US AP Exam Review
Revised Exam for 2015
THE AP EXAM
• The College Board redesigned the APUSH
Exam for the 2014-2015 school year. 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.
Common Multiple Choice Errors
• Missing key words that change the meaning of
the question- not, except or least.
• Overthinking an item and spending too much
time on one question.
• Changing your answer, but incompletely
erasing your first choice
Format of Assessment
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.
Short-Answer Questions
• Each short-answer question consists of 3 parts
and each part can earn a score of 0 or 1- total
of 3 points.
• All four questions will be based on source
material- either primary or secondary sources
or an historian’s perspective.
Format of Assessment
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.
Document-Based Question
• Essay prompt with seven written or visual
primary source documents.
• Before writing, take 15 minutes to review the
documents.
• Take notes on the documents in your test
booklet.
• Refer to at least 6 of the 7 documents in your
response.
• Strong thesis and good structure!
Format of Assessment
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.
Long Essay Scoring
•
•
•
•
Thesis: 0-1 point
Support for Argument: 0-2 points
Application of Historical Thinking Skills: 0-2 points
Synthesis: 0-1 point
DBQ and Long Essay Tips
• Make a clear and concise outline.
• Stay on topic and completely answer the
question.
• Handwriting is important and must be legible.
• When “finished”, review and revise.
Major Time Periods and Approximate
percentage of Questions
• Period 1, 1491-1607 (5%)
• Periods 2-5, 1607-1877 (45%)
• Periods 6-8, 1865-1980 (45%)
• Period 9, 1980-present (5%)
Test-Day Checklist
• Get a good night’s sleep.
• Wake up early and eat a good breakfast.
• Dress comfortably. Something casual and
layered.
• Bring these items– Several sharpened No. 2 pencils
– Admission ticket
– Two pieces of ID
Arrive early.