AP US History Exam: Everything You Need to Know
Discover everything you need to know about the AP US History Exam, including the exam overview, structure, scoring, and preparations!
The AP US History (APUSH) Course
The AP US History course explores the history of the United States from pre-Columbian times to the present day. This rigorous course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of key events, themes, and developments in American history.
Exam Structure
| Unit | Exam Weight |
|---|---|
| Unit 1: Period 1: 1491–1607 | 4% – 6% |
| Unit 2: Period 2: 1607–1754 | 6% – 8% |
| Unit 3: Period 3: 1754–1800 | 10% – 17% |
| Unit 4: Period 4: 1800–1848 | 10% – 17% |
| Unit 5: Period 5: 1844–1877 | 10% – 17% |
| Unit 6: Period 6: 1865–1898 | 10% – 17% |
| Unit 7: Period 7: 1890–1945 | 10% – 17% |
| Unit 8: Period 8: 1945–1980 | 10% – 17% |
| Unit 9: Period 9: 1980–Present | 4% – 6% |
Exam Sections
| Section | Questions/Duration | Exam Score Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Section I, Part A | 55 Questions / 55 Minutes | 40% |
| Section I, Part B | 3 Questions / 40 Minutes | 20% |
| Section II, Document-Based Question (DBQ) | 1 Question / Recommended time: 1 Hour, 40 minutes (includes 15-minute reading period) | 25% |
| Section II, Long Essay | 1 Question / Recommended time: 40 Minutes | 15% |
Scoring
The AP US History Exam is scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest score possible. The scoring breakdown is as follows:
| Score | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 5 | 10.6% |
| 4 | 14.8% |
| 3 | 22.1% |
| 2 | 22.7% |
| 1 | 29.8% |
Preparing for the Exam
By preparing early and understanding the exam structure, scoring, and the best study methods, you can significantly enhance your chances of success on exam day!
The AP U.S. History exam spans from approximately 1491 CE to the present, guiding students through various time periods. The exam requires students to analyze historical sources, making connections and forming historical arguments, while delving into concepts such as American and national identity, work, exchange, and technology, geography and the environment, migration and settlement, politics and power, America in the world, American and regional culture, and social structures.
Additional Resources
If your school does not offer AP US History, don’t worry You can learn how to analyze texts, visual sources, and other historical evidence and write essays expressing historical arguments in Crimson’s online AP US History class.
Students are expected to have a strong understanding of American history, including key historical figures, events, documents, and themes prior to sitting the exam.
