1. APUSH SKILLS Multiple Choice Tips

2. The Multiple Choice Portion O The APUSH Test contains 80 questions to be answered in 55 minutes O 50% of the overall test grade O Those students who have earned college credit through the test tend to answer 58-60 correct.

3. Thinking Skills O AP Questions connect events to broader concepts: O “What makes Margaret Fuller significant in American history?” NOT O “What journal did Margaret Fuller edit?”

4. Subtle Differences O Answer choices often have subtle differences O Use of definitive words: all, finally, never, etc. O Take especial care with these.

5. Subtle Differences II The Compromise of 1850 did which of the following? (a) Divided all land west of the Mississippi into territories and let the settlers decide whether to allow slavery (b) Abolished the slave trade in the District of Columbia (c) Created the Republic of Texas (d) Stopped states from counting three-fifths of their slave population when determining representation in Congress (e) Enabled Maine to join the Union as a free state

6. Negative Terms O The use of NOT and EXCEPT O Watch the choices involved O Be sure to read the question and choices CAREFULLY

7. TIPS TO REMEMBER O Read each question carefully, looking out for negative words such as Except, Not, and False. O Read all possible answers and cross out those you feel are incorrect; narrowing down your choices gives you the chance to make an educated guess. O Be cautious of words indicating absolutes, like most, least, all, and none. O Connect the specific information of the question to broader trends and themes. O In questions that provide you with evidence, assess the information carefully and eliminate answers that go beyond the bounds of the evidence given. O Make a habit of checking your answer sheet frequently throughout the testing time to ensure that you are filling in the correct ovals — especially if you skip questions or leave some to come back to later.

8. The most important revolutionary development in the critical election of 1800 was: A. The peaceful transition of power from one political party to its opponent. B. Jefferson’s radical proposals for overturning the existing political system. C. The electoral stalemate between Jefferson and his running mate, Aaron Burr. D. The nasty campaign smears against Jefferson and Adams E. The ending of the Federalist Party and their control of the government.

9. One Federalist policy that Jefferson quickly overturned was: A. Funding and Assumption B. The excise tax C. Jay’s Treaty D. The protective tariff E. The Bank of the United States.