What You

Oughta Know

About the 2017

AP US History

Exam

References: The Princeton Review: Cracking the APUSH Exam | 5 Steps to a 5 APUSH | College Board website

The Basics

Date: Friday, May 5, 2017

Time: 7:30 – 11:00-ish (the exam is 3 hours & 15

minutes, plus time for instructions, distributing

materials, and a break between sections I

and II)

Location: BHS (Library?)

APUSH Exam

What to Bring

Several sharpened No. 2 pencils with erasers

for all responses on your multiple-choice

answer sheet (no mechanical pencils).

Ms. J will have “lucky pencils” available

Pens with black or dark blue ink for

completing areas on the exam booklet

covers and for free-response questions

A watch (optional – there should be a clock

in the testing room)

APUSH Exam

What Not to Bring Electronics: cell phones, digital cameras, personal digital

assistants (PDAs), BlackBerry smartphones, Bluetooth-enabled devices, MP3 players, email/messaging devices, or any other electronic or communication devices.

Books, compasses, mechanical pencils, correction fluid, dictionaries, highlighters, notes or colored pencils.

Scratch paper; notes can be made on portions of the exam booklets.

Watches that beep or have an alarm.

Portable listening devices or portable recording devices (even with headphones) or photographic equipment.

Computers.

Clothing with subject-related information.

Food or drink.

APUSH Exam

Structure of the Test Section I - Part A: Multiple Choice | 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.

Section I - Part B: Short Answer | 4 Questions | 50 Minutes | 20% of Exam Score Questions provide opportunities for students to demonstrate what they know

best.

Some questions include texts, images, graphs, or maps.

Section II - Part A: Document Based | 1 Question | 55 Minutes | 25% of Exam Score Analyze and synthesize historical data.

Assess written, quantitative, or visual materials as historical evidence.

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.

Develop an argument supported by an analysis of historical evidence.

APUSH Exam

What Will Be On The Exam?(This chart is in your APUSH Syllabus)

APUSH Exam

AP US History Unit Instructional Time % of AP Exam

Unit 1 1491-1607 5% 5%

Unit 2 1607-1754 10%

45%Unit 3 1454-1800 12%

Unit 4 1800-1848 10%

Unit 5 1844-1877 13%

Unit 6 1865-1898 13%

45%Unit 7 1890-1945 17%

Unit 8 1945-1980 15%

Unit 9 1980-present 5% 5%

AP Exam Scores

5 = extremely well qualified approx. 75%

4 = well qualified approx. 62%

3 = qualified approx. 50%

2 = possibly qualified approx. 40%

1 = no recommendation approx. 0-39%

Most colleges

accept an AP

score of 3 or

higher to award

college credit

APUSH Exam

Percentages based on the 2007 Released Exam,

AP Psychology Crash Course

Review Resources - print

APUSH Exam

Average price:

$18-35

Available at

Barnes and

Noble

and…?

2015 or

later!!

Review resources - online

APUSH Exam

www.bremertonschools.org/Page/5960 Ms. J’s BHS APUSH webpage… scroll down to AP Exam Review

Power Points: Periods 1 - 9

APUSH Exam

Exam Preparation Tips:

Form a study group

Take as many practice exams as possible

Use SST time for review!!

Review textbook chapters & AMSCO review book– engage with the material, don’t just read it passively

Utilize online review resources

Use class time given for review to actually study (not socialize)

APUSH Exam

Part A: Multiple Choice

Stimulus-based questions

Ability to assess the stimulus + knowledge

of the historical issue at hand

May make connections to multiple historic

periods

APUSH Exam

Part B: Short-Answer

Draw upon knowledge required by the

Curriculum Framework

Directly address one or more Thematic

Learning Objectives

At least 2 of the SAQs will have elements

of internal choice

APUSH Exam

Part C: Document-Based (DBQ)

Analyze & synthesize historical data

Formulate a thesis & support it with evidence

Relate documents to a historical period or theme & focus on major periods and issues

Outside knowledge (beyond the documents) is important & should be incorporated into the response

APUSH Exam

Part D: Long Essay

Choice between two comparable essay

questions

Explain & analyze significant events

Formulate a thesis & support it with

evidence

APUSH Exam

MC: Test-taking strategy

Look for answers that confirm important trends in US history

Use common sense

Use an educated process of elimination for questions you’re unsure about

Trust your instincts (go with your gut) -- You don’t have time to ponder every tough question

Even your educated guesses may not be correct but remember,

You’re not shooting for a perfect score

You’re shooting for a good score

APUSH Exam

SAQ: Test-taking strategy

Read the question & make sure you

understand it

Make sure your responses are clear, succinct,

and fully address all parts of the question

Be mindful of time

Write something - your educated guesses may

not be correct but remember,

You’re not shooting for a perfect score

You’re shooting for a good score

APUSH Exam

DBQ: Test-taking strategy

Read the question & documents carefully

Decide on a thesis

Create a brief outline to organize your ideas

Write something about at least 6 of the

documents

Weave in as much outside information as you

can

Be mindful of time

APUSH Exam

LEQ: Test-taking strategy

Read the question carefully

Choose the question you know the most

about

Decide on a thesis

Create a brief outline to organize your ideas

Support your ideas with historical evidence

Weave in as much outside information as you

can

Be mindful of time

APUSH Exam

General AP Exam Strategies

Pace yourself

Be aware of the time and the number of

questions you have remaining

Use the process of elimination for MC

The correct answer is there. Eliminating

incorrect answers increases your chances

of choosing the correct answer – especially

if you need to guess!

APUSH Exam

General AP Exam Strategies

Be aware of patterns and trends

The percentages for content units don’t

change much from year to year

Familiarize yourself with previous test

administrations as much as possible

Have the right approach

Have the right mindset – positive, proactive,

and confident!

APUSH Exam