Curricula and Learning Links - History
Suggestions for Studying Advanced Placement History
How do you prepare your student for the AP history exam? Several homeschooling parents offered these suggestions.
Keep in mind that your goal with an AP exam is to pass and get college credit, not necessarily to teach a subject the way you think it should be taught or from a Christian perspective. Still, for a minimal cost, your student can get college credit simply for studying and passing a test.
Many of the texts below are expensive, so be sure to look for used copies or older editions. You will still get the same benefit from an older edition!
U.S. History
The American Pageant by Thomas Bailey and David Kennedy is highly recommended because it is interesting.
Barron's AP United States History is an excellent study guide.
The American history AP quizzes page has free quizzes and a downloadable study guide that gives a complete course of study using American History: A Survey by Alan Brinkley.
World History
Western Civilization by Jackson Spielvogel covers just European history. For a world history text that includes Asia and Africa, look at World History Volume I and Volume II by Duiker and Spielvogel. Caron, who recommended these, says that "You should be aware that these are secular college textbooks, but not as intensely 'politically correct' as a lot of secular textbooks are. However, at least World History has some risque photos showing the art/culture of, for example, South Asian (Indian) civilization."
Barron's offers World History Flash Cards to assist in studying for the AP exam. Cracking the AP World History Exam receives high ratings for an AP study guide.
