AP World History Exam Explanation

The AP World History Exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long and includes both a 1 hour and 35 minute multiple-choice/short-answer section followed by a 10 minute break and a 1 hour and 40 minute free-response section. Each section is divided into 2 parts, as shown in the table below. Student performance on these four parts will be compiled and weighted to determine as AP Exam score.

Section

Question Type

Number of Questions

Timing

Percentage of Total Exam Score

I.

Part A:

Multiple-choice questions

55 questions

55 minutes

40%

Part B:

Short answer questions (SAQ)

3 questions

Required Q1: Secondary Source

Required Q2:

Primary Source

Choose between

Q3: Units 1-2

or

Q4: Units 3-4

(worth 9 points total)

40 minutes

20%

II.

Part A:

Document-based question (DBQ)

1 question:

Units 2-4

(worth 7 points)

60 minutes (includes a reading period with a suggested time of 15 minutes)

25%

Part B:

Long essay question

(LEQ)

-Comparison

-Causation

-Continuity & Change

1 question

Choose Between

Option 1: Units 1-2

Option 2: Units 2-3

Option 3: Units 3-4

(worth 6 points)

40 minutes

15%

Historical Periods

The historical periods, from approximately 1200 C.E. to the present, provide a temporal framework for the course. The instructional importance and assessment weighting for each period varies (Multiple Choice): 

Periods

Unit Title

Date Range

Weights

1

The Global Tapestry/ Networks of Exchange

c. 1200 to c.1450

20%

2

Empires/ Trans-Oceanic Interconnections

c. 1450 to c. 1750

25%

3

Revolutions/ Industrialization

c. 1750 to c. 1900

25%

4

Global Conflict/ Cold War & Decolonization/ Globalization

c. 1900 to Present

30%

* Multiple-choice questions will also measure various geographical regions, with no more than 20 percent of multiple-choice questions focusing solely on Europe.

Historical Thinking Skills

There are 4 categories of Historical Thinking Skills, every AP Exam question will assess one or more of the skill-based proficiency expectations as well as one or more of the thematic learning objectives.

Developments & Processes

Sourcing & Situation

Claims & Evidence in Sources

Contextualization

Making Connections

Argumentation

Identify & explain historical developments & processes

Analyze sourcing & situation of primary & secondary sources.

Analyze arguments in primary & secondary sources

Analyze the context of historical events, developments, or processes

Using historical reasoning processes (comparison, causation, continuity & change) analyze patterns & connections between & among historical developments & processes

Create and argument & support it using relevant historical evidence.

Thematic Learning Objectives

The thematic learning objectives describe the knowledge colleges expect students to develop in the AP World history course to receive credit. These themes focus on major historical issues & developments, helping students connect the historical content they study to board trends and processes that have emerged over centuries.

Interactions between Humans & Environment

The environment shapes human societies, & as populations grow & change, these populations in turn shape their environment.

Social Structures

The process by which societies group their members & the norms that govern the interactions between these groups & between individuals influence political, economic, & cultural institutions & organization.

Political Expansion & Governing Systems

A variety of internal & external factors contribute to state formation, expansion & decline. Governments maintain order through a variety of administrative institutions, policies, & procedures.

Economic Systems, Creation & Expansion

Different systems developed to exploit environments to produce, distribute, & consume desired goods/services over time

Cultural Development & Interaction

The development of ideas, beliefs, & religions illustrate how groups in society view themselves in addition to knowledge within & between societies.

Technology & Innovation

Human adaptation & innovation have resulted in increased efficiency, comfort, and security, & technological advances have shaped human development & interactions with both intended and unintended consequences.

Geographical Coverage

A Big Picture View: identifies five major geographical regions; Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, & Oceania. A Closer Look: identifies various sub regions within the five major geographical regions.

These maps show locations & commonly used names of regions that are likely used on the AP World History Exam.

AP World History Exam Explanation

The AP World History Exam is

3 hours and

1

5 minu

tes

long

and includes both a

1 hour and 3

5

minute multiple

-

choice

/short

-

answer section followed by a 10

minute

break and a 1 hour and 4

0

minute free

-

response section.

Each section is divided into 2

parts, as shown in the table below. Student performance on these four parts will be

compiled and weighted to determine as AP Exam score.

Historical Periods

The historical periods, from approximately

1200 C.E.

to the present, provide a

temporal framework for the course.

The instructional importance and assessment

weighting for each period varies

(Multiple Choice)

:

Periods

Unit

Title

Date Range

Weights

1

The Global Tapestry/

Networks of Exchange

c. 1200 to c.1450

20%

2

Empires/

Trans

-

Oceanic Interconnections

c. 1450 to c. 1750

25%

3

Revolutions/ Industrialization

c. 1750 to c. 1900

25%

4

Global Conflict/

Cold War & Decolonization/

Globalization

c. 1900 to Present

30%

*

Multiple

-

choice questions will also measure various geographical regions,

with no more than 20 percent of

multiple

-

choice questions focusing solely

on Europe.

Section

Question Type

Number of

Questions

Timing

Percentage

of Total

Exam Score

I.

Part A:

Multiple

-

choice

questions

55

questions

55 minutes

40%

Part B:

Short answer

question

s

(SAQ)

3

question

s

Required

Q1:

Secondary Source

Required

Q2:

P

rimary Source

Choose between

Q3:

Units 1

-

2

or

Q4:

Units 3

-

4

(worth 9 points total)

4

0

minutes

20%

II.

Part A:

Document

-

based question

(DBQ)

1 question

:

Units 2

-

4

(worth 7

points)

60

minutes

(includes a reading

period with a suggested

time of 15 minutes)

25%

Part B:

Long essay question

(LEQ)

-

Comparison

-

Causation

-

Continuity & Change

1 question

Choose Between

Option 1:

Units 1

-

2

Option 2: Units 2

-

3

Option 3: Units 3

-

4

(worth 6 points)

40

minutes

15%

AP World History Exam Explanation

The AP World History Exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long and includes both a

1 hour and 35 minute multiple-choice/short-answer section followed by a 10 minute

break and a 1 hour and 40 minute free-response section. Each section is divided into 2

parts, as shown in the table below. Student performance on these four parts will be

compiled and weighted to determine as AP Exam score.

Historical Periods

The historical periods, from approximately 1200 C.E. to the present, provide a

temporal framework for the course. The instructional importance and assessment

weighting for each period varies (Multiple Choice):

Periods Unit Title Date Range Weights

1 The Global Tapestry/ Networks of Exchange c. 1200 to c.1450 20%

2 Empires/ Trans-Oceanic Interconnections c. 1450 to c. 1750 25%

3 Revolutions/ Industrialization c. 1750 to c. 1900 25%

4 Global Conflict/ Cold War & Decolonization/ Globalization c. 1900 to Present 30%

* Multiple-choice questions will also measure various geographical regions, with no more than 20 percent of multiple-choice questions focusing solely

on Europe.

Section Question Type

Number of

Questions

Timing

Percentage

of Total

Exam Score

I.

Part A:

Multiple-choice questions

55 questions 55 minutes 40%

Part B:

Short answer questions

(SAQ)

3 questions

Required Q1:

Secondary Source

Required Q2:

Primary Source

Choose between

Q3: Units 1-2

or

Q4: Units 3-4

(worth 9 points total)

40 minutes

20%

II.

Part A:

Document-based question

(DBQ)

1 question:

Units 2-4

(worth 7 points)

60 minutes

(includes a reading

period with a suggested

time of 15 minutes)

25%

Part B:

Long essay question

(LEQ)

-Comparison

-Causation

-Continuity & Change

1 question

Choose Between

Option 1: Units 1-2

Option 2: Units 2-3

Option 3: Units 3-4

(worth 6 points)

40 minutes 15%