The Complete Guide to the AP World History Exam

Are you a history student feeling overwhelmed by centuries of events, global developments, and a vast expanse of world history? Are you worried about the AP World History exam but determined to score high? You’ve come to the right place! 

This comprehensive blog will provide you with everything you need to take the AP World History exam with confidence. We’ll break down the exam format, explore effective study strategies, and provide resources to help you master even the most challenging historical concepts.

Overview of the AP World History Exam

The AP World History exam is a challenging test designed to measure your understanding of major historical events and trends from roughly 1450 to the present day. It’s a 3-hour, 15-minute exam that combines multiple-choice questions, short-answer prompts, and free-response essays.

The multiple-choice section tests your knowledge of specific facts and your ability to analyze historical sources. The short-answer questions ask you to explain connections and developments within a specific historical period. Finally, the free-response essays challenge you to synthesize information from multiple time periods and write persuasive arguments supported by evidence.

When is the AP World History Exam in 2024?

According to the College Board’s 2024 schedule, the AP World History Exam in 2024 will be held on Wednesday, May 15th, at 8:00 a.m. local time. Be sure to double-check the date and time with your teacher closer to the exam, as any changes will be communicated through them.

What is the AP World History Exam Format?

This section outlines the AP World History exam format and what to expect in each part. Be sure to pay close attention to the time allotment and point value for each section to manage your time effectively.

Section IA: Multiple-choice (55 minutes, 40% of the score)

• This section features 55 multiple-choice questions, typically grouped in sets of 3–4, that all relate to the same source material.
• Source materials can be diverse, including primary and secondary texts, images (artwork, photos, posters, cartoons), charts, and maps.
• The questions will assess your ability to:

1. Analyze the provided sources.
2. Understand the historical developments and processes described in the sources.

Section IB: Short answer (40 minutes, 20% of the score)

• This section requires written responses in your test booklet and may include texts, images, graphs, or maps alongside the questions.
• There are three required questions and one elective question:

1. Question 1: Analyzes developments/processes between 1200 and 2001 using 1–2 secondary sources. (Required)
2. Question 2: Analyzes developments/processes between 1200 and 2001 using 1 primary source. (Required)
3. Question 3 (or Question 4): Analyzes developments/processes in either 1200–1750 (Q3) or 1750–2001 (Q4). Choose one. No source materials are provided.

• The short-answer questions will assess your ability to:

1. Analyze the provided sources.
2. Understand the historical developments and processes described in the sources.
3. Contextualize those historical developments and processes.
4. Make connections between historical developments and processes.

Section II: Free-response (1 hour, 40 minutes, 40% of the score)

• This section requires writing extended responses in your test booklet and consists of two parts:

1. Document-based question (recommended time: 60 minutes, including a 15-minute reading period, 25% of the score)

• You will be presented with seven documents offering various perspectives on a historical development or process.
• A 15-minute reading period is included within the recommended 60-minute timeframe.
• You will be challenged to develop and support an argument based on the provided documents and your historical knowledge.
• The document-based question will focus on historical developments or processes between 1450 and 2001.

2. Long essay question (40 minutes, 15% of the score)

• You will be given a choice of three essay questions, each testing the same skills but focusing on different historical periods (c. 1200–1750, c. 1450–1900, or c. 1750–2001). Choose one to answer.
• This question requires you to develop and support an argument based on your historical knowledge and evidence.

What is Tested on the AP World History Exam?

The College Board provides clear guidelines for AP World History teachers, outlining the specific content that must be covered in the course. This includes familiarity with world history events from nine thematic units spanning four major time periods, ranging from 1200 CE to the present day.

Unit	Time Period
Unit 1: The Global Tapestry	c. 1200 to c. 1450
Unit 2: Networks of Exchange	c. 1200 to c. 1450
Unit 3: Land-Based Empires	c. 1450 to c. 1750
Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections	c. 1450 to c. 1750
Unit 5: Revolutions	c. 1750 to c. 1900
Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization	c. 1750 to c. 1900
Unit 7: Global Conflict	c. 1900 to the present
Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization	c. 1900 to the present
Unit 9: Globalization	c. 1900 to the present

How is the AP World History Exam Scored?

The AP World History exam is scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. This final score reflects your performance across the entire exam, which is divided into two sections. Section I consists of multiple-choice and short-answer questions and accounts for 60% of your total score. Section II challenges you with a document-based question (DBQ) and a long essay question (LEQ), making up the remaining 40%.

While there’s no exact conversion between raw scores on each section and the final scaled score, a higher number of correct answers throughout the exam will generally translate to a better final score. There’s no penalty for guessing on multiple-choice questions, so it’s always in your best interest to fill in every bubble. For the essay sections, strong analytical skills, a clear understanding of historical context, and the ability to add evidence to your arguments are crucial for achieving a high score.

On the May 2020 AP World History exam, students’ scores ranged from 1 to 5. Here’s a breakdown of how they performed:

AP World History Score	Meaning	Percentage of Test Takers
5	Extremely qualified	13.20%
4	Well qualified	21.90%
3	Qualified	27.00%
2	Possibly qualified	23.70%
1	No recommendation	14.30%

AP World History Exam Questions and Scoring Information

This table presents questions from the 2023 AP World History exam. To access more practice materials, visit the College Board’s official website.

Questions	Scoring	Samples and Commentary
Free-Response Questions – Set 1Free-Response Questions – Set 2	Scoring Guidelines Set – 1Scoring Guidelines Set – 2Chief Reader Report – Set 1Chief Reader Report – Set 2Scoring Statistics – Set 1Scoring Statistics – Set 2Score Distributions	Sample Responses – DBQ – Set 1 Sample Responses – DBQ – Set 2 Sample Responses – LEQ 2 – Set 1 Sample Responses – LEQ 2 – Set 2 Sample Responses – LEQ 3 – Set 1 Sample Responses – LEQ 3 – Set 2 Sample Responses – LEQ 4 – Set 1 Sample Responses – LEQ 4 – Set 2 Sample Responses – SAQ 1 – Set 1 Sample Responses – SAQ 1 – Set 2 Sample Responses – SAQ 2 – Set 1 Sample Responses – SAQ 2 – Set 2 Sample Responses – SAQ 3 – Set 1 Sample Responses – SAQ 3 – Set 2 Sample Responses – SAQ 4 – Set 1 Sample Responses – SAQ 4 – Set 2

From the Desk of Yocket

The AP World History exam delves into a vast timeframe, which encourages you to see the big picture and understand how historical events connect across centuries. Analyzing primary and secondary sources in the DBQ and essay sections hones critical thinking and writing abilities. A good score on the AP World History exam can translate into college credit, potentially saving time and money.

However, the sheer amount of material covered in the exam requires focused studying. Additionally, the time constraints on the exam can pressure you, especially on the essay portion. Success requires a shift in focus from memorizing facts to analyzing historical trends, evaluating evidence, and crafting well-supported arguments. This can be challenging for students who are accustomed to memorizing. The exam also emphasizes writing skills, which are crucial for college success but may not be a strong point for all students.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format of the AP World History exam?

The AP World History exam is a 3-hour and 15-minute test divided into two sections. Section I has 55 multiple-choice questions (40% of the exam score) and 3 short-answer questions (20% of the exam score). Section II has a document-based question (DBQ) and a long essay question (LEQ), both worth 20% of the exam score.

What time period does the AP World History exam cover?

The AP World History exam covers history from 1200 CE to 2001 CE. While you’ll need to know about specific events, the focus is on understanding long-term trends and historical processes.

What skills are tested on the AP World History exam?

The AP World History exam assesses your ability to analyze historical sources, evaluate arguments, develop historical reasoning, and communicate your knowledge in clear and concise writing.

When is the AP World History exam?

The AP World History exam is usually held on the third Wednesday of May. For 2024, the exam date is Wednesday, May 15th, at 8 a.m. local time. Double-check with your school counselor for any specific details.