US AP Exam Review Revised Exam for 2015

THE AP EXAM The College Board redesigned the APUSH Exam for the school year. Students will need to have an in-depth content knowledge beginning with the early colonial period and continuing up through recent times. Students will also have to be able to express this knowledge in written from. Students will be expected to analyze primary documents and write extensive essays throughout this course.

AP U.S. HISTORY EXAM: 3 HOURS 15 MINUTES Assessment Overview The AP Exam questions measure students’ knowledge of U.S. history and their ability to think historically. Questions are based on key and supporting concepts, course themes, and historical thinking skills.

Format of Assessment Section I Part A: Multiple Choice 50–55 Questions 55 Minutes 40% of Exam Score Questions appear in sets of 2–5. Students analyze historical texts, interpretations, and evidence. Primary and secondary sources, images, graphs, and maps are included.

Common Multiple Choice Errors Missing key words that change the meaning of the question- not, except or least. Overthinking an item and spending too much time on one question. Changing your answer, but incompletely erasing your first choice

Format of Assessment Section I Part B: Short Answer 4 Questions 45 Minutes 20% of Exam Score Questions provide opportunities for students to demonstrate what they know best. (No thesis.) Some questions include texts, images, graphs, or maps.

Short-Answer Questions Each short-answer question consists of 3 parts and each part can earn a score of 0 or 1- total of 3 points. All four questions will be based on source material- either primary or secondary sources or an historian’s perspective.

Format of Assessment Section II Part A: Document Based 1 Question 60 Minutes 25% of Exam Score Analyze and synthesize historical data. (Thesis required.) Assess written, quantitative, or visual materials as historical evidence.

Document-Based Question Essay prompt with seven written or visual primary source documents. Before writing, take 15 minutes to review the documents. Take notes on the documents in your test booklet. Refer to at least 6 of the 7 documents in your response. Strong thesis and good structure!

Format of Assessment Section II Part B: Long Essay 1 Question 35 Minutes 15% of Exam Score Students select one question among two. Explain and analyze significant issues in U.S. history. (Thesis required.) Develop an argument supported by an analysis of historical evidence.

Long Essay Scoring Thesis: 0-1 point Support for Argument: 0-2 points Application of Historical Thinking Skills: 0-2 points Synthesis: 0-1 point

DBQ and Long Essay Tips Make a clear and concise outline. Stay on topic and completely answer the question. Handwriting is important and must be legible. When “finished”, review and revise.

Major Time Periods and Approximate percentage of Questions Period 1, (5%) Periods 2-5, (45%) Periods 6-8, (45%) Period 9, 1980-present (5%)

Test-Day Checklist Get a good night’s sleep. Wake up early and eat a good breakfast. Dress comfortably. Something casual and layered. Bring these items- – Several sharpened No. 2 pencils – Admission ticket – Two pieces of ID Arrive early.