As your AP exam approaches, you may notice that there are several AP study guides on the market. You may also be asking yourself which one is the best AP Book. The answer to that question is in this article, which will explain the pros and cons of the major AP study guides.
Disclaimer: While this editorial article is based on my experience taking eight AP exams, it also draws on the experiences of other students and various professional reviews.
Princeton Review
By far the most popular book review, Princeton Review boasts of “proven expert prep skills.” I recommend Princeton to recognize students who have the most solid material on the AP exam.
Pros:
- The Princeton Review provides an extensive review of the material on the AP exam.
- It is quite easy to find cheap copy of Princeton AP book review second hand.
- The AP review tests provided in the AP book do a good job of mimicking the real AP exam.
Cons:
- Many students believe that the review is too broad.
Barron’s AP
Barron’s, Princeton Review’s leading competitor in the AP study guide market, promises to be “the leader in Test Preparation.” Barron’s book is great for students who don’t fully understand the material or who have never had a formal course in the subject matter.
Pros:
- Barron provides an extensive review of the topics on the AP exam.
- Used antigraphs are quite cheap.
Cons:
- Barron’s tends to heavily cover topics that are barely covered in evidence.
- The AP practice test in Barron’s book review is often harder than the test itself.
Cliffnotes (Rocks AP
While AP Rocks is a less popular choice, many students find it useful. The lack of popularity has nothing to do with quality and I recommend them to the student who feels that the steep style is best for them.
Pros:
- Many books can be purchased in PDF format, which means you can buy them the night before the exam if needed.
- They usually offer a material question.
Cons:
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It is much harder to find cheap used copies of Cliffs AP books (If cost is a priority you should buy a copy of the Princeton Review or Barron).
- The review questions and practice AP tests in the Cliffs AP book tend to be easier than the real AP tests.
SparkNotes (Power file
SparkNotes is well-known as an AP review resource, so I recommend it purely as a supplement to other review materials.
Pros:
- They often come with Term.
- Many students find them useful for live review.
Cons:
- Many complain that they do a poor job of developing ideas.
- It is hard to find a cheap used example.
- SparkNotes does not offer Power packs for all items.
College Board does not issue traditional book review. But they are publishing the documents and the samples of the old examinees. These should only be used to supply information.
Pros:
- The AP tests that College Board sells are real tests and will give you a good idea of what to expect on your exam day.
- They come from the College Board, which creates the AP exams.
Cons:
- Many students feel that they are wasting money. You can find free answer questions on the College Board website, along with sample multiple choice questions. In addition, your teacher may already have copies of past exams.
Kaplan
The quality of Kaplan’s book review varies widely depending on the subject. Therefore, I will not review it in full here. My recommendation is to read the Amazon reviews for the Kaplan book you are planning to buy and base your decision on it.
When choosing an AP study guide, remember that you may want to research more than one book. A Princeton Review book or Barron’s AP book with one of the smaller books will ensure you are fully prepared. Congratulations on the AP exam!
