Advanced Placement (AP) Test Prep Books & Resources – ISBNs and Best Prices

AP Test is an international examination conducted every May for students in US, Canada, and for the many schools offering international board syllabus worldwide. Colleges in over twenty countries draw on AP Test scores to grant credits, waive prerequisites, or for Advanced Placement. Top schools use these test scores as a selection criterion for admission. Spanning over thirty subject areas the AP Test is relatively expensive at $87 per subject area. Students can register to test in multiple subject areas and each AP test can be attempted several times as well. Score Choice is not an option for students and the history of the test scores is reported. Scoring is on a 5-point scale (1-5) with 3 being the minimum requirement for most universities to grant credits and/or waive prerequisites. The test is conducted by the non-profit “The College Board” and administered by participating schools. If your school does not participate or if you are a homeschooler, you can still take the test by arranging to take the test through a participating school. Call AP Services at-least by March to find out the details. You can take the test even if you did not take the corresponding AP Course. Depending on the subject area, the exam is two to three hours long and the multiple-choice sections are scored based on correct answers and so guessing is OK.

The subject areas are Art History, Biology, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Chinese Language and Culture, Computer Science A, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, English Language, English Literature, Environmental Science, European History, French Language, German Language, Comp Government & Politics, U.S. Government & Politics, Human Geography, Japanese Language and Culture, Latin: Vergil, Music Theory, Physics B, Physics C, Psychology, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature, Statistics, Studio Art, U.S. History, and World History. College Board site has free-response questions you can print out which is very helpful. Below is a list of the top resources available to prepare for AP Test by subject areas:

Art History:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
Barron’s AP Art History with CD-ROM	$29.99	$16	978-0764194634	Practice Essays after every chapter. One diagnostic test, and four full-length model tests and answer keys. Flash-card feature on CD-ROM that shows 300 famous works of art. There is a version without CD-ROM which can be had for as little as $7.
AP Art History with Art CD and TESTware (REA) (Test Preps)	$29.95	$17	978-0738604794	Art Browser on CD-ROM with over 400 images. The TESTware software on CD with two full-length practice test closely approximates the test taking experience. CD-ROM: TESTware application is Windows only – Art Browser can be used with any Internet Browser.

Biology:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
5 Steps to a 5 AP Biology, 201-2011 Edition (McGraw Hill)	$18.95	$12.89	978-0071623247	Full-length practice tests along with tips and strategies make this a great choice.
Cracking the AP Biology Exam, 2011 Edition (Princeton Review)	$18.99	$12.91	978-0375429965	two full-length practice tests with explanations. Walk-through on how to write essays. Review of lab exercises. Planning and tips.
Barron’s AP Biology	$18.99	$11.81	978-0764140518	Three full-length practice exams with answer key and explanations. Advice and Tips.

Calculus AB/BC:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
Cracking the AP Calculus AB & BC Exams, 2011 Edition (Princeton Review)	$19.99	$12	978-0375429880	Five full-length AP Calculus practice tests – three for Calculus AB and two for Calculus BC. Answer key with explanations for practice and test questions.
Master the AP Calculus AB & BC (Peterson’s)	$75	$75	978-0768924701	Four full-length practice tests. Ideal for self-teaching.
Barron’s AP Calculus	$18.99	$11.81	978-0764143243	Four Calculus AB and four Calculus BC practice exams with answer key and explanations, Tips and Strategies. Great for practice. Not that great for Self Study.

Chemistry:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
5 Steps to a 5 AP Chemistry, 2010-2011 Edition (McGraw Hill)	$18.95	$11.79	978-0071624770	Practice tests along with rapid reviews after each chapter makes this a great choice.
Cracking the AP Chemistry Exam, 2011 Edition (Princeton Review)	$18.99	$11.81	978-0375429897	Two full-length practice tests with explanations, review questions after each chapter, essay walkthough, and planning/tips.

Chinese Language and Culture:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
Barron’s AP Chinese Language and Culture (with Audio CDs)	$29.99	$19.79	978-0764194009	Three Audio CDs included cover the exam’s listening and speaking sections. Two full-length practice exams with answer key. Questions in both traditional and simplified Chinese characters as in the actual exam.
Strive for a 5: AP Chinese Practice Tests (Cheng & Tsui)	$29.99	$22	978-0887277641	Eight full-length practice tests simulate the AP Chinese Language and Culture exam.

Computer Science A:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
Barron’s AP Computer Science A with CD-ROM	$29.99	$18.66. Kindle Edition: $11.99	978-0764197048	Five full-length practice tests including a diagnostic test. CD-ROM software features automatic scoring along with answer key and explanations.
Cracking the AP Computer Science A & AB Exams (Princeton Review)	$19	$12.92	978-0764197048	Two full-length practice tests (one for A and one for AB), answer key, and explanations.

Microeconomics/Macroeconomics:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
5 Steps to a 5 AP Microeconomics/Macroeconomics 2010-2011 Edition (McGraw Hill)	$18.95	$12.89	978-0071621861	Excellent review book with practice tests.
Cracking the AP Economics Macro & Micro Exams, 2010 Edition (Princeton Review)	$18.09	$10	978-0375429170	Two full-length AP Economics practice tests with explanations, strategies and tips, and review questions after every chapter.

English Language:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
Cracking the AP English Language & Composition Exam (Princeton Review)	$18	$14	978-0375429187	Two full-length practice tests with answer key and explanations. Detailed walk-through on essays.
Barron’s AP English Language and Composition	$16.99	$11.55, Kindle Edition: $11.99	978-0764143489	Five full-length practice exams with answer key and explanations. Tips and review of multiple choice and essay.

English Literature:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
CliffsNotes AP English Literature and Composition	$16.99	$11.55	978-0470607572	Six full-length practice exams with answer keys and explanations. Review of multiple-choice and essay with hints on tackling the essay questions.
Cracking the AP English Literature & Composition Exam, 2011 Edition (Princeton Review)	$18	$12.24	978-0375429996	Two full-length practice tests with answer key and explanations. A detailed walk-through of how to write a great essay.

Environmental Science:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
Cracking the AP Environmental Science Exam, 2011 Edition (Princeton Review)	$18	$12.24	978-0375427763	Two full-length practice tests with detailed explanations, comprehensive review of key labs, walk-through of the free-response section, and review of lab exercises.
5 Steps to a 5 AP Environmental Science, 2010-2011 Edition (McGraw Hill)	$18.95	$12.89, Kindle Edition - $11.99	978-0071598248	Practice tests and explanations, sample essays, and customized study schedules.

European History:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
CliffsAP European History	$16.99	$11.55	978-0470550991	Three full-length practice exams with answer keys and explanations, Tips and advice for multiple-choice questions along a 7-step strategy to make essay writing easy.
Cracking the AP European History Exam (Princeton Review)	$18.99	$14.81	978-0375429453	Two full-Barron’s AP European Historylength practice exams with answer keys and explanations, detailed walk-thru of how to write a great essay, and tips to help you score more.
Barron’s AP European History	$16.99	$11.55, Kindle Edition - $11.99	978-0764143137	Two full-length practice exams with answer keys and explanations along with subject review and a complete overview of the exam.

French:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
AP French Language Exam with Audio CD (REA)	$27.95	$18.45	978-0738607856	Comes with three audio CDs that prepare you for the listening and speaking portions. Also includes three full-length practice tests with answer keys and explanations.
Barron’s AP French with Audio CDs	$26.99	$17.81	978-0764193378	Two full-length practice exams with answer keys and explanations. Three audio CDs present listening comprehension sections for the practice exams and help with French pronunciation.

German: None.

US & Comparative Government & Politics:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
AP U.S. & Comparative Government & Politics (REA)	$29.95	$22.76	978-0738602677	Three full-length exams, answer keys, and explanations. Automatic scoring with CDROM software with on-screen explanations.
CliffsNotes AP U.S. Government and Politics with CD-ROM	$29.99	$19.30	978-0470562130	Three full-length practice exams with answer keys and explanations. Searchable review content on CD. Hints for tackling essays.
Barron’s AP U.S. Government and Politics	$16.99	$8.99, Kindle Edition - $10.54	978-0764143717	Two full-length practice exams with answer keys, tips and strategies.

Human Geography:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
Barron’s AP Human Geography	$16.99	$10.98	978-0764143724	Two full-length practice tests with answer keys and explanations. A mini-diagnostic test to identify areas to improve.
AP Human Geography with CD-ROM (REA Test Preps)	$24.95	$16.47	978-0738606316	Excellent reference for self-study. Practice tests in CD in a timed format with auto-scoring and diagnostic feedback.

Japanese Language and Culture:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
Strive for a 5: AP Japanese Practice Tests	$26.99	$26.99	978-0887277092	Includes 20 practice tests, study skills, and test taking tips.

Latin: Vergil:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
AP Latin Vergil Exam (REA Test Preps)	$29.99	$19.77	978-0738607061	Two full-length practice exams, answer keys, and explanations.

Music Theory:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
Barron’s AP Music Theory with Audio Compact Discs	$34.99	$23.09	978-0764196317	Two full-length AP practice exams include both aural and non-aural sections with answer keys and explanations. Four enclosed audio CDs provide aural skill development.

Physics B/C:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
5 Steps to a 5 AP Physics B&C, 2010-2011 Edition	$18.95	$11.99, Kindle Edition - $11.79,	978-0071623209	Full-length practice exams modeled on the real test. Customized study schedules.
Cracking the AP Physics B Exam (Princeton Review) 2010 Edition	$18	$14.04	978-0375429460	Two full-length practice tests with answer keys and explanations, detailed walkthu of the free-response section.
Cracking the AP Physics C Exam (Princeton Review)	$20	$20	978-0375429477	Two full-length practice tests with answer keys and explanations, detailed walkthu of the free-response section.

Psychology:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
Barron’s AP Psychology with CD-ROM	$29.99	$18.66, Kindle Edition - $11.99	978-0764195259	Two full-length practice tests with answer keys and explanations, a diagnostic test, and tips.
Cracking the AP Psychology Exam (Princeton Review)	$29.99	$10	978-0375428944	Two full-length practice tests, answer keys, and explanations.

Spanish Language/Literature:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
5 Steps to a 5 AP Spanish Language with MP3 Disk, 2010-2011 Edition (McGraw Hill)	$26.95	$17.79	978-0071624459	Sample Tests with answer keys and explanations.
Barron’s AP Spanish with Audio CDs (Hardcover - 2011)	$34.99	$23.09	978-1438070308	Four full-length practice exams with answer keys and explanations. Four audio CDs with supplements to the book’s practice exercises plus audio sections for the aural portion of the exam. Two practice tests are on CD-ROM with software for auto-scoring.

Statistics:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
Barron’s AP Statistics	$18.99	$11.81, Kindle Edition - $11.99	978-0764140891	Five full-length practice exams with answer keys and explanations. One diagnostic test. End of chapter multiple-choice and free-response questions with answers. There is a version with CD-ROM that has two more practice exams. That edition costs a little more - $19.79.
5 Steps to a 5 AP Statistics, 2010-2011 Edition (McGraw Hill)	$18.95	$12.89	978-0071621885	Full length practice tests and customized study schedules.

Studio Art: None


U.S. History:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
AP U.S. History Crash Course (REA) 2010	$11.95	$8.10	978-0738608136	Course presented in a concise time-saving format that focuses on just what will be tested. A full-length practice test along with answer keys and explanations make this a great choice for procrastinators.
5 Steps to a 5 AP U.S. History 2010-2011 Edition (McGraw Hill)	$18.95	$11.79	978-0071623223	Full-length practice test along with three customized study schedules to choose from.

World History:

Resource	List Price	Best Price	ISBN	Description
Barron’s AP World History 2010	$18.99	$9.79	978-0764143670	Two full-length practice exams with answer keys and explanations. Tips and test-taking strategies. There is a CD-ROM version with two additional practice exams for a little more money - $19.79, Kindle Edition - $11.99.
5 Steps to a 5 AP World History, 2010-2011 Edition (McGraw Hill)	$18.95	$12.89	978-0071623964	Full-length practice exams and your choice of three customized study schedules.

Taking the corresponding CLEP test in place of the AP Test is another option for students. Our next post will focus on resources available for taking the CLEP Test.


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Last Updated: 03/2012.