AP® World History: Modern Exam Format
Thousands of students take the AP® World History: Modern (APWH) exam each year. If you have chosen APWH and are about to start studying, get familiar with the exam format. This can help you create an efficient and thorough study plan to achieve your goal. Also, knowing the exam structure reduces test-day anxiety. This article will help you understand the APWH exam format and answer any questions that you may have about the exam pattern and question types.
What Is the Exam Format for AP World History?
The AP World History exam is challenging and is 3 hours and 15 minutes long. The exam determines your historical thinking skills and understanding of course learning objectives. The APWH exam structure is made up of two sections with different question types.
Section I includes multiple-choice (MCQ) and short-answer questions. The 55 multiple-choice questions must be answered in 55 minutes. You have 40 minutes to answer three 2-to-3-part short-answer questions (SAQ). Spend one minute on each MCQ and 10 to 12 minutes on each short answer question. This gives you time to review your answers and find any you missed.
Section II is free-response questions, which includes one document-based question (DBQ) and one long essay question (LEQ). You have 60 minutes to complete the DQB, which includes a 15-minute reading period. The recommended time for answering long essay questions is 40 minutes.
Because of the length of the exam, it is a good idea to take a minimum of one AP World History practice test as part of your preparation. Quality APWH exam-like practice questions will help you develop time-management skills and test stamina. You can read our article on the AP World History Course and Exam Description to understand the format and each unit's weightage better.
Types of Questions in the AP World History Exam
As we mentioned earlier, the AP World History exam format has four main types of questions. These questions will test your historical thinking skills and your knowledge of the six “themes” of the course themes. But just having knowledge won't guarantee a high score. It's crucial to know how to answer these questions. We will go over each question type and structure to help you prepare better.
Sections | Parts | Time Allocated | Question Types | Weighting |
---|---|---|---|---|
Section I | Part A | 55 minutes | 55 MCQs | 40% |
Part B | 40 minutes | 3 SAQ | 20% | |
Section II | Part A | 60 minutes | 1 DBQ | 25% |
Part B | 40 minutes | 1 Long Essay | 15% |
These are the AP World History topics that may be covered in each of the nine units, their chronological periods and weightage.
Units Tested | Chronological Period | Weighting |
---|---|---|
Unit 1: The Global Tapestry | c. 1200 to c. 1450 | 8%–10% |
Unit 2: Network of Exchange | c. 1200 to c. 1450 | 8%–10% |
Unit 3: Land-Based Empires | c. 1450 to c. 1750 | 12%–15% |
Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections | c. 1450 to c. 1750 | 12%–15% |
Unit 5: Revolutions | c. 1750 to c. 1900 | 12%–15% |
Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization | c. 1750 to c. 1900 | 12%–15% |
Unit 7: Global Conflict | c. 1900 to the present | 8%–10% |
Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization | c. 1900 to the present | 8%–10% |
Unit 9: Globalization | c. 1900 to the present | 8%–10% |
Section I, Part A: Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQ)
The MCQs are in sets of three to four questions, each containing document excerpts, images, graphs, and maps. This section tests source analysis and world history recall. A prepared and informed approach to multiple-choice questions is the key to exam success. Knowing the weight of each unit in this section will be useful. The weights of each unit for MCQs are listed below:
Units Tested | Weight of MCQs |
---|---|
Unit 1: The Global Tapestry | 3-4% |
Unit 2: Network of Exchange | 3-4% |
Unit 3: Land-Based Empires | 5-6% |
Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections | 5-6% |
Unit 5: Revolutions | 5-6% |
Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization | 5-6% |
Unit 7: Global Conflict | 3-4% |
Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization | 3-4% |
Unit 9: Globalization | 3-4% |
Section I, Part B: Short Answer Questions (SAQ)
This section has 3 short-answer questions.
- Question 1 (required) is about 1200 to 2001
- Question 2 (required) focuses on 1200–2001
- Students can answer #3 about 1200-1750 or #4 about 1750-2001
Short-answer questions differ from multiple-choice questions; it’s important to know how to approach them and the weight of each unit in this section. For SAQs, the following are the weights of each unit:
Units Tested | Weight of SAQs |
---|---|
Unit 1: The Global Tapestry | ~2% |
Unit 2: Network of Exchange | ~2% |
Unit 3: Land-Based Empires | 2-3% |
Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections | 2-3% |
Unit 5: Revolutions | 2-3% |
Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization | 2-3% |
Unit 7: Global Conflict | ~2% |
Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization | ~2% |
Unit 9: Globalization | ~2% |
Section II, Part A: Document-Based Questions (DBQ)
In this part of the section, you will see seven documents that offer different perspectives on a historical event or process (c. 1450 – 2001). You must evaluate those perspectives and present a defensible thesis to develop your answer.
Answering document-based questions requires proper analysis and effective argumentation. Doing research beforehand helps you answer document-based questions. The following table shows the weights of each unit for DBQs.
Units Tested | Weight of DBQs |
---|---|
Unit 1: The Global Tapestry | 2-3% |
Unit 2: Network of Exchange | 2-3% |
Unit 3: Land-Based Empires | 3-4% |
Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections | 3-4% |
Unit 5: Revolutions | 3-4% |
Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization | 3-4% |
Unit 7: Global Conflict | 2-3% |
Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization | 2-3% |
Unit 9: Globalization | 2-3% |
Section II, Part B: The Long Essay Questions (LEQ)
You have to write a long essay on historical events or processes, develop a thesis, and use historical evidence to support it. You will be given three essay questions on three different time periods (c. 1200-1750, c. 1450-1900, and c. 1750-2001) from which you have to answer one question.
If you know the answer but are not able to establish it with a line of reasoning, you may lose points. Answering essay questions is important. There is no negative marking for wrong answers, but unanswered questions earn no points. Below are the weights of each unit for LEQs.
Units Tested | Weight of LEQs |
---|---|
Unit 1: The Global Tapestry | 1-2% |
Unit 2: Network of Exchange | 1-2% |
Unit 3: Land-Based Empires | ~2% |
Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections | ~2% |
Unit 5: Revolutions | ~2% |
Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization | ~2% |
Unit 7: Global Conflict | 1-2% |
Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization | 1-2% |
Unit 9: Globalization | 1-2% |
Can I take AP World History exam in digital mode?
The AP World History Exam can be taken in either paper or digital mode. Both exams are 3 hours and 15 minutes long, and the formats for both the exams are the same.
Exam success starts with knowing the format. You can create an effective study plan now that you know the exam format and what to expect from each section. Do not forget to give yourself enough time to review your answers after each section.
Key Takeaways
We hope this format guide has been helpful. Here are three takeaways for the upcoming AP World History exam.
- AP World History takes 3 hours and 15 minutes. Due to the length of the exam, you should take at least one practice test.
- AP World History has two parts. Part A of Section I has 55 MCQs, and Part B has 3 SAQs. Section II has a DBQ and an essay.
UWorld has hundreds of high-quality AP World History practice questions created by AP teachers and experts. With our precise performance tracking, you will know exactly where you stand and what you need to improve to succeed on exam day.
Read More About the AP World History Exam
Check out our AP World History curriculum guide for more information on the exam layout, science practices, and the units, topics, and key concepts you will study in the course.
This article will teach you everything you need to know about how the AP World History exam is scored, the distribution of scores, and the average score required for college credit.
Do you want to know the most effective strategies and resources for achieving the highest possible exam score? Click on UWorld’s comprehensive APWH study guide to score 5.
Do you want to know if AP World History is right for you? Click on our all-in-one APWH exam guide to understand more about the exam prerequisites, difficulty, and benefits of studying.