AP US History exam format / information
The new curriculum framework organizes US history into nine periods and presents each period with a conceptual focus. (From AP Central)
Historical Thinking Skills in APUSH: The curriculum framework begins by describing the historical thinking skills that are central to the study and practice of history. These are organized into four types of skills: chronological reasoning, comparison and contextualization, crafting historical arguments from historical evidence, and historical interpretation and synthesis. Teachers should develop these historical thinking skills with students on a regular basis over the span of the course. The historical thinking skills provide opportunities for students to learn to think like historians, most notably to analyze evidence about the past and to create persuasive historical arguments. Focusing on these practices enables teachers to create learning opportunities for students that emphasize the conceptual and interpretive nature of history rather than simply memorization of events in the past.
Thematic Learning Objectives: The framework presents a set of learning objectives, organized by seven major themes that describe what students should know and be able to do by the end of the AP U.S. History course. These represent the major historical understandings that colleges and universities want AP students to have developed in order to merit placement out of the introductory college U.S. history survey course. Students should use a range of historical thinking skills to investigate the thematic learning objectives.
THE AP EXAM
Students will need to have an in-depth content knowledge beginning with the early colonial period and continuing up through recent times. Students will also have to be able to express this knowledge in written from. Students will be expected to analyze primary documents and write extensive essays throughout this course.
AP U.S. HISTORY EXAM: 3 HOURS 15 MINUTES
Assessment Overview
The AP Exam questions measure students’ knowledge of U.S. history and their ability to think historically. Questions are based on key and supporting concepts, course themes, and historical thinking skills.
Format of Assessment
Section I Part A: Multiple Choice | 50–55 Questions | 55 Minutes | 40% of Exam Score
• Questions appear in sets of 2–5.
• Students analyze historical texts, interpretations, and evidence.
• Primary and secondary sources, images, graphs, and maps are included.
Section I Part B: Short Answer | 4 Questions | 45 Minutes | 20% of Exam Score
• Questions provide opportunities for students to demonstrate what they know best. (No thesis.)
• Some questions include texts, images, graphs, or maps.
Section II Part A: Document Based | 1 Question | 60 Minutes | 25% of Exam Score
• Analyze and synthesize historical data. (Thesis required.)
• Assess written, quantitative, or visual materials as historical evidence.
Section II Part B: Long Essay | 1 Question | 35 Minutes | 15% of Exam Score
• Students select one question among two.
• Explain and analyze significant issues in U.S. history. (Thesis required.)
• Develop an argument supported by an analysis of historical evidence.
Students will need to have an in-depth content knowledge beginning with the early colonial period and continuing up through recent times. Students will also have to be able to express this knowledge in written from. Students will be expected to analyze primary documents and write extensive essays throughout this course.
AP U.S. HISTORY EXAM: 3 HOURS 15 MINUTES
Assessment Overview
The AP Exam questions measure students’ knowledge of U.S. history and their ability to think historically. Questions are based on key and supporting concepts, course themes, and historical thinking skills.
Format of Assessment
Section I Part A: Multiple Choice | 50–55 Questions | 55 Minutes | 40% of Exam Score
• Questions appear in sets of 2–5.
• Students analyze historical texts, interpretations, and evidence.
• Primary and secondary sources, images, graphs, and maps are included.
Section I Part B: Short Answer | 4 Questions | 45 Minutes | 20% of Exam Score
• Questions provide opportunities for students to demonstrate what they know best. (No thesis.)
• Some questions include texts, images, graphs, or maps.
Section II Part A: Document Based | 1 Question | 60 Minutes | 25% of Exam Score
• Analyze and synthesize historical data. (Thesis required.)
• Assess written, quantitative, or visual materials as historical evidence.
Section II Part B: Long Essay | 1 Question | 35 Minutes | 15% of Exam Score
• Students select one question among two.
• Explain and analyze significant issues in U.S. history. (Thesis required.)
• Develop an argument supported by an analysis of historical evidence.