The AP US history exam

[POKE40]

THE AP US History Exam




So in some time in the next 2 weeks few thousands of high schoolers and I will be taking the Advanced Placement United States History exam.

I also tried out the practice multiple choice AP exam test. And I got 23 out of 80........
The smartest guy in our whole class took the practice test as well and got 43 out of 80......... He said " it was a humbling experience" and I agree with him...

Here is the rundown of the test to help you recall bad memories

Description of Course

- 3 hours and 50 minutes of pure h***

- 80 multiple choice questions

- 1 DBQ

- 2 free response questions


Break up of the 3 hours and 50 minutes of pure h***

- 55 minutes for the multiple choice

- 130 minutes free response questions with mandatory 15 minute reading time

- 30 minutes writing the DBQ with mandatory 5 minute reading time


A New problem:
Okay... so for the DBQ in past years for the AP US history test the creators of the test was kind in to tell what period of the US history the DBQ was going to be on.

This time however, they're not going to tell us what time period the DBQ is going to be on. This will lead into extra pressure.


I'm asking the smashboard-community to aid those that are taking the test by:
1. Provide tips
2. Help us since we're going to be f*****
3. Provide any help or things to recommend.

Thank you for helping the all of us who are going to be screwed...

 

[=)@MePlz]

In general:

Don't be discouraged by the practice test. Having a bad outlook on the real test will make forget info you studied for. It's happened to me. =(

Study. Don't cram though. Since it's an exam, you should study now.

 

[AquaTech]

I took that test in high school. Got an A- in the class, and a 1 on the AP test...

 

[1048576]

I reread my textbook, IDK if you have time for that. Go through the timeline from the founding to now. If you're fuzzy on a few details, reread those parts of your textbook.

I got a 3 on the test.

 

[cman]

I took the exam last year, and they didn't tell us in what time period the DBQ would be.

 

[Keblerelf]

I was very lucky when I took APUSH I and II because I had two really good teachers. They helped me prepare for the DBQ by assigning old ones from previous tests and my APUSH I teacher held review sessions once a week a couple of weeks before the test. I can help you a bit on the essay part.

For the APUSH I section (like 1700s or w/e - civil war)

know the impact of the colonists of North America on the inhabitants (i.e. Spanish made the indians work for them under a type of feudal system, spreading Christianity, etc), where they settled, and their purpose for coming over. (This was actually a short question on my test, so i'm not sure if they are going to ask this again)

Know stuff about New England and the South. You should be able to compare the major differences of New England to those of Viriginia (who had indentured servants, exports, social hierarchy, etc)

the economics of slavery, white skin privilege, and some stuff about mercantilism

some dates before the Revolution (ex Boston Massacre, the order of the taxes)

Important Court cases, the effect of the bank, the idea of Manifest Destiny.

Issue that caused civil war (slavery)

Causes and effects of the civil war, advantages/disadvantages of both the North and South

(I forgot a lot of the topics in APUSH I so i left a huge gap...2yearnottakingitjohns)



For the second half (end of civil war - the 90s or w/e)

Know reconstruction. Know some terms (i.e. carpetbagger)

The effects of WWI on US economy and society

Know important inventions like McKormik harvester or w/e, radio, and television.

Know what caused the Great Depression (not just the stock market, it started with farmers)

Know a lot of stuff about FDR and what he did to try to end the Great Depression.

The effects of WWII (atomic bomb, racism towards japanese, etc)

What Truman did (UN, etc) and what led up to cold war

I don't think you need to know a lot about Vietnam because my DBQ was about vietnam (i was pretty lucky, it asked us the economic, social, and political effects of it)

But you still should read up on the Cold War

and the Civil Rights movement

And LBJ's Golden society or w/e

----

and...i think that should give you an idea of what you should know. Anything that was really important that influenced the U.S. is up for question. (THIS IS JUST AN IDEA...DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. I MISSED A LOT OF STUFF). Also when writing DBQs be sure to mention specific facts, like for instance how much the Vietnam war cost per year or what date the Missouri Compromise was established. It should help you.

For the MC you either know it or you don't So i can't really help you on that. You could get a reivew book and look over the practice tests. They should ask some questions that are similar so you can jog your memory (it's not like it's going to be different on the AP test...history doesn't change )

BTW if you are wondering I got a 4 and the book I used was titled Out of Many and it was the third edition.

also there is a somewhat generous curve. If you get a really decent written response score you could afford to get like %60-70 on the MC and still get a 5

 

[GOD!]

I got a four, if that was any good.

One thing you need to remember is that the multiple choice isn't as important as the free-response and dbq.

Here are a few more things:
-Know trends in history - stuff like powerful house, powerful president, powerful court are usually important. There were at least four or five questions last year about these.
- Tariffs/treaties - there aren't that many
-Important court cases - stuff like Mcculloch v Maryland, Plessy v Ferguson, and of course Marbury vs Madison.
-Before you start to write the essays, plan them out- this is more general, but it helped me.
-I would do the DBQ first - it gets you thinking about history and is the most structured. Remember to bring in your own knowledge.

Also, DO NOT study the night before the exam, as you will not remember anything you had just read.

Lastly: our class didn't cover the 70's 80's as much because we took too long reviewer the earlier years. So try and learn about Vietnam and the cold war too. I don't think they asked any questions from the 90s on last year either.

 

[slave1]

i totally was screwed by that test. but i suck at multiple choice tests

 

[IxxI]

Anyone know how the AP biology test is? I'm frightened by it.

 

[cman]

Anyone know how the AP biology test is? I'm frightened by it.

No, but i'm pretty sure it's easier than the physics C test. (/wrists) On the plus side, ~50% is a 5

 

[IxxI]

I'm sorry, but I don't know anything about AP test yet. Could anyone give me a brief description, or long description, of an AP test? I'm taking the AP biology test next year.

 

[Scott!]

AP tests are pretty much going to be the hardest tests you've taken up to that point, unless you've taken any SAT IIs. That said, don't freak out. They're hard, but in the way that you're capable of doing well if you've studied and know your stuff. If you know what the essays and DBQ on APUSH are about, you'll do fine. If you know your Bio, you're gonna do okay. Ok course, it's highly dependent on how good your teachers are. I'd recommend going to any study sessions they have.

Also, funny story. Our teacher told us that there wouldn't be anything from later than 1980 on the test. We had a question about Clinton and the Lewinsky scandal. It was easy, but be forewarned.

Another recommendation. If you're looking at schools that require or even just like them, I'd recommend taking the SAT IIs in whatever subject you're taking the AP test on around the same time. I took the APUSH test and the SAT II for US history within a week of each other. That way you only have to study once.

 

[IxxI]

Alright, how often should I study at the beginning of the AP course?

 

[Keblerelf]

Just do whatever you would do for any honors course.


also, does anyone know how big the curve is for physics b?

 

[Shök]

I'm taking the A.P. U.S. History and English A.P. test.

I'm worried about the U.S. test the most.

Social Studies has never been a strong subject of mine.​

 

[JLynn943]

It's been 4 years since I took the AP US History test, so I don't remember too much.

One thing I can suggest though is to use good writing style when writing your essays. You have to remember that the people grading these are reading a ton of responses all to the same question. The more you can keep them interested the better.