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 05/12/11

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.

The AP European History Test covers the Old World continent from the year 1450 through 2004.  Students are tested on the "cultural, economic, political, and social developments" that provided the basis of today's modern world.  Around 30% os test takers achieve a 4 or a 5.  After a big dip in high end test scores in '08 (26.3% achieving 4 or above), 2009 was higher than the previous 4 years.  Overall, the poor showing in 2008 likely convinced a lot of students on the lower end of the academic scale to avoid the test. It is noteworthy that there was nearly 50% increase in test takers scoring a 5 in 2009, compared to 2008.

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 

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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