Customer Reviews

AP World History Flash Cards

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have taught AP World History since the program began in 2002 - actually even longer than that since I worked on launching the program for a couple years prior to that. As a teacher, I've also been trained to be a bit skeptical about rote, 'drill and kill' learning strategies, but, on the other hand, I believe in results. I have found that the flashcards are a useful study tool, and perhaps most importantly, they seem to be most effective for students who are struggling to pass the exam with a 3. In many cases, it is my opinion that the bright students who easily score 5s can do so even with a standard textbook and a mediocre study guide - and either no teacher or a poor teacher. The challenge comes with students who are not the academically gifted ones - the students who are challenging themselves by enrolling in an Advanced Placement class. These are precisely the kind of students who need help and can benefit the most from flashcards. I have seen several students who I expected to earn 2s earn 3s and even 4s after using flashcards. I have even had several surprising 5s from students who I expected to earn 3s or 4s.

A couple other points...First, these are not flashcards with a question on one side and the answer on the other. The format is to list a concept, event, or vocabulary word on one side and then list all the relevant information about it on the other side. At first I was somewhat disappointed in this format, but after seeing students use them, the format seems to work better than the question-answer format. Second, if you think flashcards might help you, I recommend that you buy them early in the year so you can benefit from the practice all year long rather than just cramming for the exam at the end.

Students who have "slacked off" in AP World History and are facing both barrels of the AP WOrld History Examination would do well to pick up a set of these cards no later than mid-April. Card construction is fairly sturdy, and will sustain a great deal of "shuffling" and "flipping" before beginning to deteriorate.

Ideally, these cards should be used as review sources as the student moves through each of the five "periodicities" of AP World History in preparation for each examination and essay question executed through the academic year. However, they can be used more towards the end of the course as not only the focus of a large review, but with some utility as a "cram" device, although that is not recommended. Since the cards do not have "pat" answers on the back in favor of about a short paragraph of analysis, the academic mode expected of AP World History Exam takers, they will not work as well in, say, the week before the examination because of the large amounts of basic information provided. So, any late review with the cards should begin no later than mid-April as I mentioned, and you can forget using them as a "night before the test" source.

Further, they should not be used as a "stand alone" source. Rather, they should be used in conjunction with a reliable study guide like Kaplan, Princeton, or "Five Steps to a Five." The cards are very useful for "filling in the gaps." But, in a radical pinch, they might provide some assistance in introducing key concepts and provide some assistance on, especially, the multiple choice portion of the test. But, these are just possible suggestions.

Good study aid and "nutshell." Recommended!

The best, most productive way to study for the AP World History Exam.

All children who receive this wonderful gift from their parent should thank their lucky stars!

The AP World History Flash Cards are just great. Very helpful - easy and we had great success with it.

A lot of the other reviews are not national AP scholars like my son and they helped him a ton to study for AP world history test and love these card. It helps a lot with the DBQ's, since there is lots of info on the subject of each card, they are arranged in by historical years from 8000 B.C.E to the present.

I purchased these flash cards for my daughter to help her prepare for the AP World History exam. She did not think the cards were helpful at all. She found that they had too much info on each card, not what flash cards typically have. She had hoped that it was one quick question on the front with the answer on the back. Her plan was to study with her friends that were also taking the exam, but the cards had too much info on the back.

I bought these cards for my ap world history class because they were required. I really didn't use them that much because they aren't very good. I love flash cards I make them for everything! But this is not a very good product. I didn't like this review book either. If you want to learn something and have a good study tool for your ap world history class buy http://www.amazon.com/Cracking-World-History-College-Preparation/dp/0375429956/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1283638171&sr=8-1 Its the best!

These cards were not what we expected, and expensive. They are in no particular order to match with school learning.
Very disappointing