THE AP WORLD HISTORY EXAM - from collegeboard
The exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long and has two sections — multiple choice/short answer and free-response. Each section is divided into two parts.
Section I Part A: Multiple Choice | 55 Questions | 55 minutes | 40% of Exam Score
Section I Part B: Short Answer | 3 Questions | 40 minutes | 20% of Exam Score
Section II Part A: Document Based | 1 Question | 60 minutes (includes a 15-minute reading period) | 25% of Exam Score
Section II Part B: Long Essay | 1 Question | 40 minutes | 15% of Exam Score
Section I Part A: Multiple Choice | 55 Questions | 55 minutes | 40% of Exam Score
- Questions appear in sets of 2 to 5.
- You will analyze historical texts, interpretations, and evidence.
- Primary and secondary sources, images, graphs, and maps are included.
Section I Part B: Short Answer | 3 Questions | 40 minutes | 20% of Exam Score
- Analyze historians’ interpretations, historical sources, and propositions about history.
- Questions give you an opportunity to explain the historical examples you know best.
- Some questions include texts, images, graphs, or maps.
- You’ll have a choice between two options for the final required short answer question, each one focusing on a different time period.
- Question 1 (required): periods 3-8
- Question 2 (required): periods 3-8
- Choose between Question 3, periods 1-3, and Question 4, periods 4-6
Section II Part A: Document Based | 1 Question | 60 minutes (includes a 15-minute reading period) | 25% of Exam Score
- Assess written, quantitative, or visual materials as historical evidence.
- Develop an argument supported by an analysis of historical evidence.
- The document-based question will focus on topics from periods 3-6.
Section II Part B: Long Essay | 1 Question | 40 minutes | 15% of Exam Score
- Explain and analyze significant issues in world history
- Develop an argument supported by your analysis of historical evidence.
- You’ll select from one of three essay choices, each focusing on the same theme and skill but different time periods:
- Option 1: periods 1-2
- Option 2: periods 3-4
- Option 3: periods 5-6