Curse

Toxage · Jan 29, 2008, 12:09 AM // 00:09

I signed up for APUSH history this year, ya I know what was I thinking. Luckily my teacher is very easy, probably because she has been teaching for 50 years. My teacher doesn't teach though, like at all. Every class my teacher tells us to open up our textbook and read. Anytime we have a question she tells us to read until we find the answer. Unfortunately, AP exams are creeping up, and I am frightened. AP US is supposed to be the most difficult AP exam and my teacher isn't preparing us for it. I talked to the principal and he said that there was nothing he could do because it so so late in the year. Has anyone here taken APUSH that can give me some wisdom?

PicardSunstar · Jan 29, 2008, 12:59 AM // 00:59

i took the APUSH test and really didnt study much and ended up with a 3, i really did a lot of guessing, reading the questions fully and picking the one that sounded the best to me, but idk, i had an awesome teacher....gl on the test

freaky naughty · Jan 29, 2008, 01:16 AM // 01:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by PicardSunstar

i took the APUSH test and really didnt study much and ended up with a 3, i really did a lot of guessing, reading the questions fully and picking the one that sounded the best to me, but idk, i had an awesome teacher....gl on the test

Sorry,but by 3 do you mean 3 out of a hundred?

RPGmaniac · Jan 29, 2008, 01:18 AM // 01:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by freaky naughty

Sorry,but by 3 do you mean 3 out of a hundred?

I'm assuming not, since AP tests are usually on a 5 point scale. I don't know if that's a national standard or not. I believe you need a 4 to actually get the college credit though.

By the way, I just registered for my classes and I'm taking AP US History next year as a junior. You're making me regret it

druggedchimp · Jan 29, 2008, 01:34 AM // 01:34

There's almost no point in taking APUSH; most colleges don't accept the AP credits from it.

So unless you're a godly US History buff or enjoy long hours of studying, I don't recommend it.

Toxage · Jan 29, 2008, 02:04 AM // 02:04

What should I do! I am in AP US History, but my teacher is horrible. She tells us to read our textbooks and then goes out and smokes and drinks. I reported her but she is a god because she has worked there for 52 years And her son is the superintendent! I am so scared!

RPGmaniac · Jan 29, 2008, 03:16 AM // 03:16

I can only assume changing teachers isn't an option?

druggedchimp · Jan 29, 2008, 03:50 AM // 03:50

I'd study with people who have a different US history teacher.

Also, find that kid that takes amazing notes. He is your new best friend.

poobert · Jan 29, 2008, 01:13 PM // 13:13

so whats APUSH?

Quote:

Every class my teacher tells us to open up our textbook and read. Anytime we have a question she tells us to read until we find the answer.

Really? Make a complaint. Even if it doesn't help you, you might be able to help someone in the future who has to suffer her.

As for your problem, just skip class, go to the library and read a book or two on the topic. Make sure they have differing views and remember, when you try to resolve bias, don't let your own get in the way. It is History, so I am guessing long essay questions, in which case memorizing facts will only get you so far. You have to be able to draw conclusions, which is best learned from either writing them, or reading them.

Yang Whirlwind · Jan 29, 2008, 02:07 PM // 14:07

A largely pointless
Punctuation of
Unreadable texts,
Seen in a
Historical context

... would be my guess!

pamelf · Jan 29, 2008, 02:37 PM // 14:37

While I don't know exactly what APUSH is, any exam advice from me is always to take general history books and read them yourself. Teachers only ever give you certain information, and knowing more in a more rounded context, and being able to contextualize things for yourself never hurts: That way even if you're unable to answer a specific question you are usually able to say something on the topic without leaving anything blank...Research is the best answer for knowledge. You should never settle for what one persona has told you is right.

But like I said, not sure how your exams are set. I only speak from my own experience, which in History is certainly incredibly vast...being a qualified historian with Honours and Masters and all...

WarKaster · Jan 29, 2008, 04:53 PM // 16:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by poobert

so whats APUSH?

APUSH = Advanced Placement U.S. History...or as it is knows every where else AP US History

Snograt · Jan 29, 2008, 09:23 PM // 21:23

Bah, think yourselves lucky. You only have to study 232 years of history. Ours goes back a couple of thousand years ><

RPGmaniac · Jan 29, 2008, 11:29 PM // 23:29

We have modern world history as well as ancient history that are requirements for graduation at my school. I say that pretty much covers the rest.

And you guys don't have any sort of elective version of US history? We got electives for European history.

karunpav · Jan 30, 2008, 12:40 AM // 00:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toxage

I signed up for APUSH history this year, ya I know what was I thinking. Luckily my teacher is very easy, probably because she has been teaching for 50 years. My teacher doesn't teach though, like at all. Every class my teacher tells us to open up our textbook and read. Anytime we have a question she tells us to read until we find the answer. Unfortunately, AP exams are creeping up, and I am frightened. AP US is supposed to be the most difficult AP exam and my teacher isn't preparing us for it. I talked to the principal and he said that there was nothing he could do because it so so late in the year. Has anyone here taken APUSH that can give me some wisdom?

Buy the American Pageant review text. I remember that's what I did and, after not paying attention in class and barely squeaking out a B, I got a 5 on the AP test. The AP test is pretty general and, besides a few trick questions that are just kinda wtf, it's an easy 5. The essays require some thought, though; make sure you can write good thesis statements.

Tevash Szat · Jan 30, 2008, 04:04 AM // 04:04

IMO,

APUSH is not THAT hard simply because all you have to do is know the stuff. Its not like English or other subjects in which you have to analyze some work critically or have to be very creative. AP Spanish I believe is actually the hardest since hardly anyone gets 5s and even the native speakers have trouble doing well on the test let along the second/third language learners.

To do well on the AP, this exp. comes from getting a 5 on AP Chem when my teacher didn't tech anything at all (we were still of redox in february), just READ the entire textbook. I don't care if its 700/800 pages long, if you read it and can remember things relatively well, it should be a nice refresher. As for going over notes, I personally take horrible notes, but can read very fast so I just basically ignore them.

Getting some of the AP books helps alot too. They aren't exactly for the reviews, but for the tests since you can never do well if you go to testing date with only a vague ideal of the difficulty/format of the test. I usually recommend Barrons. Yes, the book is hard and it destroys your self-confidence, but if you can do well in Barrons, you can do well on the AP.

For the multiple choice, just READ YOUR TEXTBOOK, because you can easily get perfect on the MC with an awesome memory and no longterm studying at all. For the essay, it really depends on your writing style, but usually, always remember to put in lots of RELEVANT outside knowledge (ie no filler) in, especially for the DBQs. Also, remember that you should generally have at least one sentence of analysis/explanation of why that fact is important/relevant or your essay will just seem like a laundry list of various facts you remember off the top of your head.

As for getting good grades, remember that you can get a 65% on the 100 point scale and still get a 5. That means you can easily miss a fifth of the questions and do mediocre on an essay or two and still get a nice grade.