I took AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics entirely through self-study — no tutor, no class, no academy.

Ironically, I first tried these my freshman year with just Barron’s… and ended up dropping both. 😅

So, if you’re planning to start with Barron’s — don’t. There’s a much better way.

📚 What I Used

1. ACDC Econ – Ultimate Review Packet

   → My absolute go-to. Both Micro and Macro now have their own separate review packets on UltimateReviewPacket.com, each priced at $29.99 USD.

   I only purchased and completed these two — I didn’t take any other subjects from this site, but for economics, it’s hands-down the best resource out there.

   The packets include condensed videos, clear visuals, and perfectly organized worksheets that make even the trickiest graphs easy to grasp.

2. Barron’s (as a Supplement)

   → I only reopened this the day before the test — mainly to double-check concepts I still wasn’t sure about after ACDC Econ.

   Think of it as a backup reference, not your main source.

3. My Own Notes / Ultimate Review Packet (Printed + Annotated)

   → I filled out ACDC’s packet by hand, then rewrote graphs and definitions in my notebook until I could draw everything from memory.

   That repetitive process made all the difference.

🎥 How I Used ACDC Econ

I’m a “reading learner,” not a “listening learner,” so I rarely use video lectures.

But for econ, ACDC was the exception — the lectures are visual, fast-paced, and structured around what actually appears on the AP exam.

Still, I don’t consider watching videos to be studying.

You have to understand, summarize, and re-explain what you just saw.

So, every time I watched a video:

• I paused it often,
• Redrew every graph by hand,
• Wrote key terms and formulas in my own words,
• And only moved on once I could explain it aloud without notes.

Even if it took longer, this ensured I didn’t just “watch” — I learned.