AP European History (REA) - The Best Test Prep for the Advanced Placement Exam (Advanced Placement (AP) Test Preparation) [Paperback]

M. W. Campbell (Author), N. R. Holt (Author), William T. Walker (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Research & Education Association (December 13, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878918639
• ISBN-13: 978-0878918638
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.7 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #587,624 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very valuable study tool for the AP examination., February 23, 2004

By 

Monika "equestrienne_23" (Davis, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: AP European History w/ CD-ROM (REA) - The Best Test Prep for the AP Exam (Advanced Placement (AP) Test Preparation) (Paperback)

This is a very valuable study tool to use in preparation for the AP European History examination, but it needs to be used correctly to be effective! Reading through some of the previous reviews, I fear that the problems some students have noted may not be the fault of the book, but rather of their own study habits. Trying to read the entire book a week or two before the test will NOT work. The material is extremely concentrated and covers more than 400 years of history. Trying to absorb it all in a couple of weeks will do nothing more than mix you up hopelessly and almost guarantee a poor score.

Pacing yourself is the KEY to success here. Buy the book as close to the beginning of the school year as you can, and follow along throughout the year. Highlight and take notes where needed. Then, as the test date approaches (i.e. 1-2 months ahead of time), start a more rigorous program. Re-read the material you've already gone over. Then take the practice tests. Over and over and over. Until you can consistently answer almost all of the questions on all of the practice tests correctly. It may seem like overkill, but it's worth it. After each time you take a practice test, check your answers, AND read the detailed explanations given for the answers that you got wrong. These explanations are invaluable.

Of further use are the sample DBQ and essay questions given in the book. It's up to you how far you want to go with these. I found that actually writing out an entire essay wasn't necessary. But I would suggest at least compiling an outline for each question, to ensure that you have enough information to provide a good answer. If you find yourself only able to put together a skimpy outline, then read up on the subject and try again.

True, only a very small portion of the material covered in the book will actually show up on the test, but you have no way of knowing WHAT portion. This book compiles sample questions from numerous past examinations. There is a LOT of information here. But as my teacher pointed out (and I'm inclined to agree), it's rather like training for a marathon with weights on your legs. You'll get really good at running with weights, and then when you take them off for the actual race, it will seem super easy! I found that to be very true when I took the test after studying with this book.

Another handy feature of this edition is that it comes with software that can be used with either Windows or Macintosh. This way you can take the same practice tests on your computer, if you prefer that to studying by hand. It's also easier to check your answers this way, rather than flipping back and forth through the book. AND the software times your tests for you, so you can make sure you're able to cover all the material within the time slot you'll be allowed on the actual test. Overall, this is a great study tool, and should help you immensely if you take it seriously. Good luck!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A nice study aid, but far too detailed, July 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: AP European History (REA) - The Best Test Prep for the Advanced Placement Exam (Advanced Placement (AP) Test Preparation) (Paperback)

I recently learned that I got a 5 on the AP Exam and I have no doubt that part of the reason for this is that I used this book to study. With that being said, the book does have its problems. The information in the book is exhaustive in detail and attempts to teach the reader everything there is to know about European History; a noble attempt, but wholely unecessary! "Big Purple", as my friends and I referred to the book, is excellent when combined with a shorter, more concise review book (I split my study time between it and "Cracking the AP Euro Exam") but is far too dense to stand on its own...it'll drive you nuts if you try to prepare studying from it alone!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ALL YOU NEED, May 10, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: AP European History (REA) - The Best Test Prep for the Advanced Placement Exam (Advanced Placement (AP) Test Preparation) (Paperback)

For AP European History exam preparation, I used three review books: ARCO, PRINCETON and REA. Each of these
books had something unique that made studying productive...and definetely got me higher than a three (I don't know for sure, I
just got back from the test an hour ago). I'll give you the basic information about each one:

ARCO-this book has a short historical review, but the writing style and page format are IDEAL FOR HIGHLIGHTING and
putting in sidenotes. The tests were relatively easy and the "how to take the test" parts are worthless, But this book is
PERFECT FOR GETTING THE BIG PICTURE. The practice essay questions at the end of each chapter had an enormous
impact on my success, but lacked explanations and sample essays; what I did was write the essays and then I had my teacher
look at them.

PRINCETON-this review book has a COMPREHENSIVE SECTION ON HOW TO TAKE THE TEST. The historical
review is more INTRICATE than the ARCO book, but sentences are wordy and is NOT IDEAL FOR HIGHLIGHTING OR
NOTE TAKING. The tests were harder than in the ARCO, and contained detailed explanations. The book helps put together
the pieces of the puzzle, but not as well as ARCO. In addition, a helpful index appears in the back of the book.

REA-This book goes into WAY TOO MUCH DETAIL. I would highly recommend it to those students with die hard teachers
though. For the regular joe, THIS BOOK CONTAINS SIX PRACTICE TESTS. Some questions will make you scared, but
for the most part, the questions are general and straightfoward, just like the real test. The essay questions are great too; sample
essays appear with the answer keys after each test.

I recommend the ARCO book in order to get the BIG PICTURE.
I recommend the PRINCETON book for it's HOW TO SECTION and SEMI-DETAILED HISTORICAL REVIEW.
I recommend the REA book for it's TESTS.

Other than that, its your choice.

Oh yeah, if anyone tells you that the test is hard, tell them that they didn't work hard enough. As long as you put the time and
effort in, you don't screw around in class, and you realize that YOUR GRADE IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, you'll do fine. I
had a lazy teacher, but I managed to pull it off. ;-)