AP U.S. History

AP US History

Click on the menu above for the best AP US History practice exams, document-based questions, free response questions, notes, videos, and study guides. These online resources include all the information you need to succeed in this challenging history course.

AP US History Exam

This AP test covers American history from 1491 to the present. It’s the equivalent of a two-semester introductory college course.

The AP United States History Exam format is:

Section 1
Part A (55 minutes, 40% of grade)
55 Multiple-choice questions

Part B (50 minutes, 20% of grade)
4 Short-answer questions

Section 2
Part A (55 minutes, 25% of grade)
1 Document-based question

Part B (35 minutes, 15% of grade)
1 Long essay question (chosen from 2 options)

The multiple choice questions will be in sets which contain between 2 and 5 questions. Each of the sets will include stimulus material consisting of a primary or secondary source. This might include a chart, graph, text, map, or image. To answer the questions you will need to use the stimulus material along with your historical knowledge.

The short answer questions will present source material as well. This may include a historian’s argument, a primary source, data, or maps. You will need to provide and analyze examples of historical evidence that are relevant to this source material.

The document based question requires you to formulate a thesis and support it with evidence. A wide variety of documents are provided. You will need to analyze and synthesize this historical data.

With the long essay question you will also need to develop a thesis or argument, which you support with specific historical evidence. There will be two questions, and you get to pick the one that you would like to answer.

When is the AP U.S. History Exam?

The AP U.S. History Exam date for the 2022–2023 school year is Friday, May 5, 2023 at 8 a.m. The APUSH test is only offered once per year.

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