another AP question---which edition text?

[Robin in DFW]

I have the listing from the College Board's website of acceptable texts, but there are no ISBN's, just titles and authors. There are tons of different editions on Amazon, etc.

 

How does one know which edition use? Is this information listed on the CB website and I just missed it???

 

Help, again!

[MomsintheGarden]

My two oldest have done several APs and CLEPs. We usually buy the next-to-newest edition. For example, we bought the 6th edition of the Zumdahl text for AP Chemistry instead of the 7th edition. This allowed us to save a ton of money. Freshman chemistry did not change much between 2002 and 2006. Remember that while colleges generally require their students to buy the latest edition, high schools usually buy books only when they need to (or the school board says). High schools are usually running an edition behind.

 

This works except in these instances:

- The subject matter has changed. For instance, if we had a major election or other important event since the last edition of a government text. You would try to buy one that was published since that occurrence.

- The AP exam has changed. This will probably happen to World History after next year's exam. They are promising to revise the AP WH exam after the 2011 testing.

 

Check with AP Central to find out news:

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/Controller.jpf

 

You can also search, then ask, here to find out which specific texts and editions worked for your particular exams.

 

HTH,

GardenMom

[Robin in DFW]

she has had regular ol' biology already.

 

I was merely looking at the AP Biology rec's so our course would, indeed, be advanced as opposed to regular.

 

She is not planning on taking any AP tests. She is already set for college (she has a soccer scholarship at a D1 school). She is planning on majoring in Biology so she can pursue a career in Environmental Science/Ecological Science. She just likes science and wants to take another Biology course. She doesn't want to place out of anything. She wants to take every course associated with her degree program so she doesn't miss out on ANYTHING!

 

She wants it to be challenging, though so we thought using the AP guidelines would give her that challenge.

[MomsintheGarden]

she has had regular ol' biology already.

 

I was merely looking at the AP Biology rec's so our course would, indeed, be advanced as opposed to regular.

 

She is not planning on taking any AP tests. She is already set for college (she has a soccer scholarship at a D1 school). She is planning on majoring in Biology so she can pursue a career in Environmental Science/Ecological Science. She just likes science and wants to take another Biology course. She doesn't want to place out of anything. She wants to take every course associated with her degree program so she doesn't miss out on ANYTHING!

 

She wants it to be challenging, though so we thought using the AP guidelines would give her that challenge.

 

Hmm...

 

Just thinking here, but what about this? Have you looked at her chosen college's introductory biology courses and the books recommended for them? If she's set on her school and major, she could buy their books and start studying them. Usually the profs don't get to teach the entire book, just pick and choose among the chapters. She could email profs, tell them what she's doing, and get their syllabi. Then she could read the extra chapters. That way she wouldn't miss anything.

 

It would either set her up to be bored or on fire for next year, so use caution.

 

If you do this, you will want to buy the latest edition so she could use it next year.

 

Blessings,

GardenMom

[Robin in DFW]

I'll run it by her.

 

I found a great course at UC OpenCourseware. We might do that. It's free.