The AP US History Exam

What should a student expect?

The Basics

May 8, 2009– 80 multiple-choice questions– 1 Document Based Question (DBQ)– 2 Free Response Questions (FRQ)

Multiple Choice

• 55 minutes• Worth 50% of the exam grade

Students who do well on this portion pass the exam.

Multiple ChoiceSample Question

Roger Williams was exiled from the Salem Bay settlement because he:a. endangered the colony by negotiating with

Native Americans’

b. championed the abolition of private property

c. questioned Parliament’s authority to tax the colonists

d. disputed the authenticity of the Mayflower compact

e. argued for the separation of church and state

Multiple ChoiceSample Question

Roger Williams was exiled from the Salem Bay settlement because he:a. endangered the colony by negotiating with

Native Americans’

b. championed the abolition of private property

c. questioned Parliament’s authority to tax the colonists

d. disputed the authenticity of the Mayflower compact

e. argued for the separation of church and state

Multiple ChoiceOther Types of Questions

• 1-2 questions to interpret an illustration, often a map or a political cartoon.

• 1-2 questions asking to interpret a graph or chart.

Multiple ChoiceGuessing Penalty

• Each wrong answer is worth - .25 points• Each blank answer is worth 0 points• Each correct answer is worth +1.00 points

Essays• 130 minutes• Worth 50% of the exam grade

– Part A - DBQ (22.5%)• 15 minutes prep time, 45 minutes for

writing– Part B – FRQ (13.75%)

• 35 minutes– Part C - FRQ (13.75%)

• 35 minutes

Types of Essay Questions

• Document Based Question (DBQ)– Based on eight to ten primary sources plus

outside knowledge

• Free Response Question (FRQ)– Four questions

= Two pre-1870 (select one)

= Two Post 1870 (select one)

When Do I Take the DBQ?

• After the multiple-choice section• You get a green booklet with the essay

questions and DBQ• Begins with a 15 minute mandatory reading

period1. BREAKDOWN question2. SPLASHDOWN outside information3. READ documents and make notes4. REVIEW all information and take the best5. ORGANIZE your arguments6. CONSTRUCT strong thesis

• See DBQ PowerPoint for additional help

What Is the Free-Response Question?• Two-part essay section• Two questions in each group – select one

from each group• 70 minutes to plan and write both essays

Summary of Time

– Multiple choice: 55 minutes– Reading and planning time Part A—Q1 (DBQ): 15 minutes– Writing essay Part A—Q1 (DBQ): 45 minutes– Essay Part B—Q 2 OR Q3: 35 minutes– Essay Part C—Q4 OR Q5: 35 minutes

– Total AP examination time: 185 minutes