Test Preparation > AP > History
 See also SAT Subject History
 Test Date:  U.S. History - 8AM, Friday, 05/11/12
 Test Date:  European History - 12PM, Friday, 05/11/12
 Test Date:  World History - 8AM, Thursday 05/17/12

The AP U.S. History Test (APUSH), is routinely taken by more students than any other AP test (360,173 in '09).  However, popularity doesn't necessarily breed success, as only about 30% of test takers achieve a score of 4 or 5. ²

Success on the test's three essay questions (50% of the score) rely on the student to leverage a broad knowledge of historical events for the purposes of providing "analysis and synthesis", rather than a "historical narrative". The documents based question (DBQ), is particularly troublesome for many students.  Introduced in 1972, the DBQ exposes the student to a number of different source materials, that include tables, graphs, magazine articles, transcripts, cartoons and so on. The student's essay must address the question as a historian would, integrating their own knowledge and the veracity, importance and context of the documents provided in making their argument.  Quite simply, getting a good score on the DBQ has more to it than memorizing a bunch of events.   ^2.

While the student needs to retain a solid basis of historical facts and figures, scoring high on the exam requires the students to understand the overriding themes of European history, and be able to analyze and interpret historical evidence in the context of these themes^{. 2.}   The exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long.  Section 1 includes 80 multiple choice questions to be completed in 55 minutes.  Section 2 is the essay section.  Part A is the DBQ that includes a mandatory 15 minute reading period followed by a 45 minute written answer period. Parts B & C, with a total time allocation of 70 minutes, include two essay questions each.  The student must complete one essay from each part. 1

The AP World History Test requires that students understand the "evolution of global processes and contacts and interactions between different types of human societies" ^1.   Like the other AP History Tests, the student is required to analyze and interpret a broad understanding of facts and evidence.  However the AP World Test demands of the student an even greater "historian's approach" in understanding the "contacts and comparisons among societies", as well as the impact of societal and structural changes across borders. ²   Students typically struggle more with this exam than the other two in the History category.  Average test scores have exceeded 2.7 only once in the last five years.

The AP World History test is three hours and five minutes long.  Section 1  contains 70 multiple choice questions with a time limit of 55 minutes.  Section 2, Part A, contains a mandatory 10 minutes reading period, followed immediately by a 40 minute documents-based question (DBQ).  Section 2, Part B. contains two, 40-minute essay questions.  The first question is about "continuity and change over time".  The second question is a comparative essay, between at least two or more societies. ¹

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  ^{1. Wikipedia
  2. Collegeboard.com}
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