The AP Euro Exam
May 15, 2013
What to Bring with you
• Several # 2 Pencils with erasers for the
multiple-choice section.
• 2 or 3 blue or black pens for the essays. You
may not write your essays in pencil.
• A watch without an alarm or calculator.
What NOT to bring with you
• Textbooks, notebooks, a dictionary, an
encyclopedia -- NO books
• Any kind of computer or typewriter
• No rulers or straightedges
• No cameras or cell phones with cameras
• No iPods or MP3 players
Before the exam….
• Maintain your usual routine. No late
bedtimes, no new diets or exercise routines.
Stay the course.
• Focus on “big picture” issues such as social,
political, and economic trends
On test day
• Keep your routine…
• Reasonable breakfast &
a small lunch
• Bring everything you need
• Wear comfortable clothing & bring a small
snack for the break period (if allowed)
Section 1 – Multiple-choice
• 80 multiple choice questions.
• 55 minutes
• Chronological (Renaissance to 1990’s)
• ½ prior to 1815; ½ after 1815
• Several cross-chronological questions
• 1/3 cultural / intellectual
• 1/3 social / economic
• 1/3 political / diplomatic
Section 1 – Multiple-choice
• Read all the choices carefully and choose the best
answer.
• There are often 2 or 3 appealing choices.
• Some questions will be highly difficult with
unfamiliar topics
• Few, if any, students will achieve a perfect score.
Questions are designed to range in difficulty from @
15 to 90 percent of students choosing the correct
answer.
• If you skip, BE CAREFUL to skip on the
SCANTRON.
Scheduled break
5 – 15 minutes
Section 2 -- The DBQ
• Topic is specific and often unfamiliar.
• All the info. you’ll need is in the 10 - 12 docs.
• Historical Context paragraph
• Primary sources (diaries, speeches, book
selections, memoirs, charts, cartoons.
• Find patterns, group them logically, apply
them to a thesis, and analyze them for bias or
POV. KNOW YOUR RUBRIC!
Section 2 -- The DBQ
• First 15 mins. -- Reading period
• Read through DBQ docs & Outline the essay, select
FRQ’s (only).
• NO WRITING YET in essay booklet
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• 45 mins. for the DBQ, leaves you 70 mins. for the two
FRQ’s.
• 40 mins. For the DBQ leaves you 65 mins. For the
two FRQ’s.
• Etc.
Free Response Questions (FRQ’s)
• Designed to gauge understanding of major
developments, events, and trends
• Some are more specific than others.
• Two sections of three choices each.
• Questions will break down either
chronologically (three pre-1800 and three
post-1800) or topically (three social/ cultural /
intellectual and three political / economic /
diplomatic
Free Response Questions (FRQ’s)
• Easy here to fall behind and find yourself short
of time.
• Try to allow 30-35 mins. Per essay (including /
brainstorming outline time).
• AP exam graders will find a shorter, focused
response preferable to a longer, rambling one