1. AP US History: Secrets of the AP Exam
Or—what you need to know to get through the next 32 weeks and pass the exam.

2. Reasons to take the AP course and try really hard to pass the exam…
Colleges and universities see AP experience as a huge plus.
AP experience will give you the reading, writing and thinking skills so important to college success.
Passing the AP exam will give you college credit and save you money in the long run.

3. The National Pass Rate
Only 48% of students who take the AP exam pass with a score of 3 or better.
This is not to scare you, I don’t care about numbers, but to show you how much work WE have to do to make sure you ALL are one of the 48%!

4. How is the Exam Structured?
Part I—Multiple Choice-80 Questions (55 minutes)
50% of the final score
Part II—Writing Section – 1 DBQ & 2 Essays (130 minutes:60 & 70)
50% of the final score. Of that, the DBQ counts for 45%(22.5% overall) and the 2 essays combined for 55%(27.5% overall).

5. How well do I need to do on the multiple choice section?
In order to score a 3 (or pass) on this section, you must have 48 points (60%).

6. Multiple Choice—BREAKDOWN BY ERA

7. BREAK DOWN BY GENERAL SUBJECT MATTER

8. EXPLANATION OF CHARTS A BIAS TOWARD THE CONSTITUTION THROUGH WWI
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES EMPHASIZED
LITTLE ABOUT ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL TRENDS
USUALLY, AT MOST FOUR OR FIVE QUESTIONS PAST 1975

9. NO MILITARY HISTORY AND TRIVIAL PURSUIT
THE APUSH EXAM DOESN’T ASK ABOUT MILITARY HISTORY
WHEN IT ASKS ABOUT WAR, THE QUESTIONS CONCERNS THE POLITICAL OR SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF A WAR RATHER THAN THE DETAILS OF WARFARE
APUSH QUESTIONS NEVER TEST ROTE MEMORIZATION ONLY. WHILE YOU HAVE TO KNOW YOUR FACTS TO DO WELL ON THIS TEST, THE QUESTIONS ALWAYS ASK FOR INFORMATION IN THE CONTEXT OF LARGER HISTORICAL TRENDS.

10. What about the DBQ?
An essay question that requires you to interpret primary source documents.
Documents might include the following:
Newspaper articles/editorials
Letters/diaries
Speeches
Legislation
Political cartoons
Charts and graphs

11. A Different DBQ
The US History DBQ is different than the World History DBQ.
For the US exam, you have to not only discuss the documents, but also include outside information to prove that you know more about the topic.
Without outside information, it is impossible to get more than a 4 out of 9 on your DBQ!

12. What Is the Free-Response Question?
Two part essay section
Pre – 1870 (one prior to 1740)
After – 1870 (one after 1950)
Two questions in each group – select one from each group
70 minutes to plan and write both essays

13. What Is the Free-Response Question? Continued
Yes and No
Multiple arguments
All outside information
Not as long or in-depth as DBQ
Defensible thesis
Information to support thesis
Evidence, Evidence, Evidence

14. Study, Study, Study! For review and other resources, go to my website:

15. Class Discussion
What is difficult about each of the following areas of the course? What can we do as a class to better get through them?
1. Reading and understanding the text
2. Taking effective notes
3. Doing well on multiple choice
4. Doing well on DBQs
5. Doing well on essays

16. Goals for the Year
Take 5 minutes to come up with three SPECIFIC goals about what you hope to accomplish in this course.
Your goal should not be as big as “to pass the exam,” but something more specific like “take more effective Cornell Notes during discussion,” or, “be sure I study my notes for at least twenty minutes a night.”