Whether you like it or not, getting a study guide is one of the essential things you need to do as an AP scholar. This means knowing which are the best AP Microeconomics review books is vital in helping to score a 4 or 5 on the exam.
The Advanced Placement or AP Microeconomics exam is composed of two sections: the first is for multiple-choice questions (66%) and the other is for free-response questions (33%). All of those questions require you to have sufficient knowledge in microeconomics and practice when it comes to solving problems corresponding to the same subject matter.
Because you do not only need a good material that helps you study the topics covered by the AP Microeconomics exam but also a tool that helps improve the way you answer questions and problems, you need a good review book in the months preceding the day of the big test. This is why we have put together a list of the best AP Microeconomics review books on the market.
If you want to just get back to studying, get our top choice for AP Microeconomics prep book here.
Last update: 2024-04-29
Our Favorites (the best AP Microeconomics review books)
Foundations of Economics AP Edition by Pearson’s
Normally, we do not include textbooks on our list but this is an exception because Foundations of Economics AP Edition was specifically made for the AP Economics (both micro and macro) courses and exams. In a sense, it is a tool designed to help students get through the AP Microeconomics course and exam by teaching the fundamental aspects of not only microeconomics but economics as a whole.
Because it is important for you to master the basics of microeconomics, you need a textbook that not only follows the College Board’s outline to the letter but also one that helps you understand all of the fundamental concepts that will be covered by the exam. And what is good about this book is that it manages to keep you engaged as you read through it because of how of the writing style seems so understandable and easy-to-read.
Because the author of this AP-styled textbook knows that the best way for you to master the fundamental concepts of microeconomics is for you to practice using them, it contains a lot of problems and exercises that are modeled after the AP Microeconomics’ style of questioning. In a sense, you will also be feeling what it is like answering the questions of the actual exam itself.
The book has a hefty price tag compared to others we reviewed for best AP Microeconomics review books. Nevertheless, the price seems understandable if you look at the benefits you can get out of this book. Not only does it help you in your AP Microeconomics courses and exam but it can also be used for all of your other AP Economics courses and exams as well. You can even use this as a high school or college textbook. That said, it has many uses and is not confined to helping you get a 5 in the upcoming AP Microeconomics exam. You can also check out our other best textbooks for Economics here.
What makes it unique:
- It is a textbook that is designed specifically for the needs of the student taking the AP Economics exams.
- The book is so versatile in the sense that it can be used for your AP Economics courses and for review purposes for both microeconomics and macroeconomics.
Why choose this book:
- If you do not mind reading a textbook as long as you get to master all of the basics needed for the AP Microeconomics exam, then this should be your top choice.
- Go for this book if you are planning to take all of the AP Economics exams because of how it can be used as a resource for any econimics-related course or exam.
- Hardcover Book
- N/A (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update: 2024-04-29
AP Microeconomics Crash Course by Jason Welker
Like any other Crash Course book, this material for the AP Microeconomics delivers a quick and easy-to-understand review experience that can literally be called a crash course. That is why this material is often regarded as one of the best tools you can use to get a high score or a 5 in the AP Microeconomics exam.
While this book prides itself for helping students learn the basic fundamentals of microeconomics, it does not sacrifice quality. It has a content review that goes directly to the point and does not waste time on any fluff or unnecessary words and details. In a sense, it just simply gives you all of the information and concepts you need for the exam.
Written in an easy-to-understand format that is both concise and direct to the point, this book is an easy and quick read for a student that is short on time and even on money. In addition to that, Crash Course also provides tips and strategies you can use to improve the way you answer the questions in the upcoming AP Microeconomics exam. You can even take the online practice test if you want.
Priced on the lower end, AP Microeconomics Crash Course is one of the most affordable materials on the market. What makes it one of our favorites is the quality you get for a book that gives you a quick review experience at an affordable price. That is what made it a favorite among satisfied customers on Amazon. It just simply has a way of helping you understand the basics in such a consolidated manner. It also works good for procrastinators, as one review said.
What makes it unique:
- It is a quick and concise reviewer that goes straight to the point and does not waste any words on things that you might not need for the exam.
- The book is written in a clear manner that makes it easy and quick to read for any kind of student.
Why choose this book:
- This is one of the best materials you can find on the market if you are looking for a quick reviewer that you can use when you are already cramming.
- It works best for those who want a book they can use just a few days or even a few hours before the exam.
- Welker M.Ed., Jason (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 288 Pages - 09/15/2020 (Publication Date) - Research & Education Association (Publisher)
Last update: 2024-04-29
5 Steps to a 5: AP Microeconomics by Eric Dodge
Similar to its AP Macroeconomics counterpart, which was written by the same author, this 5 Steps book for the AP Microeconomics exam follows the same excellent five-step procedure and system that has made this line of review materials so successful and popular among students, teachers, and parents alike.
That said, this book guides you through a five-step program that helps you in a holistic way. It guides you in making your own study plan, it tests your knowledge out with a diagnostic tests, it gives you helpful and proven tips and strategies, it gets you through a comprehensive content review, and it boosts your confidence with its full-length practice test.
The book’s content review part follows the College Board’s outline to the letter and each chapter has practice questions that can help you understand the topics better. The practice test also has answers that can help you understand where you went wrong.
With a price on the lower end of resources, it is a pretty affordable review book considering the high-quality experience you will be getting out of it. The elite edition costs a little extra but has more content than the standard student edition. Overall, it is an excellent review material that can really get you that 5.
What makes it unique:
- It uses a systematic five-step approach that guides you though your review in a step-by-step manner.
- The book has two full-length exams. The elite edition has two more books that you can take online.
Why choose this book:
- It is the best choice for those looking for a more systematic approach to their review.
- The book is holistic and complete because of how it contains not only a good content review but also information and tips you might find handy on the day of the exam.
- Dodge, Eric (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 240 Pages - 10/02/2020 (Publication Date) - McGraw Hill (Publisher)
Last update: 2024-04-28
The Runners-Up for Best AP Microeconomics Review Books (still good but a little lacking)
AP Microeconomics/Macroeconomics Premium, 2023 by Frank Musgrave, Elia Kacapyr, James Redelsheimer
You can hardly find any Barron’s AP review book that does not stand out in terms of quality. While this book for still continues the same tradition of excellence that Barron’s is known for, it is in our list of runners-up because of how it consolidates the two AP Economics (micro and macro) into one review material. To our mind, it could have done better by making a book specifically designed for AP Microeconomics. Other than that, it remains a solid choice because of its top quality and reputation in the industry.
Though it might seem half-baked, the content review on the topics covered by the College Board's outline is still quite detailed and comprehensive enough to guide you through everything you need to learn and understand for the exam. It divides the book into microeconomics and macroeconomics but your focus should not stray away from the former if you are not studying for the latter.
And, like any Barron’s AP review book, this one contains full-length practice tests that are designed to mimic the actual AP Microeconomics exam. However, the problem is there is only one test for AP Microeconomics as the other one is for AP Macroeconomics. In that sense, one might not be enough if you did not feel challenge enough.
Its price is more than acceptable considering that it is a book that covers two courses in one. If you want a book that already has the best of both worlds, you probably won’t mind the fact that this material has two faces. However, if you prioritize focused content over price, it may not be the best book for you.
What makes it unique:
- The book is designed for both the AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics.
Why choose this book:
- It can actually help you save time and money because the book already covers two course materials for the price of one.
- The book is a good bargain for you if you happen to be reviewing for the AP Macroeconomics exam as well.
- Musgrave Ph.D., Frank (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 448 Pages - 02/07/2023 (Publication Date) - Barrons Educational Services (Publisher)
Last update: 2024-04-28
AP Economics Micro & Macro Prep, 2023 by The Princeton Review
This book is also the same as Barron’s in the sense that it already covers both AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics. Normally, anything by The Princeton Review deserves top consideration. But, in this case, since it does not focus on the AP Microeconomics alone, it might not be as great a choice as the other review books that are specifically designed for macroeconomics. But that does not mean that this is anything but a high-quality material.
Like any good Cracking book, it contains a content review that covers the entire outline of the AP Microeconomics exam. It is also an updated material that gives you the latest information on the most recent exam as well as the upcoming one. In a sense, it has all of the updates you need to get the edge on the day of the exam.
Like any good review book by The Princeton Review, this material’s chapters end with practice questions that are designed to improve your retention. It also has one full-length practice exam for AP Microeconomics . The test can be quite challenging and difficult for any kind of student. That is why a lot of satisfied customers choose and love AP Economics Micro & Macro Prep. And considering that it’s on the lower end of costs, you can never complain about the quality this book offers at its value.
What makes it unique:
- It is a two-in-one reviewer that covers both AP Economics courses.
- It has practice tests that are designed to be at least just as difficult as the actual AP Microeconomics exam.
Why choose this book:
- If you follow The Princeton Review’s AP review books and you do not mind a material that does not focus on AP Microeconomics alone, this can be a good choice for you.
- It is actually the best choice if you are want to save time and money when you are reviewing for both AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics.
- The Princeton Review (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 336 Pages - 08/09/2022 (Publication Date) - Princeton Review (Publisher)
Last update: 2024-04-28
The Best Value for Your Money (good and affordable top AP Microeconomics review books)
Principles of Macroeconomics for AP Courses by Timothy Taylor, Steven Greenlaw, David Shapiro, OpenStax
If you are familiar with OpenStax, you probably already know what kind of a book this is. Principles of Macroeconomics for AP Courses was actually designed to be a tool to be used by anyone for the AP Microeconomics at a price that is almost free. This is because OpenStax is a non-profit organization that aims to deliver study tools and materials that are both helpful and affordable.
This book covers the outline of the College Board in both content and sequence to make sure that it really fits your needs for the upcoming AP Microeconomics exam. It also has a balanced and holistic approach when it comes to helping you study the theories and concepts of microeconomics and in helping you practice the application of what you have learned and already know.
The contents and examples are also updated to fit recent real-life data in the world today. Also, these examples are also presented in a way that does not favor any political view and is quite objective and equitable for any kind of student no matter what his/her political beliefs are.
What makes this book the best value for your money is that it is essentially free. You can download the electronic, PDF, or Kindle version of this book absolutely for free if you just go the OpenStax website. But if you prefer the paperback version, it’s super affordable on Amazon. You cannot find any other review book that is as affordable as this one.
What makes it unique:
- Downloading it is absolutely for free.
- It is like any other review except for the fact that you might not even need to pay a single cent for it.
Why choose this book:
- It is the best material for anyone short on cash.
- This book was designed for the AP Microeconomics course and exam.
- Greenlaw, Steven A (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 550 Pages - 11/29/2017 (Publication Date) - 12th Media Services (Publisher)
Last update: 2024-04-28
Summary of the Best AP Microeconomics Review Books
Putting everything together, in this guide we reviewed the following:
Last update: 2024-04-29
If you look at the numbers, you can see that almost 68% of those who took the AP Microeconomics exam got scores of 3 or higher. In fact, there are even more students that scored 4 or 5 than those who got 2 and 1. But do those numbers mean that the exam is easy? Not necessarily.
It still boils down to how well you prepare yourself for the exam. And, with the help of any of the high-quality materials we have listed down for you, you might see yourself getting a 5 just like 20.9% of those who took the most recent AP Microeconomics exam.
Did you find this guide on the best AP Microeconomics review books helpful? If so, share it with a friend!
Looking for more reviews of AP study guides?
Check out our archives for other AP History & Social Sciences, AP History & Social Sciences, or our general Advanced Placement section.
