AP US History - APUSH
EXAM INFORMATION
When is
it?
Friday May 8th
8 a.m.
 Need to see evidence of your
Things
to
know
ability to analyze and use
evidence
 Need to show ability to think
about history and support your
ideas with evidence
 There is NOT a definitive right
way to answer the question
Format
of the
test
• 55 Multiple Choice Questions – 55
minutes – 40%
• 4 Short Answer Questions – 45 minutes
– 20%
BREAK
• 1 Document Based Question – 60
minutes – 25%
• 1 Long Essay Question – 35 minutes –
15%
Time
Periods
Covered

Period 1 – 1491 – 1607 – 5%

Period 2 – 1607 – 1754 – 10%

Period 3 – 1754 – 1800 – 12%

Period 4 – 1800 – 1848 – 10%

Period 5 – 1848 – 1877 – 13%

Period 6 – 1865 – 1889 – 13%

Period 7 – 1898 – 1945 – 17%

Period 8 – 1945 – 1980 – 15%

Period 9 – 1980 – Present – 5%
Historical
Thinking
Skills
Covered
Skill Type
Historical Thinking
Skill
Chronological Reasoning
1. Historical Causation
2. Patterns of Continuity
and Change over Time
3. Periodization
Comparison and
Contextualization
4. Comparison
Crafting Historical
Arguments from
Historical Evidence
6. Historical
Argumentation
Historical Interpretation
and Synthesis
8. Interpretation
5. Contextualization
7. Appropriate Use of
Relevant Historical
Evidence
9. Synthesis
Historical
Themes
Covered
1. Belief Systems
2. America in the World
3. Geography and Environment : physical and
human
4. Peopling
5. Identity
6. Politics and Power
7. Work, Exchange, and Technology
Beginning on page 20 you can use the link below to
make sure you understand the overarching
questions and learning objectives for each theme:
http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/
ap/ap-course-exam-descriptions/ap-us-historycourse-and-exam-description.pdf
Multiple
Choice
Questions
Designed to test one or more of the historical thinking
skills and historical knowledge. Each question is related
to a stimulus, with 2 to 65questions . 55 questions in 55
minutes
1.
Analyze the stimulus
2.
Eliminate wrong answers on the test
3.
Read all answers then pick BEST choice
4.
Avoid absolutes and watch for EXCEPT and NOT
5.
No guessing penalty
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Period 1 - 2 to 3 questions
Period 2 – 5 to 6 questions
Period 3 - 6 to 7 questions
Period 4 – 5 to 6 questions
Period 5 – 7 questions
Period 6 - 7 questions
Period 7 – 9 questions
Period 8 - 8 questions
Period 9 – 2 to 3 questions
Short
Answer
Questions
3 points each
These do not require a thesis but need to be
answered in complete sentences. Two of the four
questions will have choices, providing you the
opportunity to write what you know best.
Each questions has three tasks and you get one
point for each task for a total of three points per
question. 4 questions in 45 minutes
•
Read each question carefully to understand
everything that is being asked.
•
Write clear and complete sentences supported
with accurate evidence.
•
Time is limited, briefly is the key word
Writing a
Thesis
You MUST have a thesis for the long essay and the
DBQ and it MUST answer the question.
It needs to be in the first paragraph and should
take a stand on what event or issues is suggested by
the question.
It should be state in one or two sentences and then
followed by an organizing list of what you will
cover in the answer.
To assure complexity begin thesis with word
“although”
Long
Essay
Question 6 points
You will have the choice between two long essay
questions that focus on the same thinking skill but
may apply to different time periods. 35 minutes to
answer 1 question
Evaluated on:
•
•
•
•
Argumentation
Use of Evidence
Targeted Historical Thinking Skill
Synthesis – in depth examples of this large-scale
phenomena
To be effective:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
To
Analyze the question
Organize the evidence
Develop a thesis
Write the introductory paragraph
Write the supporting paragraphs and conclusion
Evaluate your essay
The DBQ –
Doing it
Right!
7 points
There will be seven documents and you need to
provide plausible analysis for all of them. You must
include for EACH document one of the following:
a) Historical context
b) Intended audience
c) Purpose of the document
d) Point of View
One question in 60 minutes: read and plan for 15
minutes, write for 45 minutes
The documents vary in length and are chosen to
illustrate interactions and complexities within the
material. It will include charts, graphs, cartoons, and
pictures, as well as written materials. Not all
documents will have equal weight in supporting your
thesis, communicate your awareness of the bias or
unreliability of the document or how the document
that does not fit your thesis fits into the context that is
relevant to the question.
The DBQ–
application
in class
Please highlight the following once you are done
writing any DBQ in class:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
in YELLOW highlight the thesis
in GREEN highlight HIPP for each document
in PINK highlight outside information
in BLUE highlight CONTEXUALIZATION
in ORANGE highlight SYNTHESIS point
By doing this, it forces you to include each of
these points into your DBQ!
The Long
Essay –
application
in class
Please highlight the following once you are done
writing any Long Essay in class:
1. in YELLOW highlight the thesis
2. in GREEN highlight the support the support
and evidence for your thesis
3. in PINK highlight the correct usage of the
required historical thinking skill
4. in BLUE highlight the SYNTHESIS point
By doing this, it forces you to include each of
these points into your Long Essay!
1. Write essays (ALL historical essays, ALWAYS)
Writing –
What do
What to
remember
in third person
2. Use active voice, not passive voice
3. Use specific words
4. Define or explain key terms
5. Communicate awareness of the complexity of
history
6. Anticipate counterarguments
7. Remain objective
8. Communicate the organization and logical
development of your argument