The AP U.S. History Exam
COURSE CONTENT
Influenced by the Understanding by Design® (Wiggins and McTighe) model, this course framework provides a description of the course requirements necessary for student success.
The AP U.S. History framework is organized into nine commonly taught units of study that provide one possible sequence for the course. As always, you have the flexibility to organize the course content as you like.
The AP U.S. History framework is organized into nine commonly taught units of study that provide one possible sequence for the course. As always, you have the flexibility to organize the course content as you like.
Unit Exam Weighting
Unit 1: Period 1: 1491–1607 4%–6%
Unit 2: Period 2: 1607–1754 6%–8%
Unit 3: Period 3: 1754–1800 10%–17%
Unit 4: Period 4: 1800–1848 10%–17%
Unit 5: Period 5: 1844–1877 10%–17%
Unit 6: Period 6: 1865–1898 10%–17%
Unit 7: Period 7: 1890–1945 10%–17%
Unit 8: Period 8: 1945–1980 10%–17%
Unit 9: Period 9: 1980–Present 4%–6%
Unit 1: Period 1: 1491–1607 4%–6%
Unit 2: Period 2: 1607–1754 6%–8%
Unit 3: Period 3: 1754–1800 10%–17%
Unit 4: Period 4: 1800–1848 10%–17%
Unit 5: Period 5: 1844–1877 10%–17%
Unit 6: Period 6: 1865–1898 10%–17%
Unit 7: Period 7: 1890–1945 10%–17%
Unit 8: Period 8: 1945–1980 10%–17%
Unit 9: Period 9: 1980–Present 4%–6%
Historical Thinking Skills
The AP U.S. History framework included in the course and exam description outlines distinct skills that students should practice throughout the year—skills that will help them learn to think and act like historians.
Skill Description
1. Developments and Processes Identify and explain historical developments and processes.
2. Sourcing and Situation Analyze sourcing and situation of primary and secondary sources.
3. Claims and Evidence in Sources Analyze arguments in primary and secondary sources.
4. Contextualization Analyze the contexts of historical events, developments, or processes.
5. Making Connections Using historical reasoning processes (comparison, causation, continuity and change), analyze patterns and connections between and among historical developments and processes.
6. Argumentation Develop an argument.
Skill Description
1. Developments and Processes Identify and explain historical developments and processes.
2. Sourcing and Situation Analyze sourcing and situation of primary and secondary sources.
3. Claims and Evidence in Sources Analyze arguments in primary and secondary sources.
4. Contextualization Analyze the contexts of historical events, developments, or processes.
5. Making Connections Using historical reasoning processes (comparison, causation, continuity and change), analyze patterns and connections between and among historical developments and processes.
6. Argumentation Develop an argument.
Exam Format
The AP U.S. History Exam has consistent question types, weighting, and scoring guidelines every year, so you and your students know what to expect on exam day.
Section 1A: Multiple Choice
55 Questions | 55 Minutes | 40% of Exam Score
3 Questions | 40 Minutes | 20% of Exam Score
1 Question | 1 Hour (includes 15-minute reading period) | 25% of Exam Score
1 Question | 40 Minutes | 15% of Exam Score
The AP U.S. History Exam has consistent question types, weighting, and scoring guidelines every year, so you and your students know what to expect on exam day.
Section 1A: Multiple Choice
55 Questions | 55 Minutes | 40% of Exam Score
- Questions usually appear in sets of 3–4 questions.
- Students analyze historical texts, interpretations, and evidence.
- Primary and secondary sources, images, graphs, and maps are included.
3 Questions | 40 Minutes | 20% of Exam Score
- Students analyze historians’ interpretations, historical sources, and propositions about history.
- Questions provide opportunities for students to demonstrate what they know best.
- Some questions include texts, images, graphs, or maps.
- Students choose between 2 options for the final required short-answer question, each one focusing on a different time period:
- Question 1 is required, includes 1–2 secondary sources, and focuses on historical developments or processes between the years 1754 and 1980.
- Question 2 is required, includes 1 primary source, and focuses on historical developments or processes between the years 1754 and 1980.
- Students choose between Question 3 (which focuses on historical developments or processes between the years 1491 and 1877) and Question 4 (which focuses on historical developments or processes between the years 1865 and 2001) for the last question. No sources are included for either Question 3 or Question 4.
1 Question | 1 Hour (includes 15-minute reading period) | 25% of Exam Score
- Students are presented with 7 documents offering various perspectives on a historical development or process.
- Students assess these written, quantitative, or visual materials as historical evidence.
- Students develop an argument supported by an analysis of historical evidence.
- The document-based question focuses on topics from 1754–1980.
1 Question | 40 Minutes | 15% of Exam Score
- Students explain and analyze significant issues in U.S. history.
- Students develop an argument supported by an analysis of historical evidence.
- The question choices focus on the same skills and the same reasoning process (e.g., comparison, causation, or continuity and change), but students choose from 3 options, each focusing on historical developments and processes from a different range of time periods—either 1491–1800 (option 1), 1800–1898 (option 2), or 1890–2001 (option 3).
General Information about U.S. History and the AP Exam
It’s About Time: Preparing for the AP U.S. History Exam
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Dates to Memorize When Preparing for the AP U.S. History Exam
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250 Things Every AP Student Should Know About U.S. History
rev03-250-things.pdf | |
File Size: | 71 kb |
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