Course Content
- Historical Analysis: Examine key events from pre-Columbian America to the present, analyzing causes, effects, and connections.
- Major Themes: Explore American identity, migration, politics, society, culture, economy, and America’s role in the world.
- Primary & Secondary Sources: Practice interpreting historical documents, visuals, and data for critical reading and writing tasks.
- Writing for APUSH: Develop strong skills for Document-Based Questions (DBQ), Long Essay Questions (LEQ), and Short-Answer Questions (SAQ).
- Chronological Reasoning: Link historical periods and understand continuity and change across American history.
- Exam Practice: Build strategies for multiple-choice, free-response, and timed writing.
Exam Structure
- Section I: Multiple Choice – 55 questions, 55 minutes, 40% of score
- Section I: Short Answer (SAQ) – 3 questions, 40 minutes, 20% of score
- Section II: Document-Based Question (DBQ) – 1 essay, 1 hour (includes 15 min reading), 25% of score
- Section II: Long Essay Question (LEQ) – 1 essay (choose 1 of 3 prompts), 40 minutes, 15% of score
Skills Developed
- Historical analysis: interpreting primary and secondary sources, including documents, images, and data
- Critical thinking: evaluating cause-and-effect, continuity, and change over time
- Argumentation: constructing evidence-based essays and historical narratives
- Comparative reasoning: analyzing developments across periods and regions within U.S. history
- Research and synthesis: integrating multiple perspectives into coherent historical explanations
Who Should Take AP History?
- Students from grades 9–12 interested in U.S. history, politics, law, or social sciences.
- Learners who want to develop top-tier writing and analytical skills.
- Those aiming for college credit and a strong foundation for future humanities or social science courses.
College Credit
Many U.S. colleges grant credit or advanced placement for high AP U.S. History scores (usually a 4 or 5). This can satisfy introductory U.S. history or social science course requirements, allowing students to progress to upper-level history or related courses earlier in their college curriculum.
