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Advanced Placement (AP)

Studying for the AP US History course is an exercise in memorization and critical thinking. Multiple-choice questions ask you to read and analyze documents based on your historical knowledge. Essay questions require similar skills but with the added challenge of synthesizing your ideas into a coherent argument that incorporates both outside knowledge and evidence given to you.

In this comprehensive AP US History study guide, we will provide all the resources and strategies you need to prepare for the AP exam and any other test that comes your way in this course !

What's the Purpose of This AP US History Study Guide?

This guide will help you prepare for the AP US History test and other assessments you encounter throughout the school year in your AP US History class. It includes instructions for creating an effective study plan, a few helpful study tips, an overview of the content covered in the AP course, and a list of resources for practice questions.

This article is a one-stop-shop for all the information you need to master the AP US History curriculum.

Creating a Study Plan for AP US History: 5-Step Guide

You should start studying sooner rather than later for the AP US History exam because there's s o much information to remember. Ideally, you'll build on knowledge throughout the year and regularly review to avoid forgetting earlier parts of the course.

We recommend doing a holistic review after each in-class test that covers everything you've learned up to that point. You can then begin your final review for the AP test in March or April, which will give you an  entire month or two to spread out your studying.

Below are the steps we recommend following to prep for the AP US History test. The whole process should take you about 11 hours and 30 minutes .

Step 1: Take a Full-Length Practice Test

Time: 3 hours 15 minutes

The first step is to take a full, official AP US History practice test under realistic conditions. Time yourself in accordance with the actual test and write out both essays (DBQ and Long Essay) completely. Mark any multiple-choice questions you had to guess on—it's crucial to go over this information later even if you happen to guess correctly.

When you're done, score your practice test to see how well you would do on the real AP exam if you were to take it right now.

Depending on how much you're hoping to improve your AP US History test score, you might have to budget for more or less study time. If you're already scoring close to 5 (or a low 5), you might complete these steps once and find that you're satisfied with your results.

If you're scoring 2 or more points lower than you'd like, plan on going through this process several times.

Step 2: Catalog Your Mistakes and Guesses

Time: 1 hour

After you score your practice AP US History test, go through your mistakes and lucky guesses. Try to categorize the mistakes by content area so you can look for patterns and determine which parts of the course you need to study the most.

Once you've identified what you need to learn, move on to reviewing the actual content. Make a list in descending order of the topics that correspond to the highest number of missed multiple-choice questions and missed points on short-answer and free-response questions.

Step 3: Study Relevant Content Areas and Practice Multiple-Choice Questions

Time: 2 hours

Use the list you made in the previous step to guide your review of the AP US History content. Start with the areas for which you need a little refresher, and work your way up to the big issues you had on the diagnostic test .

When you're satisfied that you've fixed the gaps in knowledge that led to your errors, you should do some practice APUSH multiple-choice questions to make sure you really know your stuff (you can find them in review books or on one of the sites listed later in this article).

Step 4: Practice Planning and Writing Essays

You'll need to practice writing essays before taking the AP US History test so you feel comfortable with the time constraints and requirements. This is especially true for the Document-Based Question , which has a unique format.

After examining the problems with your essays from the original diagnostic test, practice your skills on additional free-response questions . For the sake of saving time, you don't necessarily need to write out entire essays, but you should at least make rough outlines that include all the components of a successful essay .

If you struggled a lot with time on your initial AP practice test, then we'd recommend going through another timed free-response section in full, so you can practice moving more quickly.

Step 5: Take a Second Full Practice Test

Once you've gotten more familiar with the APUSH material, take a second full AP practice test to assess your progress . If you find that you've improved to a satisfactory level, you might stop there and just do some light review until the exam.

If you're still not happy with your results, repeat this process , and make sure that you're really absorbing the material as you study.

3 Essential AP US History Study Tips

The following tips for AP US History will help you make the most of your time as you work your way through the process outlined above. The APUSH exam assesses your historical knowledge differently than other tests you might have taken in the past do. Make sure your study methods lend themselves to the format!

#1: Make Thematic Connections

The ultimate goal of AP US History is for you to be able to connect individual events to the main themes of the course and draw conclusions about historical trends based on your analysis.

As you study, don't just look at events in isolation— e xamine how they relate to other events of the time and how they might've resulted from different cultural and political attitudes . What were the outcomes of particular events, and how and why did they feed into other, larger trends?

Ask yourself to dig deeper. Doing so help you on both in-class assessments and the AP test.

Looking for help studying for your AP exam?

Our one-on-one online AP tutoring services can help you prepare for your AP exams. Get matched with a top tutor who got a high score on the exam you're studying for!

#2: Read and Repeat

When you read content notes for AP US History, you might think you have a fact committed to memory but forget it when it appears on a test. The best way to combat this is to pause every couple of minutes and try to remember the facts that you just reviewed without looking back at your notes ; you'll immediately know whether you're absorbing the information or not.

If you're having trouble remembering a particular fact, try to make a distinctive connection with something else that's easier to remember.

For example, say you were trying to remember which items were taxed by the Townshend Acts. (It was glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea.) You could think of the mnemonic GuLPP iT to remember them. It also makes sense because all the taxes were repealed except for the one on tea, which you can gulp!

Maybe this sounds super weird, but we often find that the weirder the method of remembering something is, the more likely it will stick in your mind .

#3: Practice Writing Essay Questions

The free-response section is the biggest challenge on the AP US History exam because you have to plan and write two coherent essays (one DBQ and one Long Essay) in less than two hours. It's imperative that you do lots of practice before the AP test to prevent your essays from being disorganized or lacking in focus. You can consult the College Board site for links to past AP US History free-response questions .

Make sure you always have a strong thesis statement and all the points in your essay relate directly back to it. Plan out your essay before you start writing to keep yourself on track.

You should also t ry to include relevant outside knowledge but only if it pertains directly to your argument and the question itself. Don't just spew out everything you know about the topic!

AP US History Course Content: Themes and Units

AP US History covers history in what is now the United States from 1491 to the present. There are eight main themes in the course separated into nine units, or time periods. For each of these themes, we'll go over the main historical topics associated with it.

Before that, though, here's a quick overview of the AP US History units and what percentage of the AP exam they each make up:

Source: 2019-20 AP US History Course and Exam Description

Theme 1: American and National Identity

Focuses on how and why definitions of American and national identity and values have developed among the diverse and changing population of North America as well as on related topics, such as citizenship, constitutionalism, foreign policy, assimilation, and American exceptionalism.

Theme 2: Work, Exchange, and Technology

Focuses on the factors behind the development of systems of economic exchange, particularly the role of technology, economic markets, and government.

Theme 3: Geography and the Environment

Focuses on the role of geography and both the natural and human-made environments in the social and political developments in what would become the United States.

Theme 4: Migration and Settlement

Focuses on why and how the various people who moved to and within the United States both adapted to and transformed their new social and physical environments.

Theme 5: Politics and Power

Focuses on how different social and political groups have influenced society and government in the United States and how political beliefs and institutions have changed over time.

Theme 6: America in the World

Focuses on the interactions between nations that affected North American history in the colonial period and on the influence of the United States on world affairs.

Theme 7: American and Regional Culture

Focuses on the how and why national, regional, and group cultures developed and changed as well as how culture has shaped government policy and the economy.

Theme 8: Social Structures

Focuses on how and why systems of social organization develop and change as well as the impact that these systems have on the broader society.

AP US History Content: Notes and Outlines

In this section, we'll give you notes on the AP US History course content so you can study the facts and connect them to the themes above.

The content is divided into nine units and historical periods. Under each time period, we'll list important topics with links to notes you can use. Every period also includes a link to at least one timeline of significant events. It's helpful to have these handy, so you get a better grasp of the chronology (which will be very helpful for free-response questions).

The timelines are from AP Study Notes , while the rest of the notes are from a different site called APnotes.net , which gives a more succinct overview of the content, with key dates and major events in bold. Overall, this resource is great for a quick review.

We recommend looking at the chapter outlines on AP Study Notes  to see a longer, more detailed description of historical trends and events in the United States.

Period 1: 1491-1607

• Timeline of Significant Events (1650 and earlier)
• "New World" beginnings
• Early English settlement

Period 2: 1607-1754

• Timeline of Significant Events (1650-1750)
• Settlement of the Northern colonies
• American life in the 17th century
• Colonial society leading up to the Revolution
• The fight for control of North America

Period 3: 1754-1800

• Timeline of Significant Events (1750-1775)
• The road to the American Revolution
• Timeline of Significant Events (1775-1800)
• Seceding from the British Empire
• The Confederation and the Constitution
• Starting up a new government

Period 4: 1800-1848

• Timeline of Significant Events (1800-1825)
• The Jeffersonian Republic
• Nationalism and the second war for independence
• Formation of a national economy
• Timeline of Significant Events (1825-1850)
• The rise of a mass democracy
• The ferment of reform and culture
• Controversy over slavery

Period 5: 1844-1877

• Timeline of Significant Events (1850-1875)
• Manifest destiny and its legacy
• The sectional struggle
• Leading up to the Civil War
• Civil War Part 1
• Civil War Part 2
• Reconstruction

Period 6: 1865-1898

• Timeline of Significant Events (1875-1900)
• Politics in the Gilded Age
• Industrial progress
• Development of cities
• Agricultural revolution and the West
• American imperialism

Period 7: 1890-1945

• Timeline of Significant Events (1900-1920)
• America on the world stage
• Progressivism and Theodore Roosevelt's presidency
• Wilsonian progressivism at home and abroad
• World War I
• Timeline of Significant Events (1920-1940)
• The Roaring Twenties
• Economic Boom and Bust
• The Great Depression and the New Deal
• FDR Presidency and the Road to WW2
• World War II

Period 8: 1945-1980

• Timeline of Significant Events (1940-1960)
• Start of the Cold War
• Eisenhower Era
• Timeline of Significant Events (1960-1970)
• Political and social unrest in the sixties
• Timeline of Significant Events (1970-1980)
• Stagnation in the seventies

Period 9: 1980-Present

• Timeline of Significant Events (1980-1990)
• Resurgence of Conservatism
• Clinton presidency and post-Cold War era
• Timeline of Significant Events (2000-Present)
• The start of the new century

Quick Reference Sheets

Here are some quick reference sheets you can use for further AP US History prep.

APUSH Teacher Creations

• Interactive timeline of major historical events in the US through 2015

CourseNotes

• Political parties in US History
• Important political documents in US History
• Important Supreme Court cases

Additional AP US History Resources to Test Your Knowledge

Here are some print and online resources you can use to review for the AP US History exam and smaller portions of the curriculum throughout the school year.

AP US History Review Books

Though not free, AP prep books can be excellent resources for your prep. Here are a few books we recommend getting your hands on :

• The Princeton Review's Cracking the AP US History Exam, 2022 Premium Edition
• Kaplan's AP US History Prep Plus 2020 & 2021
• REA's AP US History Crash Course for the 2020 Exam, 5th Edition

Read our full article on the best review books for APUSH for more details and advice!

Official College Board Materials

The following AP US History practice questions come directly from the College Board, so they're the most accurate representations of what you can expect on the actual test. Try to save these resources for later in your studying to get an accurate reading of your strengths and weaknesses when you're about to take the exam.

Note that older materials (pre-2019) are not aligned with the current exam format , so you will have to tweak your prep a bit to make them work.

• 2020 AP US History Course and Exam Description
• 2017 APUSH Practice Exam
• APUSH Free-Response Questions, 2015-2020 and 2021

Get more guidance on how to use official practice resources in our collection of APUSH practice tests .

Unofficial Practice Materials

Although College Board materials are the gold standard when it comes to APUSH prep, there are some good-quality unofficial resources you can make use of, too. Here are the best ones.

Quizlet Flashcards and Quizzes

These student-created sets of flashcards cover every single aspect of AP US History. You can study different sets depending on where you are in the course or which areas need the most improvement. After studying the terms, you can play games to review them and test your factual recall!

Historyteacher.net Mini Practice Quizzes

This site offers mini practice quizzes for every topic covered in the APUSH course . There are multiple-choice questions as well as "short-answer" questions (you get a drop-down menu of 12 answer choices). These won't help much with the more analytical elements of the test, but if you want to test your knowledge of facts, they'll serve you well.

Albert.io AP US History Practice Quizzes

Albert provides a series of quizzes on every topic in the current APUSH curriculum. As you go through them, the site gives you stats showing how you performed on questions of varying difficulty levels . This should help you figure out whether you've truly mastered the material.

Practice Quizzes for The American Pageant , 12th Edition

This helpful site contains chapter-by-chapter practice quizzes based on an old edition of The American Pageant APUSH textbook. Questions are multiple choice and true/false. This resource is more helpful for factual recall than for analysis questions.

CourseNotes AP US History Practice Quizzes

CourseNotes offers a total of six pages of multiple-choice quizzes on all the topics you need to know for the AP US History exam. Nice!

Varsity Tutors AP US History Practice Quizzes

A well-known test-prep company, Varsity Tutors has short multiple-choice practice quizzes on every APUSH topic as well.

Matching and Multiple-Choice Short Practice Quizzes

This website has sets of matching and multiple-choice questions for every period in US History.

They've got questions; YOU'VE got answers!

Wrap-Up: Making the Most of This AP US History Study Guide

AP US History covers eight major themes across nine time periods. It's hard to study this much material, which is why it's good to have a game plan!

To recap, the steps we recommend taking for your APUSH prep are:

#1: Take a full practice test #2: Catalog your mistakes #3: Study relevant content areas and practice multiple-choice questions #4: Practice planning and writing essays #5: Take a second full practice test

You can repeat these steps as necessary depending on how much you need to improve. As you review, also keep a few key tips in mind:

• Make thematic connections
• Read and repeat
• Practice writing essays frequently

Use the AP US History notes and resources provided above to get yourself up to speed. Also, make sure to start studying for the final exam at least one or two months before test day, so you're not going to be forced to cram for it!

What's Next?

Want more practice with Document-Based Questions? We've got an in-depth article on the best resources for DBQs that you can use in your studying.

Need even more APUSH study materials? Check out our complete list of free AP US History practice tests .

You can also check out our complete study guide to the New York US History Regents Exam . If you take it right after the AP US History exam, you might not need to study much at all!

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.

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The AP ® U.S. History exam, also known as APUSH, is a college-level exam administered every year in May upon the completion of an Advanced Placement U.S. History course taken at your high school. If you score high enough, you could earn college credit!

Check out our AP U.S. History Guide for the essential info you need about the exam:

• AP U.S. History Exam Overview
• AP U.S. History Sections & Question Types
• AP U.S. History Scoring
• How to Prepare

What's on the AP U.S. History Exam?

The College Board requires your AP teacher to cover certain topics in the AP U.S. History course. As you complete your APUSH review, make sure you are familiar with the following topics:

• Period 1 (1491–1607) : Native American Societies Before European Contact; European Exploration in the Americas; Columbian Exchange, Spanish Exploration, and Conquest; Labor, Slavery, and Caste in the Spanish Colonial System; Cultural Interactions Between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans
• Period 2 (1607–1754) : European Colonization; The Regions of British Colonies; Transatlantic Trade; Interactions Between American Indians and Europeans; Slavery in the British Colonies; Colonial Society and Culture
• Period 3 (1754–1800) : The Seven Years’ War (The French and Indian War); Taxation Without Representation; Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution; The American Revolution; The Influence of Revolutionary Ideals; The Articles of Confederation; The Constitutional Convention and Debates over Ratification; The Constitution; Shaping a New Republic; Developing an American Identity; Movement in the Early Republic
• Period 4 (1800–1848) : The Rise of Political Parties and the Era of Jefferson; Politics and Regional Interests; America on the World Stage; Market Revolution: Industrialization; Market Revolution: Society and Culture; Expanding Democracy; Jackson and Federal Power; The Development of an American Culture; The Second Great Awakening; An Age of Reform; African Americans in the Early Republic; The Society of the South in the Early Republic
• Period 5 (1844–1877) : Manifest Destiny; The Mexican–American War; The Compromise of 1850; Sectional Conflict: Regional Differences; Failure of Compromise; Election of 1860 and Secession; Military Conflict in the Civil War; Government Policies During the Civil War; Reconstruction; Failure of Reconstruction
• Period 6 (1865–1898) : Westward Expansion: Economic Development; Westward Expansion: Social and Cultural Development; The “New South”; Technological Innovation; The Rise of Industrial Capitalism; Labor in the Gilded Age; Immigration and Migration in the Gilded Age; Responses to Immigration in the Gilded Age; Development of the Middle Class; Reform in the Gilded Age; Controversies over the Role of Government in the Gilded Age; Politics in the Gilded Age
• Period 7 (1890–1945) : Imperialism: Debates; The Spanish–American War; The Progressives; World War I: Military and Diplomacy; World War I: Home Front; 1920s: Innovations in Communication and Technology; 1920s: Cultural and Political Controversies; The Great Depression; The New Deal; Interwar Foreign Policy; World War II: Mobilization; World War II: Military; Postwar Diplomacy
• Period 8 (1945–1980) : The Cold War from 1945 to 1980; The Red Scare; Economy after 1945; Culture after 1945; Early Steps in the Civil Rights Movement (1940s and 1950s); America as a World Power; The Vietnam War; The Great Society; The African American Civil Rights Movement (1960s); The Civil Rights Movement Expands; Youth Culture of the 1960s; The Environment and Natural Resources from 1968 to 1980; Society in Transition
• Period 9 (1980–Present): Reagan and Conservatism; The End of the Cold War; A Changing Economy; Migration and Immigration in the 1990s and 2000s; Challenges of the 21 st Century

Read More: Review for the exam with our AP U.S. History Crash Courses

Sections & Question Types

The APUSH exam takes 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete and is comprised of two sections: a multiple-choice/short answer section and a a free response section. There are two parts to each section.

APUSH Multiple Choice Questions

Questions are grouped into sets of three or four questions and based on a primary source, secondary source, or historical issue. Each set of questions is based on a different piece of source material. This section will test your ability to analyze and engage with the source materials while recalling what you already know about U.S. history.

APUSH Short Answer Questions

The three questions in this section will be tied to a primary source, historical argument, data or maps, or general propositions of U.S. history. Students are required to answer the first and second questions and then answer either the third or the fourth question. You are not required to develop and support a thesis statement, but you must describe examples of historical evidence relevant to the source or question.

APUSH Document-Based Question (DBQ)

The DBQ question requires you to answer a question based on seven primary source documents and your knowledge of the subject and time period. All the documents will pertain to a single subject. Students should develop an argument about the question and use the documents to support this argument.

APUSH Long Essay Question

For the long essay question, you’ll be given a choice of three essay options on the same theme, and you must choose one. You must develop and defend a relevant thesis, but there won’t be any documents on which you must base your response. Instead, you’ll need to draw upon your own knowledge of topics you learned in your AP U.S. History class.

For a comprehensive content review, check out our book,  AP U.S. History Prep

What’s a good AP U.S. History Score?

AP scores are reported from 1 to 5. Colleges are generally looking for a 4 or 5 on the AP U.S. History exam, but some may grant credit for a 3. Here’s how students scored on the May 2020 test:

Source: College Board

How can I prepare?

AP classes are great, but for many students they’re not enough! For a thorough review of AP U.S. History content and strategy, pick the  AP prep option  that works best for your goals and learning style. 

• AP Exams  

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AP® US History

Ap® us history faq: everything you need to know for 2024.

• The Albert Team
• Last Updated On: February 8, 2024

Read below for detailed answers to the most commonly-asked questions about the 2024 AP® US History exam!

What We Review

Is AP® US History easy? What can make it hard?

The AP® US History course is inherently more difficult than a regular US History course. The AP® courses are designed to teach at a college introductory level, and the AP® exams test your knowledge of college-level content. Within the realm of AP® exams, the AP® US History exam is more difficult than the majority of the AP® exams. Here’s why:

In 2023, 47.5% of students scored a 3 or above on the AP® US History exam, with a mean score of 2.54.

It is important to note the sample size when viewing statistics. The AP® US History exam has been the second most popular exam in the last three years, second only to AP® English Language. 

Approximately 470,000 students take the AP® US History exam every year. In 2023, 467,975 students took the APUSH exam .

Because of the accessible nature of the content, it is likely that some students who take AP® US History lack the academic experience necessary to do well or do not adequately prepare for the exam . This at least partially explains why the pass rate for the APUSH exam is typically lower than the average pass rate of all AP® exams.

So, while the passing percentage may appear low, it is possible that the percentage is skewed slightly due to a higher volume of unprepared test takers. 

In order to maximize your study time for the AP® US History exam, it is useful to know how the exam sections are weighted so that you can focus your attention on the areas that carry more weight than others. 

The AP® US History exam is fairly evenly weighted among all nine categories, but three of the nine categories carry a much lower weight than the others. These categories are:

• Unit 1: Period 1: 1491–1607 (4-6%)
• Unit 2: Period 2: 1607–1754 (6-8%)
• Unit 9: Period 9: 1980–Present (4-6%)

These units are only weighted at 4-8% of the exam, while the following 6 units are weighted at 10-17% of the exam:

• Unit 3: Period 3: 1754–1800
• Unit 4: Period 4: 1800–1848
• Unit 5: Period 5: 1844–1877
• Unit 6: Period 6: 1865–1898
• Unit 7: Period 7: 1890–1945
• Unit 8: Period 8: 1945–1980

When attempting a score of 3 or better of the AP® US History exam, it could be useful to know how many questions you need to answer correctly in each section to achieve that score. Our AP® US History score calculator (previewed below) shows that you must correctly answer 28 multiple-choice questions and at least half of the short answer and essay questions to achieve a passing score. 

Is AP® US History worth it?

The AP® US History exam is worth taking for various important reasons. First, AP® courses help build essential college skills, such as time management and study skills. AP® courses also help to build an academic confidence level for students going on to college. 

Second, taking AP® courses lets colleges know that you are taking your academics seriously and that you are familiar with and prepared for the rigors of college-level courses. According to College Board research , “ students who receive a score of 3 or higher on AP® Exams typically experience greater academic success in college and have higher graduation rates than their non-AP® peers.”

Perhaps the most important benefit of taking the AP® US History exam is the potential for college credit, which can translate into thousands of dollars in savings on your college tuition. By completing college credits in high school, you can avoid the need for additional semesters beyond four years and, in some cases, even graduate early.

Earning college credit can translate into significant savings on college tuition. The list below of several top colleges outlines the savings realized when using AP® US History for college credit.

The chart clearly outlines that there are significant savings to be gained by taking and passing the AP® exams. Add to this the educational benefits and it is clear that taking the AP® US History exam is worth your time and effort.

When is the 2024 AP® US History exam?

The 2024 AP® US History exam will take place on:

Fri, May 10, 2024, at 8am local time

Curious about when other AP® exams are happening in 202 4? View or download the complete AP® exam schedule here .

Is the 2024 AP® US History exam a digital test?

Schools can take the 2024 AP® US History exam as a traditional paper-and-pencil test or as an in-school digital exam on computers. More information on the digital option is available here .

You should check with your teacher and AP® Coordinator to know if you’ll take a paper-and-pencil or digital version.

Return to the Table of Contents

When do AP® US History scores typically come out?

According to the latest update from the College Board exam season timeline , students will receive their AP® scores in July 2024. Historically, the College Board typically releases AP® scores early in the month of July.

You’ll be able to access your AP® scores online with your College Board account username and password.

How is AP® US History scored? What’s the weighting of different questions?

The multiple-choice section of the AP® US History exam requires answering 55 questions in 55 minutes. The questions are typically grouped in subject sets of three to four. The questions require you to analyze historical texts and evidence using primary and secondary sources. All sources, maps, and graphs needed to answer the question are included. 

The AP® US History short answer section consists of three questions with a time limit of 40 minutes. This section actually consists of four total questions – the first two are required, and you can choose to answer either question 3 or question 4, for a total of three answered questions. 

The first two (required) questions cover the years 1754 to 1980. The optional questions cover 1491 to 1877, and 1865-2001 respectively. 

The single document-based question on the AP® US History exam allows a 15-minute reading period and then allows for an additional 45 minutes to answer the question. 

You must read 7 documents from a variety of historical perspectives. Based on your assessment of these documents, you must present and defend an argument that is supported by the provided documents. This question can cover any topic from the time period 1754-1980.

The last question on the AP® US History exam is the long essay question. You are allowed 40 minutes to answer this question. For this question, you can choose from three time periods. Option 1 is 1491-1800, Option 2 is 1800-1898, and Option 3 is 1890-2001. You should choose the option for which you feel most comfortable developing and defending an argument. 

It’s useful to know that the rubrics for the LEQ and DBQ have been slightly changed for the 2024 exam. The basic instructions remain the same, but the instructions for earning the evidence and complexity points have been simplified. The most noticeable changes are in the DBQ, where the number of documents that need to be used and the number of times POV has to be analyzed to earn full credit has been reduced. You can find the full rubrics in the College Board’s Course and Exam Description .

Pro tip : when answering the free-writing questions on the AP® US History exam, remember not to rely too heavily on quotations. Overusing quotations can signal to the exam reader that you are not confident in your understanding of historical content/context and lack the ability to adequately express that understanding. 

The units are weighted according to the chart below. If you want to know how this weighting translates to an actual score, try our free AP® US History score calculator . As you can see from the chart below, units 3-8 are weighted more heavily than the rest, so be sure to prepare well for those sections. 

The exam weighting breakdown for AP® US History is as follows:

What happens if you fail AP® US History?

If you fail or your score on the AP® US History exam is not high enough to receive college credit at the institution of your choice, it is important not to panic! 

You can retake the AP® US History exam as many times as you choose to achieve a higher score. The exam is given once a year in May. You will be required to pay the exam fee every time you take the exam.

The impact of failing the AP® US History exam on your high school GPA will actually be negligible. Most high schools base your course grade on your coursework and course exams. They don’t typically factor your AP® exam score into your course grade, so it shouldn’t affect your GPA

For college admissions, the impact of failing the AP® US History exam depends on the reason for taking the exam. If you are taking the exam for college credit, typically a score lower than a 3 (or a 4 for some schools) will disqualify you from receiving college credit for the course. 

Since the student is in control of where their AP® scores are sent, you can choose not to send a low score to the college of your choice. In addition, if you do send your AP® US History exam score to a college and then retake the exam and achieve a higher score, you can choose to cancel your lower score.

When do students typically take AP® US History? When is best?

Students typically take the AP® US History course later in their high school career.  

The AP® US History exam does not have any prerequisite requirements, however, many schools require at minimum successful completion of the school’s regular US History course. Many also require a grade of C or better on either AP® European History or AP® World History. For these reasons, most schools recommend waiting until your junior or senior year to take AP® US History. 

Waiting until 11th or 12th grade to take AP® US History means that you’re well-established in your high school career and more able to juggle the demands of more rigorous classes. This experience will allow you to handle this intensive survey course that covers the entirety of American history. 

Taking other AP® courses before AP® US History also allows you to have more exposure to the in-depth and informed responses required for the College Board’s short answer and essay questions before tackling them in the detail-heavy environment of AP® US History. 

Some students like to take more than one AP® class at a time. Many pair the reading and writing intensive AP® US History course with either an AP® language or AP® math course to balance the workload. 

In the end, the decision of when to take AP® US History will depend on your academic abilities and your workload. You should discuss the decision with your parents and your guidance counselor to settle on the perfect time to take AP® US History. 

Where can I find past AP® US History exams?

The College Board has made past AP® US History exam questions available on their AP® Central website . 

In addition, the College Board has made practice tests available for the past several years. Using these practice tests allows you to gain familiarity with the level of depth of the questions and the types of responses that have been successful in the past. 

Practice tests for the AP® US History exam for the most recent exam years can be found below:

• 2023 AP® US History Free-Response Questions
• 2022 AP® US History Free-Response Questions
• 2021 AP® US History Free-Response Questions
• 2019 AP® US History Free-Response Questions
• 2018 AP® US History Free-Response Questions
• 2017 AP® US History Free-Response Questions
• 2016 AP® US History Free-Response Questions
• 2015 AP® US History Free-Response Questions

You can find some examples of the multiple choice questions from the AP® US History Course and Exam Description . There are only 17 questions in the guide, so this will not mimic the actual test in length and may omit some important learning objectives. 

If you would like additional practice on the multiple choice portion of the exam, Albert provides thousands of practice questions that are aligned with the actual units covered by the AP® US History exam. 

There is quite a bit more useful information on the AP® Central website that you should review if you want to maximize your score on the AP® US History exam. This includes:

• AP® US History Scoring Guidelines 2023 / 2022 / 2019 / 2018 / 2017 / 2016
• AP® US History Chief Reader Reports 2023 / 2022 / 2019 / 2018 / 2017 / 2016
• AP® US History Scoring Reports 2023 / 2022 / 2019 / 2018 / 2017 / 2016

The scoring guidelines are useful to review because they outline how points are allocated or withheld on the short answer questions. 

Unlike multiple choice, the short answer questions can be more subjective to judge. The scoring guidelines provide examples of answers that would be awarded full or partial credit. This information can be invaluable to students trying to milk every point out of the AP® US History test.

In the Chief Reader Reports, the Chief Reader for each year shares insights on each short answer and essay question. The reports outlines the expectations for each question and the elements that were present in successful responses. The report also provides information on where students missed the mark on the question. 

According to the 2019 Chief Reader Report for AP® US History, one common mistake that students made was relying too heavily on quotations. To the reader this signaled an inability to show comprehension by expressing the ideas from the excerpts in their own words. From this report data, you can learn not to rely on quotations and to restate concepts to demonstrate a higher level of understanding.  

Another useful tool is the AP® US History Scoring Report. This report lets you see at a glance which questions students struggled with and which ones they were successful in answering. For example, question #3 on the 2019 exam had the lowest mean score of 1.34 points (out of a possible 3).

Correctly answering this question required an understanding of the economics of different colonial groupings from 1607 to 1754. According to the Chief Reader Report, students who missed this question often failed to correctly identify the geography of the colonies or discussed factors that occurred outside the specified time frame. 

After reviewing the Scoring Guidelines, the Chief Reader Reports and the Scoring Reports, you can also review the sample responses. For example, the sample response for question #3 provides three actual student responses to the question: one that received full credit, one that received two points, and one that received one point. 

If you’re looking for powerful practice with AP® US History FRQs,  Albert has practice questions for each type of FRQ  along with examples of responses that would earn full points. Albert even provides a detailed explanation of how the sample response earned each point in the rubric!

AP® Central provides a lot of information on the short answer and essay questions, but it is important to remember that 40% of the exam score comes from the multiple choice section. Albert provides thousands of AP-aligned practice questions for the AP® US History exam, along with detailed explanations for each question. 

You can learn more about Albert here    

Who should take AP® US History? What sort of students may like it more than others?

The decision to take AP® US History depends on your academic interests and goals after graduation. If you have enjoyed history courses in the past and are interested in learning more about the events and cultures that went into founding the United States, AP® US History could be a good choice for you. You can read more detail in the course overview . 

You are not required to take AP® US History to graduate, so if history and analytical writing are not strengths for you, it might be better to choose a different AP® course. It really does depend on your interests and academic strengths. 

If college is your goal, taking AP® US History looks good on your transcript and can boost your overall GPA. AP® courses carry more weight than the average high school class, or even honors classes, since they are considered college-level. The combination of AP® classes on your transcript, a higher weighted GPA and a higher class rank can make the difference when applying to colleges with more competitive admissions.

If you are considering taking AP® US History to get a perfect score, you’ll want to be aware of the difficulty level and the percentage of 5s awarded for this exam. Approximately 10-11% of students who take the AP® US History exam typically score a 5 on the exam. 

This is comparable to several of the other AP® History exams. The AP® US Government exam awarded 12.9% of students a perfect score in 2019, and AP® European History awarded a 5 to 11.7% of students. AP® World History had the lowest percentage, with only 8.7% of students being awarded a perfect score. 

No matter which AP® courses you choose, achieving a perfect score will always be difficult, so you should choose AP® courses based on your interests and academic strengths. You should decide after weighing advice from your parents and guidance counselor, but the ultimate decision should be yours. 

How do students typically score on AP® US History? What’s the score distribution?

How students usually score on the AP® US History exam depends on a variety of factors. First, it is important to note that the AP® US History exam is the second most popular AP® exam, so the trends over the past three years are based on an extremely large sample size. The larger sample size increases the reliability of the data.

Over the last three years, the scoring trends for the AP® US History exam are as follows:

Over the last few years, the percentage of students who achieved a passing score has remained mostly stable, with about 50% of students passing the exam with a score of 3 or higher.

For 2023, the mean score on the AP® US History exam was 2.54, which was based on 467,975 total test takers .

Need help preparing for your AP® US History exam?

Albert has thousands of AP® US History practice multiple-choice questions, free-response questions, and full-length practice tests to try out.

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2024 APUSH Exam Guide

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Your Guide to the 2024 AP US History Exam

We know that studying for your AP exams can be stressful, but Fiveable has your back! We created a study plan to help you crush your AP US History exam. This guide will continue to update with information about the 2024 exams, as well as helpful resources to help you do your best on test day.  Unlock Cram Mode  for access to our cram events—students who have successfully passed their AP exams will answer your questions and guide your last-minute studying LIVE! And don't miss out on unlimited access to our database of thousands of practice questions. FYI, something cool is coming your way Fall 2023! 👀

Format of the 2024 AP US History Exam

Going into test day, this is the exam format to expect:

Multiple Choice Section - 40% of your score

55 questions in 55 minutes

Short Answer Section - 20% of your score

3 questions in 40 minutes

Free-Response Section - 40% of your score

2 questions in 1 hour and 40 minutes

Document-Based Question | 1 hour | 25% of your score

Long Essay | 40 minutes | 15% of your score

Scoring Rubric for the 2024 AP US History exam

📖 DBQ, LEQ, & SAQ Rubrics Points Explained

Check out our study plan below to find resources and tools to prepare for your AP US History exam.

When is the 2024 AP US History Exam and How Do I Take It?

You will have 3 hours and 15 minutes to take the exam.

How Should I Prepare for the APUSH Exam?

First, download the AP United States History Cheatsheet PDF - a single sheet that covers everything you need to know at a high level. Take note of your strengths and weaknesses! 

We've put together the study plan found below to help you study between now and May. This will cover all of the units and essay types to prepare you for your exam. Pay special attention to the units that you need the most improvement in.

Study, practice, and review for test day with other students during our live cram sessions via  Cram Mode . Cram live streams will teach, review, and practice important topics from AP courses, college admission tests, and college admission topics. These streams are hosted by experienced students who know what you need to succeed.

Pre-Work: Set Up Your Study Environment

Before you begin studying, take some time to get organized.

🖥 Create a study space.

Make sure you have a designated place at home to study. Somewhere you can keep all of your materials, where you can focus on learning, and where you are comfortable. Spend some time prepping the space with everything you need and you can even let others in the family know that this is your study space. 

📚 Organize your study materials.

Get your notebook, textbook, prep books, or whatever other physical materials you have. Also, create a space for you to keep track of review. Start a new section in your notebook to take notes or start a Google Doc to keep track of your notes. Get yourself set up!

📅 Plan designated times for studying.

The hardest part about studying from home is sticking to a routine. Decide on one hour every day that you can dedicate to studying. This can be any time of the day, whatever works best for you. Set a timer on your phone for that time and really try to stick to it. The routine will help you stay on track.

🏆 Decide on an accountability plan.

How will you hold yourself accountable to this study plan? You may or may not have a teacher or rules set up to help you stay on track, so you need to set some for yourself. First, set your goal. This could be studying for x number of hours or getting through a unit. Then, create a reward for yourself. If you reach your goal, then x. This will help stay focused!

🤝 Get support from your peers.  

There are thousands of students all over the world who are preparing for their AP exams just like you! Join  Rooms  🤝 to chat, ask questions, and meet other students who are also studying for the spring exams. You can even build study groups and review material together! 

AP US History 2024 Study Plan

🌽 unit 1: period 1, 1491-1607, big takeaways:.

Unit 1 introduces the Americas as a place of interaction. It first discusses the diversity of Native Americans prior to contact with Europeans (symbolized by 1491, the year before Columbus). Then, the unit pivots into interactions between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans as well as between rival European powers. It ends in 1607 with the founding of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America. 

Definitely do this:

📚 Read these study guides:

1.0 Overview of Unit 1

1.1 European Encounters in the Americas

1.2 Native American Societies Before European Contact

1.3 European Exploration in the Americas

1.4 Columbian Exchange, Spanish Exploration, and Conquest

1.5 Labor, Slavery, and Caste in the Spanish Colonial System

1.6 Cultural Interactions Between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans

1.7 Causation in Period 1

🎥 Watch these videos:

Unit 1 Full Review: A full review of the main concepts, plus practice questions

• Interactions Between Native Americans and Europeans : A deeper dive into interactions during Period 1

📰 Check out these Fiveable study guides:

Native American Societies Before European Contact

• Cultural Interactions Between Europeans, Native Americans, & Africans  
• Labor, Slavery, and Caste in the Spanish Colonial System
• Columbian Exchange, Spanish Exploration, & Spanish Conquest

If you have more time or want to dig deeper:

📰 Check out these articles: 

How the Humble Potato Changed the World (BBC)

The Columbian Exchange Should Be Called the Columbian Extraction (JSTOR)

The Americas to 1620 (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)

🦃 Unit 2: Period 2, 1607-1754

Unit 2 dives more into the European colonization of the Americas. This involves comparing European countries to each other and then mostly focusing on the English who settled much of what would later become the United States of America. The rise of African slavery and continued interactions and conflict with Native Americans also plays an important role. 

2.0 Overview of Unit 2

2.1 Contextualizing Period 2

2.2 European Colonization

2.3 The Regions of British Colonies

2.4 Transatlantic Trade

2.5 Interactions Between American Indians and Europeans

2.6 Slavery in the British Colonies

2.7 Colonial Society and Culture

2.8 Comparison in Period 2

Unit 2 Full Review : A full review of the main concepts

• Colony Comparison : A deeper dive into the different British North American colonies during unit 2
• The Impact of African Slavery on the Colonies : A deeper dive into coercive labor systems in unit 2

Period 2 Interactions Between Europeans and Native Americans 

• Transatlantic Trade  
• Colonial Society & Culture

📰 Check out these articles:

Jamestown and the Founding of English America (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)

The Puritans and Dissent: The Cases of Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)

The Origins of Slavery (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)

🇺🇸 Unit 3: Period 3, 1754-1800

Unit 3 sees the creation of the United States as a country out of thirteen British North American colonies. The unit then covers the early Republic, focusing on the creation of the Constitution, the first federal government, and the administrations of Washington & Adams.

3.0 Overview of Unit 3

3.1 Contextualizing Period 3

3.2 The Seven Years’ War (The French and Indian War)

3.3 Taxation Without Representation

3.4 Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution

3.5 The American Revolution

3.6 The Influence of Revolutionary Ideals

3.7 The Articles of Confederation

3.8 The Constitutional Convention and Debates over Ratification

3.9 The Constitution

3.10 Shaping a New Republic

3.11 Developing an American Identity

3.12 Movement in the Early Republic

3.13 Continuity and Change in Period 3

Unit 3 Full Review: A full review of the main concepts

• Key Documents and Foundations of the American Revolution : Review the American revolution and practice your HIPP analysis for the DBQ
• Historical Thinking Skills in Period 3 : Review using the skills the exam tests
• The American Revolution

Unit 3 Overview: Contextualization 

• Continuity and Change in Period 3  
• The American Revolution  
• The Influence of Revolutionary Ideals

The American Revolution, 1763–1783 (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)

The New Nation, 1783–1815 (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)

The Legal Status of Women, 1776–1830 (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)

Unruly Americans in the Revolution (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)

Developing an American Identity (Fiveable Study Guide)

🚂 Unit 4: Period 4, 1800-1848

Unit 4 is when the United States begins to grow into its own identity as a country. It includes massive expansions of democracy through Jefferson & Jackson, the economic and social upheaval of the Market Revolution and Second Great Awakening, and also sees continued migration westward.

4.0 Overview of Unit 4

4.1 Contextualizing Period 4

4.2 The Rise of Political Parties and the Era of Jefferson

4.3 Politics and Regional Interests

4.4 America on the World Stage

4.5 Market Revolution: Industrialization

4.6 Market Revolution: Society and Culture

4.7 Expanding Democracy

4.8 Jackson and Federal Power

4.9 The Development of an American Culture

4.10 The Second Great Awakening

4.11 An Age of Reform

4.12 African Americans in the Early Republic

4.13 The Society of the South in the Early Republic

4.14 Causation in Period 4

Putting Period 4 in Context

• The Rise of Political Parties
• The Market Revolution
• The First & Second Great Awakenings & Antebellum Reform Movements
• Manifest Destiny and Its Impacts

Unit 4 Overview: Contextualization  

• Expansion of Democracy  
• America on the World Stage in Period 4
• The Age of Reform

The South in the Early Republic (Fiveable Study Guide)

Context: Development of the Republic (Fiveable Study Guide)

National Expansion and Reform, 1815–1860 (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)

The First Age of Reform (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)

Abolition and Antebellum Reform (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)

The Seneca Falls Convention (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)

Causation in Period 4 (Fiveable Study Guide)

💣 Unit 5: Period 5, 1844-1877

Unit 5 is all about the Civil War: the road to the Civil War, the war itself, and its aftermath called Reconstruction. Westward expansion and migration/immigration continue to be a big deal during this time period, and conflicts over slavery and rights for African Americans dominate the political discussions. 

5.0 Overview of Unit 5

5.1 Contextualizing Period 5

5.2 Manifest Destiny

5.3 The Mexican–American War

5.4 The Compromise of 1850

5.5 Sectional Conflict: Regional Differences

5.6 Failure of Compromise

5.7 Election of 1860 and Secession

5.8 Military Conflict in the Civil War

5.9 Government Policies During the Civil War

5.10 Reconstruction

5.11 Failure of Reconstruction

5.12 Comparison in Period 5, 1844-1877

Period 5 Review : A complete review of all the major concepts

• Putting Period 5 in Context
• The Election of 1860

Government Policies During the Civil War 

• Sectional Conflict: Regional Differences  
• The Compromise of 1850  
• The Failure of Compromise  
• Reconstruction

Context: Sectional Conflict (Fiveable Study Guide)

• The 1860 Election & Secession (Fiveable Study Guide)
• Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1877 (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The Contentious Election of 1876 (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• Government Policies During the Civil War (Fiveable Study Guide)

💰 Unit 6: Period 6, 1865-1898

Unit 6 overlaps with Period 5, but it begins after the Civil War and is not as focused on Reconstruction. Its main focus is the Second Industrial Revolution, sometimes called the Gilded Age in the United States, and on the Western United States.

6.0 Overview of Unit 6

6.1 Contextualizing Period 6

6.2 Westward Expansion: Economic Development

6.3 Westward Expansion: Social and Cultural Development

6.4 The “New South”

6.5 Technological Innovation

6.6 The Rise of Industrial Capitalism

6.7 Labor in the Gilded Age

6.8 Immigration and Migration in the Gilded Age

6.9 Responses to Immigration in the Gilded Age

6.10 Development of the Middle Class

6.11 Reform in the Gilded Age

6.12 Controversies over the Role of Government in the Gilded Age

6.13 Politics in the Gilded Age

6.14 Continuity and Change in Period 6

Review of Period 6 : A complete review of all the major concepts

• The Rise of Industrialization & City Life during the Gilded Age

The Rise of Industrial Capitalism 

• Immigration & Migration  
• Labor in the Gilded Age
• Westward Expansion: Social & Cultural Developments

Responses to Immigration (Fiveable Study Guide)

• The Rise of Industrial America, 1877-1900 (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The Gilded Age (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• Immigration & Migration (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• Born Modern: An Overview of the West (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• Politics in the Gilded Age (Fiveable Study Guide)

🌎 Unit 7: Period 7, 1890-1945

Unit 7 is a massive unit, so you need to keep an eye on both domestic and foreign policy. Foreign policy becomes a big deal thanks to US involvement in several wars, including the two World Wars. Domestically, the Progressive Era tries to tackle the problems of the Gilded Age, plus there is the massive up and down of the “Roaring” 1920s and then the Great Depression and New Deal of the 1930s. 

7.0 Overview of Unit 7

7.1 Contextualizing Period 7

7.2 Imperialism: Debates

7.3 The Spanish-American War

7.4 The Progressives

7.5 World War I: Military and Diplomacy

7.6 World War I: The Home Front

7.7 1920s: Innovations in Communication and Technology

7.8 1920s: Cultural and Political Controversies

7.9 The Great Depression

7.10 The New Deal

7.11 Interwar Foreign Policy

7.12 World War II: Mobilization

7.13 World War II: Military

7.14 Postwar Diplomacy

7.15 Comparison in Period 7

USA’s Shift Toward Empire Building

• Early 20th Century Progressive Era & World War One
• 1920s & 1930s: An Overview
• The Great Depression & New Deal

Unit 7 Overview & Context 

• 1920s Cultural & Political Controversies 
• The Great Depression 
• World War Two: Military

Context: America in the World (Fiveable Study Guide)

• 1920s Innovations (Fiveable Study Guide)
• Postwar Diplomacy (Fiveable Study Guide)
• The Politics of Reform: An Overview of the Progressives (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• World War I (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The Roaring Twenties (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The Great Depression (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The New Deal (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• World War II (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The World War II Homefront (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• Interwar Foreign Policy (Fiveable Study Guide)

🥶 UNIT 8: Period 8, 1945-1980

Unit 8 focuses on the effects of the World Wars, including the Cold War and the Red Scare. This unit also dives into the social movements that happened at this time, namely the Civil Rights Movement, and addresses how this was a period of social transition within the United States, changing the course of future generations. 

8.0 Overview of Unit 8

8.1 Contextualizing Period 8

8.2 The Cold War from 1945 to 1980

8.3 The Red Scare

8.4 The Economy After 1945

8.5 Culture After 1945

8.6 Early Steps in the Civil Rights Movement (1940s and 1950s)

8.7 America as a World Power

8.8 The Vietnam War

8.9 The Great Society

8.10 The African American Civil Rights Movement (1960s)

8.11 The Civil Rights Movement Expands

8.12 Youth Culture in the 1960s

8.13 The Environment and Natural Resources from 1968 to 1980

8.14 Society in Transition

8.15 Continuity and Change in Period 8

Period 8 & 9 Complete Review

• The Cold War  
• Review of Major Events in the 1960s
• Review of Major Events in the 1970s
• Introduction to the Civil Rights Movement
• More details about the Civil Rights Movement
• The Vietnam War

Period 8 Review

• The Red Scare 
• Culture and Economy After 1945 
• The Civil Rights Movement  
• Environment and Natural Resources  
• The Transition of Society  
• The Great Society  

Contextualizing Period 8 (Fiveable Study Guide)

• The Civil Rights Movement (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The Korean War (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The Vietnam War (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• Anti-Communism & the Red Scare (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• Continuity & Change of Period 8 (Fiveable Study Guide)

📲 UNIT 9: Period 9, 1980-Present

Unit 9 is the final unit of AP US History, and it covers Reagan and the rise of conservative politics, the end of the Cold War in 1991, as well as the changes in the economy, society, and emigration and migration throughout this period. This unit also contextualizes the challenges faced in the modern-day due to the growth of technology and other aspects of the 21st century.

9.0 Overview of Unit 9

9.1 Contextualizing Period 9

9.2 Reagan and Conservatism

9.3 The End of the Cold War

9.4 A Changing Economy

9.5 Migration and Immigration in the 1990s and 2000s

9.6 Challenges of the 21st Century

9.7 Causation in Period 9

Period 9 Review  

The Changing Economy

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2023-2024 Common App essay prompts

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We are pleased to announce that the Common App essay prompts will remain the same for 2023-2024.

It’s not just for the sake of consistency that we have chosen to keep the essay prompts the same for the upcoming application year. Our past research has shown that overall satisfaction with the prompts exceeded 95% across our constituent groups - students, counselors, advisors, teachers, and member colleges. Moving forward, we want to learn more about who is choosing certain prompts to see if there are any noteworthy differences among student populations.

We know some schools are beginning to have conversations with juniors and transfer students about their college options. As we’ve always said, this is not a call for students to begin writing. We hope that by sharing the prompts now, students will have the time they need to reflect on their own personal stories and begin thinking about what they want to share with colleges. As you assist students with their planning, feel free to share our Common App Ready resource on approaching the essay (in English and Spanish ). You can also visit our YouTube channel to view our breakdown of all 7 Common App essay prompts . 

"Moving forward, we want to learn more about who is choosing certain prompts to see if there are any noteworthy differences among student populations." Meredith Lombardi, Director, Education and Training, Common App

Students who are ready to start exploring the application can create their Common App account prior to August 1. With account rollover , we will retain any responses to questions on the Common App tab, including the personal essay.

Below is the full set of essay prompts for 2023-2024.

• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

We will retain the optional community disruption question within the Writing section. 

News and updates

Washington State University applications surge with help from Common App

Common App announces 2024–2025 Common App essay prompts

New research: First-generation definitions and their implications

AP US History (APUSH) Score Calculator – 2024

November 14, 2023

Thinking about how you’ll score on the APUSH exam? There are many AP US History score calculators that can be confusing to navigate. Through our own APUSH Score Calculator, you’ll be able to calculate ahead of time just how well you’ll do. You may already know how challenging APUSH can be as a subject. So this fun fact probably isn’t a surprise: APUSH is listed not as one of the easiest AP classes but as one of the hardest AP classes .

With our APUSH Score Calculator and the right preparation, you’ll be sure to set yourself up for success. Often students will want to know how they will score on the APUSH exam before they’ve even done it. We can’t recommend it enough to practice as much as you can. Our APUSH Score Calculator is an excellent motivational tool for you to improve your study habits before the exam. By using the APUSH Score Calculator, see which APUSH areas you can spend more time studying. It’s an efficient way to get ready for a 3, 4 or 5 on the APUSH exam, which are all good scores.

AP US History (APUSH) Score Calculator

Enter scores, total composite score:, predicted ap ® score:.

Looking for extra help? Consider signing up for Edison Prep’s amazing in-person or virtual APUSH bootcamp . These run on 4/20/24 and 4/21/24.

If you haven’t begun doing so, familiarize yourself with the layout of the APUSH exam. This will only help you by the time the exam date rolls around. Early preparation is the key here. Knowing what type of questions and writing sections ahead of time will only help you in the long run. The AP US History score calculator can help you with just that.

But what does it exactly entail? What can you expect? The APUSH exam lasts for 3 hours and 15 minutes, and is divided into two sections. The first section lasts for 95 minutes and consists of 55 multiple-choice questions and 3 short answer questions. The second section lasts for 100 minutes and includes 1 document-based question (DBQ) and 1 long essay question. It’s absolutely important to be informed about these specific questions and know what to expect.

When reviewing the APUSH exam, you will see that the longest part of the APUSH exam is the APUSH DBQ. The APUSH DBQ lasts for 60 minutes, including a 15-minute reading section, and it makes up 25% of the exam. So it’s no wonder that many students can get intimidated by the APUSH DBQ. However, it often comes down to really understanding what types of questions and materials you’ll be reviewing on the big day.

When you’re about to answer the APUSH DBQ during the APUSH exam, you’ll come across seven documents that describe different views of a historical event or development. These documents will come in visual, numerical or written form. They are there for you to use as evidence to your written argument. You’ll be asked to demonstrate the depth of your knowledge of the prompt’s subject and the time period in question. The time periods can range from any historical event or development from 1491 until present day. Be sure to write a well-supported, thoroughly analytical and argumentative response in your written response. Having a strong grasp of historical developments and the surrounding relevant events will only help elevate your APUSH DBQ. You might see that this is one area you need to improve on, which an AP US History score calculator can show you.

APUSH Score Calculator/AP US History Score Calculator 

Some examples of the APUSH DBQ are:

• – Evaluate the extent to which commercial development changed United States society from 1800 to 1855.
• – Evaluate the extent to which the definitions of United States citizenship changed from 1865 to 1920.
• – Evaluate the extent of change in United States political parties in the period 1791 to 1833.
• – Evaluate the extent to which economic growth led to changes in United States society in the period from 1940 to 1970.

See those words “evaluate the extent”? The more strongly you can support your answer, the better. Oftentimes this is the section that students can struggle with the most. Once you use our APUSH Score Calculator, take a look at any rooms for improvement here.

APUSH DBQ Rubric

According to the APUSH DBQ rubric , the highest score you can get is 7 points. The following is how the APUSH DBQ rubric is determined:

Thesis/Claim – 1 point

The thesis/claim is usually one or two sentences, either in the introduction or conclusion. You must answer the prompt with a thesis/claim that is historically supported and relays your perspective on the topic. It is important here to make sure to answer the prompt fully, rather than reiterating and rewording the prompt. The exam reviewers will want to see a clear, thoroughly supported answer.

Contextualization – 1 point

With contextualization, you want to be able to write about the larger historical context that relates to the prompt. Think about what other historical factors are at play here. Focus on how the wider historical events taking place at the time of the prompt affected the subject you are addressing. But make sure not to focus too much on any events that don’t directly support your stance and have you veer off track.

Evidence – 3 points

How you analyze and use the evidence depends on how far you can go with them. You can score 1 or 2 points through the way you use the evidence from the documents. This corresponds to whether you used at least three or four documents to answer the prompt. To earn 1 point here, you’ll need to specifically describe the evidence you are using, instead of just quoting it or restating what the reviewer can see. Then to earn 2 points, you’ll need to do the same, but also carefully explain the evidence in four documents. The more you can provide a fuller picture using the evidence at hand, the better chance you have of attaining a higher score.

To then score 1 more point, be sure to provide evidence that goes beyond the documents. This means if you use at least one form of evidence, not already in any of the documents provided, to support your argument. Be as detailed as you can when mentioning this piece of evidence because you’re referring to something the reviewers won’t be able to refer to in the documents. The 1 point here will only be granted if the evidence differs from what you provided in the contextualization part, mentioned above. Just remember, don’t repeat any points you’ve already made. Think, what else could I mention that I haven’t done yet?

Analysis and Reasoning – 2 points

This part of the APUSH DBQ rubric is divided into 2 points because the first point will be given if you write about two documents. For each document you choose, you’ll then need to write out exactly how or why it answers the prompt in question. Consider if there is a specific point of view, historical outlook, or intended audience for the documents.

You can get the other point if you show a thorough, complex understanding of the historical development relevant to the prompt. The APUSH DBQ reviewers will be looking for an intelligent, sophisticated answer that shows how well you understand the question. Think of ways to explain multiple points of view, various similarities, or differences that can strongly support your argument. You can also analyze four or all seven documents in your response to the prompt. The ultimate key here is to write with well-informed nuance and acute awareness to help demonstrate your level of understanding.

Keep in mind: It’s important to not just write one or two sentences here, but to create a strongly supported, reasonable argument.

What is the average APUSH score?

Many students think about how many APs they should take and what the average scores for AP exams are, in order to gauge how well they’ll do. Though the average often changes every year, there is most times an even distribution for each subject. Often, as a result, you’ll end up noticing a trend in how students perform when looking at a timespan of several years. Referring to the APUSH score distributions, the average APUSH score was 2.83 in 2020, 2.71 in 2019, 2.66 in 2018, 2.65 in 2017, 2.70 in 2016, 2.64 in 2015. From the data gathered over those six years, the average APUSH score is around 2.70.

How can knowing this help you in your APUSH exam? Instead of viewing this data as a daunting block, it’s another reminder to help inform how exactly you’ll need to approach your exam preparation. By using our APUSH score calculator, you can continue practicing to ensure that you’re on top of it before the big exam day. The more you use our APUSH Score Calculator, you’ll have a stronger grasp on how you’ll fare on the APUSH exam, compared to the average APUSH score.

And in case you’re wondering when to expect the APUSH exam results, this year’s AP scores came out on July 5, 2023. AP scores are usually published in July, but as the exact date can sometimes change, it’s best to always keep yourself updated.

Overall, here are some statistics on how students did for the APUSH score in 2023:

• 11% of students received a 5
• 15% of students received a 4
• 22% of students received a 3
• 23% of students received a 2
• 29% of students received a 1

Knowing all this, it’ll be helpful to be aware of how to realistically prepare for the APUSH exam and interpret the average APUSH score.

How to get a 5 on APUSH

It’s a question that many students ask themselves. How can I get a 5 on APUSH? What can I do to increase my chances of getting a 5? As most of us would love to get that score, the data above shows that it’s evidently harder to achieve. There’s sadly no clear-cut answer as to how you can score a 5, but through constant practice and well-informed preparation, like using our APUSH Score Calculator, it’s still very possible.

It will be incredibly rewarding for you to get a head start. Start practicing how to reason well, form a strong, sophisticated argument with relevant historical evidence, and gather information with differing points of view to support your written answer.

One thing to understand is that achieving a 3, 4, or 5 are all good scores. There are a plethora of colleges and universities that will offer you college credit if you get a 3, 4 or 5, which you can find more about through the AP credit policy .

Joanna Hong

With a BA from Pitzer College and an MA from University College London, Joanna has worked in London, Berlin, and Los Angeles covering many cultural and political issues with organizations such as Byline Media, NK News, and Free Turkey Media. A freelancer for The New York Times, her work has also appeared in Newsweek, Dazed and Confused Magazine, and The Guardian, among others. In addition, Joanna was the recipient of the 2021 PEN America Emerging Voices Fellowship in Fiction and is currently completing her first novel.

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What to Know About Biden’s New Student Debt Relief Plan

The proposal would affect nearly 30 million people and would target groups that have had hardships in repaying their loans.

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Biden Announces New Plan for Student Debt Relief

President biden announced a large-scale effort to help pay off federal student loans for more than 20 million borrowers..

Today, I’m proud to announce five major actions to continue to relieve student debt for more than 30 million Americans since I started my administration. And starting this fall, we plan to deliver up to $20,000 in interest relief to over 20 million borrowers and full forgiveness for millions more. [applause] I will never stop to deliver student debt relief and hardworking Americans. And it’s only in the interest of America that we do it. And again, it’s for the good of our economy that’s growing stronger and stronger, and it is, by freeing millions of Americans from this crushing debt of student debt. It means they can finally get on with their lives instead of being put — their lives being put on hold.

By Erica L. Green

Reporting from Washington

President Biden released details on Monday of his new student loan debt forgiveness plan for nearly 30 million borrowers.

The proposal still needs to be finalized and will have to withstand expected legal challenges, like the ones that doomed Mr. Biden’s first attempt to wipe out student debt on a large scale last year.

Biden administration officials said they could begin handing out some of the debt relief — including the canceling of up to $20,000 in interest — as soon as this fall if the new effort moves forward after the required, monthslong comment period.

Here’s what is known so far about the program:

Who would benefit from the new plan?

The plan would reduce payments for 25 million borrowers and erase all debt for more than four million Americans. Altogether, 10 million borrowers would see debt relief of $5,000 or more, officials said.

The groups affected include:

— Borrowers whose loan balances have ballooned because of interest would have up to $20,000 of their interest balance canceled. The plan would waive the entire interest balance for borrowers considered “low- and middle-income” who are enrolled in the administration’s income-driven repayment plans.

The interest forgiveness would be a one-time benefit, but would be the largest relief valve in the plan. The administration estimates that of the 25 million borrowers that could see relief under this waiver, 23 million would see their entire interest balance wiped out.

— Borrowers who are eligible for, but have not yet applied for, loan forgiveness under existing programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness or the administration’s new repayment program, called SAVE, would have their debts automatically canceled.

— Borrowers with undergraduate student debt who started repaying their loans more than 20 years ago, and graduate students who started paying their debt 25 or more years ago, would have their debts canceled.

— Borrowers who enrolled in programs or colleges that lost federal funding because they cheated or defrauded students would have their debts waived. Students who attended institutions or programs that left them with mounds of debt but bleak earning or job prospects would also be eligible for relief.

— Borrowers who are experiencing “hardship” paying back their loans because of medical or child care costs would also be eligible for some type of relief. The administration has not yet determined how these borrowers would be identified, but is considering automatic forgiveness for those at risk of defaulting.

How is this different from the last plan?

Mr. Biden initially tried to grant $400 billion in debt relief for 40 million borrowers by using the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003, or HEROES Act, which the administration argued allowed the government to waive student debt during a national emergency like the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Supreme Court blocked that move , saying that Mr. Biden had exceeded his authority.

The new plan would forgive some or all loan debt for nearly 30 million borrowers under the Higher Education Act, the federal law that regulates student loan and grant programs. By targeting specific groups of borrowers — instead of offering broad loan forgiveness — the administration believes it can act within the narrower confines of that law.

The Biden administration said lawyers for the White House and the Education Department studied last year’s Supreme Court ruling and designed the new program to make sure it did not violate the principles laid out by the justices.

Still, there could be questions about whether the borrowers under the latest plan would be considered “limited,” as the Supreme Court said the Higher Education Act requires, or whether the administration again overstepped its authority.

What’s the timeline?

The new plan still needs to be published in the Federal Register, which then will start a monthslong public comment period. Administration officials have said they hoped some of the provisions would begin going into effect in “early fall.”

That could leave the debt relief plan unresolved as voters go to the polls in November to choose between Mr. Biden and former President Donald J. Trump.

But Biden campaign officials hope the latest effort will help rally voters who were sorely disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision last year.

Erica L. Green is a White House correspondent, covering President Biden and his administration. More about Erica L. Green

Our Coverage of the 2024 Election

Presidential Race

In his final campaign rally before his criminal trial in Manhattan was set to begin, former President Donald Trump cast himself as a victim of political persecution .

An average of recent surveys, including a new poll  by The New York Times and Siena College, shows that President Biden is inching closer to Trump, Nate Cohn writes .

At a rally in Arizona days after the state’s top court upheld a near-total ban on abortion, Vice President Kamala Harris placed the blame directly on Trump .

Vice-Presidential Calculations: As Trump sifts through potential running mates, he has peppered some advisers and associates with a direct question: Which Republican could best help him raise money ?

Embracing the Jan. 6 Rioters:  Trump initially disavowed the attack on the Capitol, but he is now making it a centerpiece of his campaign .

Mobilizing the Left: Amid the war in Gaza, the pro-Palestinian movement has grown into a powerful, if disjointed, political force in the United States. Democrats are feeling the pressure .

On a Collision Course:  As president, Trump never trusted the intelligence community. His antipathy has only grown since he left office, with potentially serious implications should he return to power .

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The UConn men's basketball team has won back-to-back NCAA championships

Ayana Archie

UConn players celebrate after the NCAA college Final Four championship basketball game against Purdue, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. Brynn Anderson/AP hide caption

UConn players celebrate after the NCAA college Final Four championship basketball game against Purdue, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz.

The University of Connecticut men's basketball team won the NCAA championship Monday night, becoming the first team since 2007 to repeat as champions.

The Huskies defeated Purdue University 75-60 on Monday night, becoming the first team to win back-to-back championships since the University of Florida in 2006 and 2007, according to the NCAA.

S.C. Gamecocks end undefeated season as NCAA women's basketball champions

It is the Huskies men's team's sixth championship overall, and they have won every time they made it to the finals, including in 1999, 2004, 2011, 2014 and 2023.

UConn also became just the eighth program in men's college basketball history to win consecutive titles.

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