AP Test-Taking Strategies Multiple-Choice

THE AP WORLD HISTORY EXAM Structure of the Test The AP World History Exam is divided into two sections: multiple choice and free-response essays. Section I of the test is comprised of 70 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 55 minutes. Section II of the test begins with a ten-minute reading period (time to review the documents you must use for the first essay question), followed by a two-hour period to write three essays.

Rules for the Multiple Choice 1. There is no penalty for guessing. DON’T LEAVE ANY QUESTION BLANK. 2. There will not be many questions you immediately know – don’t freak out. That’s normal. 3. Remember: four out of every five answer choices you read are wrong. There will never be two completely right answers. 4. If your gut is telling you it’s right, then it’s right. (BTW, your gut is probably quoting Mrs. G or Ms. Neinast… just listen to it…)

Timing 70 questions in 55 minutes average: 45 seconds per question There is no way you will be able to focus on every question equally so BE STRATEGIC. Remember: we are trying to get at least half the questions right. So if you can narrow most questions down to two answer choices, you’re doing it right.

Step One: The Ones You Know 1. Go through the entire test and answer the questions you KNOW. Eliminate as many answer choices as possible on the other questions as you read them, but if you’re not sure – just skip it for now.

Step Two: The Ones You Think You Know 2. Go back through and answer the questions you could narrow down to 2-3 answer choices. You will have to make educated guesses here – go with your gut.

Step Three: The Ones Where You Have NO Idea 3. With at least 5 minutes left – NO MATTER WHAT – go back through and guess on all the questions you’ve left blank so far. Try to make educated guesses when you can, but if you’re running out of time then just put something down!

Approaching a Multiple-Choice Question Step 1. Figure out what the question is asking. Step 2. Answer the question in your own words. Step 3. Eliminate any clearly wrong answers. Pay attention to extreme answer choices – they are often incorrect.

An example Take a look at a sample AP World History Exam question: 3. When the Europeans arrived in sub-Saharan Africa in the 1400's and 1500's, the African slave trade was – (A) just beginning (B) an institution the Europeans had to establish (C) well established and about 500 years old (D) still under the control of Muslim traders (E) not economically viable and did not interest the Europeans

An example Take a look at a sample AP World History Exam question: 3. When the Europeans arrived in sub-Saharan Africa in the 1400's and 1500's, the African slave trade was – (A) just beginning (B) an institution the Europeans had to establish (C) well established and about 500 years old (D) still under the control of Muslim traders (E) not economically viable and did not interest the Europeans (We know the slave trade already existed for a long time – so A and B are out. We also know that it was economically viable for the Europeans, so we’re down to C and D.)

An example Take a look at a sample AP World History Exam question: 3. When the Europeans arrived in sub-Saharan Africa in the 1400's and 1500's, the African slave trade was – (A) just beginning (B) an institution the Europeans had to establish (C) well established and about 500 years old (D) still under the control of Muslim traders (E) not economically viable and did not interest the Europeans (Remember – Muslim traders were typically in North or East Africa, while the Europeans colonized West Africa so answer D doesn’t make sense geographically. Even if you didn’t remember that, you KNOW it was well established and you probably weren’t sure about Muslim traders – so go with the one that has at least something in it you KNOW is right.)

So remember… Answer the questions you KNOW. Make educated guesses on the questions you THINK you know. Guess on the questions where you have NO idea. And, if you have spent more than 1 ½ minutes on a question, just

AP Test-Taking Strategies Essays

CCOT and Compare/Contrast You already know what they’re going to ask you: “Analyze/discuss/explain/assess/whatever changes and continuities…” Paragraph 1 (Thesis): More change or more continuity? Paragraph 2: What changed? Why? Paragraph 3: What stayed the same? Why? “Analyze/discuss/explain/assess/whatever similarities and differences…” OR “Compare…” Paragraph 1 (Thesis): More similar or more different? Paragraph 2: How are they similar? Why? Paragraph 3: How are they different? Why?

HOW/WHY did it change or stay the same? ✔ ✔ Connect your thesis to something going on somewhere else in the world (ideally in the same time period.) HOW/WHY did it change or stay the same?

WHY are they similar or different? ✔ ✔ Use comparative words like “more,” “less,” “both,” “similarly,” “as opposed to”… WHY are they similar or different?

DBQ The question could be ANYTHING (CCOT, Compare/Contrast, Describe the effects of, Explain how, etc.) But, you KNOW that you’ll get 11 documents. Focus on these.

P.O.V. - *must* be addressed for three or more docs Additional doc – women, children, peasants, oppressed people

The DBQ Briefly brainstorm what you already know (outside information) about the question BEFORE looking at the docs. Skim the documents for basic meaning. Group the documents in ways that make sense to you (use PERSIA categories to help) – 2-3 groups. Create your essay outline, using the document groups as your 2-3 paragraphs.

Using Documents The graders know all of the docs, you don’t need to quote them or explain them in detail. Don’t overthink this: Write your essay like you always do, just include the documents as supporting evidence in addition to your outside information.

Explaining a Doc vs. Using a Doc “Document A is a treaty signed by China after the Opium Wars with Britain. These were often called unequal treaties because Britain gained the upper hand…” Using a Doc: “After the Opium Wars, the balance of power had clearly shifted toward Britain, as evidenced by the unequal treaties they forced China to sign. (Doc. A)”

Citing Documents A few options… “Document A shows the tense relationship between Britain and China as a result of the Opium Wars.” “The relationship between Britain and China after the Opium Wars was clearly tense. (Doc. A)”

If you have NO CLUE… Write a thesis statement. Answer the question based on general knowledge of the time period and the region. (If you are doing last minute studying – focus on major trends of each of the six time periods. Read the first few pages of each unit in our textbook – Ethel calls it “The Big Picture”.) Move on.