader in Test Preparation.” Barron’s is a great book for students who do not completely understand the material or who have never had a formal course in the subject matter.
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Cliffnotes (Cliffs AP)
While Cliffs AP is a less popular choice, many students find it helpful. Their lack of popularity has nothing to do with their quality and I recommend them to a student who feels the cliffnotes style is best for them.
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SparkNotes (Power Pack)
SparkNotes is not well known as an AP review resource, therefore I recommend it purely as a supplement to other review material.
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College Board does not publish traditional review book. Instead, they publish test guidelines and copies of old exams. These should only be used as supplemental information.
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Kaplan
The quality of Kaplan’s review books varies widely depending on the subject. Therefore, I will not fully review it here. It is my recommendation that you read the Amazon reviews for the Kaplan book that you are planning to buy and base your decision off of that.
When choosing an AP study guide, remember that you may want more than one review book to study from. Paring a Princeton Review book or a Barron’s AP book with one of the lesser books will guarantee that you are fully prepared. Good luck on your AP exam!
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