The AP U.S. History Exam
An Overview
Basic Information
• Exam Date – May 11, 2012; 8:00 am
• Exam Cost -- $87, assistance available
• Exam Scoring -- 1 through 5, 3 considered
passing
• Exam Benefits -- can earn college credit
with 3 or above (depends on school)
Exam Format
• MC (80 questions in 55 minutes) – 50%
• DBQ (1 question in 45 minutes) – 25%
• FRQ (2 questions in 70 minutes) – 12.5%
each
– 3 essays are administered in a 115 minute
block, but you are encouraged to divide your
time as suggested above
Multiple Choice
• Have approximately ¾ of a minute per question
• Divided between 4 time periods
–
–
–
–
Colonial to 1789 [16 – number from 2011 exam]
1789-1865 [17]
1865-1914 [18]
1914 to present [29]
• Can also divide according to theme
– Political [29 – number from 2011 exam]
– Economic/Social [31]
– Diplomatic/Cultural [20]
Essays
• You are provided a 15 minute reading period to
brainstorm and outline your essays
• DBQ can be about anything
– 2011: Analyze the international and domestic challenges the U.S. faced
between 1968 and 1974, and evaluate how President Richard Nixon’s
administration responded to them
– 2010: In what ways did ideas and values held by Puritans influence the
political, economic, and social development of the New England colonies
from 1630 through the 1660s? (2010)
• First FRQ addresses 1492 to 1865; choose one of two
options
• Second FRQ addresses 1865 to 1980; choose one of two
options
*typically one essay will cover the colonial period and one will cover post 1945*
Scoring the Exam
• MC
– Number correct x 1.125
• DBQ
– Essay score (out of 9) x 4.5
• FRQ
– Essay score (out of 9) x 2.75
– Essay score (out of 9) x 2.75
• Add them all together
Scoring the Exam Cont.
• Total of 180 pts possible
– MC – 90 pts possible
– DBQ – 40.5 pts possible
– FRQ – 49.5 pts possible
• Scoring Divisions – vary a little each year
–
–
–
–
–
5 (111-180)
4 (91-110)
3 (76-90)
2 (57-75)
1 (0-56)
Example of a 5
• MC:
– 60 x 1.125 = 67.5
• DBQ:
– 6 x 4.5 = 27
• FRQ
– 5 x 2.75 = 13.75
– 5 x 2.75 = 13.75
Total Score: 67.5 + 54.5 = 122 [111-180]
Example of a 4
• MC:
– 45 x 1.125 = 50.6
• DBQ:
– 5 x 4.5 = 22.5
• FRQ:
– 5 x 2.75 = 13.75
– 5 x 2.75 = 13.75
Total Score: 50.6 + 50 = 101 [91-110]
Example of a 3
• MC:
– 35 x 1.125 = 39.3
• DBQ:
– 5 x 4.5 = 22.5
• FRQ:
– 4 x 2.75 = 11
– 4 x 2.75 = 11
Total Score: 39.3 + 44.5 = 84 [76-96]
2011/2010 Scores
BSHS
Composite
2011
2010
Nation
5: 3/60 – 5%
4: 14/60 – 23%
3: 14/60 – 23%
2: 17/60 – 28%
1: 12/60 – 20%
5:11%
4: 19%
3: 23%
2: 27%
1: 20%
5: 3/50 – 6 %
4: 6/50 -- 12%
3: 16/50 – 32%
2: 12/50 – 24%
1: 13/50 – 26%
5: 11%
4: 19%
3: 22%
2: 26%
1: 21%
MC [2011 only]
Mean: 46.2
- Colonial to 1789: 9/16
- 1789 to 1865: 7/17
- 1865 to 1914: 7/18
- 1914 to present: 17/29
Mean: 49.9
- Colonial to 1789: 10/16
- 1789 to 1865: 8/17
- 1865 to 1914: 9/18
- 1914 to present: 16/29
Essays [2011
only]
Overall Mean: 33.2
**majority of students scoring in top 2
quartiles
Overall Mean: 31.5
DBQ
Mean: 3.7
Mean: 3.4
FRQ pre 1865
Mean: 3.0
Mean: 2.7
FRQ post 1865
Mean: 3.0
Mean: 3.1