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AP U.S. History Long Essay Example

The second part of Section II of the AP exam contains three long essay questions—you must respond to one. The AP U.S. History long essay question assesses your ability to apply knowledge of history in a complex, analytical manner. In other words, you are expected to treat history and historical questions as a historian would.

This process is called historiography—the skills and strategies historians use to analyze and interpret historical evidence to reach a conclusion. Thus, when writing an effective essay, you must be able to write a strong, clearly developed thesis and supply a substantial amount of relevant evidence to support your thesis and develop a complex argument.

The College Board’s characteristics of a high-scoring long essay question response are listed below. Note that the requirements are very similar to those of the DBQ; the primary difference is that any requirements related to use of the documents are removed from the scoring requirements for the long essay question.

[ RELATED: Reading Strategies for AP US History Exam ]

Long Answer Sample Question

Evaluate the extent to which the migration of European colonists and the resulting encounters with American Indians affected social patterns in the period from 1495 to 1650.

Step 1: Analyze the Prompt

As you choose which question you will answer, begin thinking about what your thesis will entail and how your essay will demonstrate a complex understanding. The notes of a sample high-scoring writer are below.

Thesis (with complex understanding): Spanish, French, and British each used territory differently; result: distinct social patterns

This writer claims that three different countries’ approaches to settling territories resulted in different types of social development, but other types of thesis claims are possible. For instance, the thesis could make a single claim about overall social patterns (such as “Europeans’ economic goals in the New World and their attitudes of superiority over American Indians resulted in exploitative and hierarchical social structures”) or focus on only one or two European nations.

Step 2: Plan Your Response

• Context : motives for European exploration: new technology, navigation techniques, and trade routes
• Thesis   (with complex understanding ):  Spanish, French, and British each used territory differently; result: distinct social patterns
• goals: wealth and spread Catholicism
• methods: mining, large-scale agriculture, encomienda, disease/weapons, missions
• results: forced assimilation, social structure
• goal: fur trade
• method: mutually profitable trade relationships
• result: alliances
• goals: permanent settlements, Jamestown, religious freedom (New England)
• methods: occupying more land for farming, smallpox, Metacom’s War
• results: deaths of indigenous populations
• ¶ conclusion: where Europeans sought permanent settlements or forced labor, resulted in American Indian population decline, upheaval, and threats to tradition

Step 3: Action! Write Your Response & Step 4: Proofread

See the following high-scoring response, and be sure to read the rubric to help you identify what makes this response effective. Think about what features you can incorporate into your own free- response answers.

Sample High-Scoring Response

The Spanish had two major goals: to gain wealth and to spread Catholicism to the native populations. Realizing the potential to mine precious metals and profit from large-scale agriculture, the Spanish forced American Indians into labor, such as through the encomienda system. Violence and deception were often used to subdue the indigenous populations, aided by the technological superiority of European weapons and the spread of devastating diseases. Although some Spanish came as missionaries with the goal of converting American Indians to Christianity and often protested the abusive treatment of the American Indians, even missions sometimes essentially forced labor and coerced assimilation to Spanish culture. In the long term, a hierarchical social structure developed in the Spanish colonies in which the Spanish-born and their descendants (peninsulares and creoles) dominated those of mixed background (mestizos and mulattos) and especially those of pure African or American Indian heritage. Overall, millions perished between disease and mistreatment, devastatingly weakening traditional cultures but enriching the Spanish.

The French differed from the Spanish in their relationship with the indigenous populations. Using the St. Lawrence River for transportation and trade, the French profited from trading fur pelts, particularly beaver, with the American Indians, and then sending the pelts to Europe. These traders profited from the knowledge and goods of the American Indian populations who lived there, and certainly desired to develop mutually profitable relationships with them. Overall, this more cooperative relationship helped preserve American Indian cultures and led to alliances between the French and different American Indian nations. These alliances benefited the French in later wars with the British.

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AP History LEQ: Analysis and Reading

1 min read • december 8, 2023

Exam simulation mode

Prep for the AP exam with questions that mimic the test!

⭐️ Crafting a structured argument is crucial. Dive deep into the nuances of using reasoning skills to enhance your writing and make your arguments stand out!

📜  Analysis and Reasoning: Historical Reasoning

What does an argument consist of.

• A good argument requires structure, necessitating one of the course reasoning skills to create that structure. You can choose whichever skill works best for a particular prompt:  causation ,  comparison , or  continuity and change over time .

How do I know if my reasoning is good?

• Strong reasoning goes throughout an essay, so this will be the overarching structure of your writing from the thesis through your body paragraphs.
• The reasoning doesn’t necessarily have to be completely balanced or even in order to count, which gives you room to write about what you know best. For example, in an essay structured around continuity and change, you might spend most of your time addressing changes and relatively little time addressing continuity. And that’s ok.
• The best essays do address both “sides” of the historical reasoning, and yours should too. If you created a complex thesis in your introduction, you can extend those ideas into your body paragraphs. Even if you don’t have equal sentences or paragraphs for each topic, as long as you address the reasoning process in your essay, you’re on the right track.

Reasoning Skills:

• Example: Choose this when a prompt asks about the reasons behind a specific event.
• Example: Ideal for prompts asking for an analysis of two different, yet related events or periods.
• Example: Use this when the prompt is about the evolution or persistence of certain aspects over a period.

Courtesy of Nora

🛎️  Selecting the Right Reasoning Skill

• Every historical prompt comes with its own unique flavor. Thus, depending on the nuances of the question, you might lean towards causation (unraveling the 'why' behind events), comparison (contrasting and juxtaposing entities/events), or continuity and change over time (decoding the transformations and constants over a timeline).
• But how do you ascertain that your choice hits the bullseye? The strength of your reasoning should cascade throughout your essay, crafting a cohesive thread from the introduction to the conclusion.
• Remember, perfection doesn’t always equate to balance. You might pivot more towards changes and brush over continuities, or vice versa. This choice is not a sign of weakness; instead, it shows you're strategizing based on your strengths.
• Nevertheless, aim to touch upon both dimensions of your chosen reasoning skill. Even if you veer more towards one side, ensuring a nod to the other aspect accentuates the depth and comprehensiveness of your argument.

💎  Elevate Your Argument

• 🎯 Crafting a Complex Thesis : Root your essay in a thesis that's not just a statement but a promise of a journey. This thesis should be a preview of the intricate tapestry of ideas you're about to weave.
• 🤓 Integrating Ideas : As you venture into the body of your essay, ensure a seamless flow. Ideas should not just follow one another; they should converse, contest, and converge.
• 📚 Evidence Selection : While it’s pivotal to have a wealth of information, discernment in choosing the most impactful evidence amplifies your argument's potency. Each piece of evidence should not just support but elevate your argument.
• 🪄 Concluding with a Punch : Your conclusion is not just a summary. It's the final note that resonates, the crescendo of your symphony. Ensure it leaves an impression, encapsulating the essence of your argument and its significance.

💡 Pro Tip: Practice makes perfect. Regularly engage with diverse historical prompts. Experiment with different reasoning skills. Over time, you’ll develop an intuitive knack for selecting the best strategy for any given topic.

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AP US History Practice Tests

The AP U.S. History Exam consists of two main sections: a multiple-choice and short-answer section and an essay questions section. See the table below:

If you are a mobile user, click here: Do AP US History Practice Questions .

AP US History Multiple-Choice Practice Tests

• AP US History Practice Test 1
• AP US History Practice Test 2
• AP US History Practice Test 3
• AP US History Practice Test 4
• AP US History Practice Test 5
• AP US History Practice Test 6
• AP US History Practice Test 7
• AP US History Practice Test 8
• AP US History Practice Test 9
• AP US History Practice Test 10
• AP US History Practice Test 11
• AP US History Practice Test 12
• AP US History Practice Test 13
• AP US History Practice Test 14
• AP US History Practice Test 15
• AP US History Practice Test 16
• AP US History Practice Test 17
• AP US History Practice Test 18
• AP US History Practice Test 19
• AP US History Practice Test 20
• AP US History Practice Test 21
• AP US History Practice Test 22
• AP US History Practice Test 23
• AP US History Practice Test 24
• AP US History Practice Test 25
• AP US History Practice Test 26
• AP US History Practice Test 27
• AP US History Practice Test 28
• AP US History Practice Test 29
• AP US History Practice Test 30
• AP US History Practice Test 31
• AP US History Practice Test 32
• AP US History Practice Test 33
• AP US History Practice Test: Early Contact with the New World (1491–1607) Colonization of North America (1607–1754)
• AP US History Practice Test: Conflict and American Independence (1754–1800)
• AP US History Practice Test: Beginnings of Modern American Democracy (1800–1848)
• AP US History Practice Test: Toward the Civil War and Reconstruction (1844–1877)
• AP US History Practice Test: The Industrial Revolution (1865–1898)
• AP US History Practice Test: The Early Twentieth Century (1890–1945)
• AP US History Practice Test: The Postwar Period and Cold War (1945–1980)
• AP US History Practice Test: Entering Into the Twenty-First Century (1980–Present)
• AP US History Practice Multiple-Choice Questions: Period 1: 1491–1607
• AP US History Practice Multiple-Choice Questions: Period 2: 1607–1754
• AP US History Practice Multiple-Choice Questions: Period 3: 1754–1800
• AP US History Practice Multiple-Choice Questions: Period 4: 1800–1848
• AP US History Practice Multiple-Choice Questions: Period 5: 1844–1877
• AP US History Practice Multiple-Choice Questions: Period 6: 1865–1898
• AP US History Practice Multiple-Choice Questions: Period 7: 1890–1945
• AP US History Practice Multiple-Choice Questions: Period 8: 1945–1980
• AP US History Practice Multiple-Choice Questions: Period 9: 1980–Present
• AP U.S. History Practice Test (Period 1: 1491-1607)
• AP U.S. History Practice Test (Period 2: 1607-1754)
• AP U.S. History Practice Test (Period 3: 1754-1800)
• AP U.S. History Practice Test (Period 4: 1800-1848)
• AP U.S. History Practice Test (Period 5: 1844-1877)
• AP U.S. History Practice Test (Period 6: 1865-1898)
• AP U.S. History Practice Test (Period 7: 1890-1945)
• AP U.S. History Practice Test (Period 8: 1945-1980)
• AP U.S. History Practice Test (Period 9: 1980-Present)
• AP U.S. History Period 1: 1491-1607 Practice Questions
• AP U.S. History Practice Tests: 1491-1607
• AP U.S. History Period 2: 1607-1754 Practice Questions
• AP U.S. History Practice Tests: 1607-1754
• AP U.S. History Period 3: 1754-1800 Practice Questions
• AP U.S. History Practice Tests: 1754-1800
• AP U.S. History Period 4: 1800-1848 Practice Questions
• AP U.S. History Practice Tests: 1800-1848
• AP U.S. History Period 5: 1844-1877 Practice Questions
• AP U.S. History Practice Tests: 1844-1877
• AP U.S. History Period 6: 1865-1898 Practice Questions
• AP U.S. History Practice Tests: 1865-1898
• AP U.S. History Period 7: 1890-1945 Practice Questions
• AP U.S. History Practice Tests: 1890-1945
• AP U.S. History Period 8: 1945-1980 Practice Questions
• AP U.S. History Practice Tests: 1945-1980
• AP U.S. History Period 9: 1980-Present Practice Questions
• AP U.S. History Practice Tests: 1980-Present

AP US History Free-Response Practice Tests

• AP US History Short-Answer Practice Test 1
• AP US History Short-Answer Practice Test 2
• AP US History Free-Response Test 1: Document-Based Question
• AP US History Free-Response Test 1: Long Essay
• AP US History Free-Response Test 2: Long Essay
• AP US History Free-Response Test 3: Long Essay
• AP US History Short-Answer Practice Test 3
• AP US History Short-Answer Practice Test 4
• AP US History Free-Response Test 2:Document-Based Question
• AP US History Free-Response Practice Test 4: Long Essay
• AP US History Free-Response Practice Test 5: Long Essay
• AP US History Free-Response Practice Test 6: Long Essay
• AP US History Short-Answer Practice Test 5
• AP US History Short-Answer Practice Test 6
• AP US History Free-Response Test 3:Document-Based Question
• AP US History Free-Response Practice Test 7: Long Essay
• AP US History Free-Response Practice Test 8: Long Essay
• AP US History Free-Response Practice Test 9: Long Essay

AP US History Downloads

• AP US History Exam 2017 PDF download
• AP US History Practice Exam download
• AP US History Test Bank download
• 200 AP US History Practice Questions pdf download
• The Official U.S. History Cram Packet
• AP US History Practice Test: Period 1 (1491–1607) pdf download
• AP US History Practice Test: Period 2 (1607–1754) pdf download
• AP US History Practice Test: Period 3 (1754–1800) pdf download
• AP US History Practice Test: Period 4 (1800–1848) pdf download
• AP US History Practice Test: Period 5 (1844–1877) pdf download
• AP US History Practice Test: Period 6 (1865–1898) pdf download
• AP US History Practice Test: Period 7 (1890–1945) pdf download
• AP US History Practice Test: Period 8 (1945–1980) pdf download
• AP US History Practice Test: Period 9 (1980–Present) pdf download
• AP US History Practice Questions: Pre-Columbian/Nativc American History
• AP US History Practice Questions: Early Exploration and Spanish and French in the Colonies of the New World
• AP US History Practice Questions: Eariy English Colonies
• AP US History Practice Questions: The Era of Discontent
• AP US History Practice Questions: Tbe Constitution and Early U.S. Government
• AP US History Practice Questions: The Era of Good Feelings to the Age of Jackson
• AP US History Practice Questions: Antebellum Reform Movements
• AP US History Practice Questions: Antebellum Cultural Movements and Manifest Destiny
• AP US History Practice Questions: The Mid-19th Century and Causes of the Civil War
• AP US History Practice Questions: The Civil War
• AP US History Practice Questions: Post Civil War and Reconstruction
• AP US History Practice Questions: The Gilded Age and the American West
• AP US History Practice Questions: U.S. Imperialism and the Progressive Movement
• AP US History Practice Questions: The First World War and the Roaring Twenties
• AP US History Practice Questions: Hie Great Depression and the Second World War
• AP US History Practice Questions: The Cold War and Postwar America
• AP US History Practice Questions: Civil Rights, the 1960s, and Vietnam
• AP US History Practice Questions: End of the Cold War, the 1970s to the Present
• More AP US History Downloads

AP U.S. History Practice Exams

Ap us history practice exams.

We have links to all of the online AP US History practice exams. Loads of free practice questions are available. Review the resources listed below to start your test prep now!

Official Practice Test

Apush practice tests, ace practice tests, american history ap quizzes, us history quiz, alan brinkley chapter quizzes, apush course review, apush review flashcards.

AP US History | Practice Exams | FRQ & DBQ | Notes | Videos |  Study Guides

AP United States History

Learn all about the course and exam. Already enrolled? Join your class in My AP.

Not a Student?

Go to AP Central for resources for teachers, administrators, and coordinators.

About the Exam

The AP U.S. History Exam will test your understanding of the historical concepts covered in the course units, as well as your ability to analyze primary and secondary sources and identify patterns and connections that can support a historical interpretation.

Fri, May 10, 2024

AP U.S. History Exam

This is the regularly scheduled date for the AP United States History Exam.

Exam Components

Section ia: multiple choice.

55 questions 55mins 40% of Score

The questions in the multiple-choice section come in sets of usually 3–4 questions based on the same stimulus. The questions will include one or more sources to respond to such as primary and secondary texts, images (for example, artwork, photos, posters, cartoons), charts, and maps.

You'll be asked to:

• Analyze the provided sources
• Analyze the historical developments and processes described in the sources

Section IB: Short Answer

3 questions 40mins 20% of Score

In the short-answer section, you’ll write answers to questions in your test booklet. Some questions include texts, images, graphs, or maps.

• Question 1 is required, includes 1–2 secondary sources, and focuses on historical developments or processes between the years 1754 and 1980.
• Question 2 is required, includes 1 primary source, and focuses on historical developments or processes between the years 1754 and 1980.
• You can choose between Question 3 (which focuses on historical developments or processes between the years 1491 and 1877) and Question 4 (which focuses on historical developments or processes between the years 1865 and 2001) for the last question. No sources are included for either Question 3 or Question 4.
• Analyze historical developments and processes described in the sources
• Put those historical developments and processes in context
• Make connections between those historical developments and processes

Section II: Free Response

2 questions 1hr 40mins 40% of Score

In the free-response section, you’ll write answers to questions in your test booklet. There are two questions: one document-based question and one long essay.

Document-Based Question Recommended time: 60 Minutes (includes 15-minute reading period) | 25% of Exam Score

The 60-minute recommended time for this section includes a 15-minute reading period.

• You’ll be presented with seven documents that give various perspectives on a historical development or process.
• You’ll be asked to develop and support an argument based on these documents and other evidence from your own knowledge.
• The topic of the document-based question will include historical developments or processes between the years 1754 and 1980.

Long Essay 1 Question | 40 Minutes | 15% of Exam Score

• You’ll have a choice of three questions; you’ll pick one to answer.
• Each tests the same skills and reasoning process (e.g., comparison, causation, or continuity and change) but the questions focus on historical developments and processes from different time periods (either the period from 1491 to 1800, from 1800 to 1898, or from 1890 to 2001).
• You’ll be asked to develop and support an argument based on evidence.

Exam Essentials

Exam preparation, ap classroom resources.

Once you join your AP class section online, you’ll be able to access AP Daily videos, any assignments from your teacher, and your assignment results in AP Classroom. Sign in to access them.

• Go to AP Classroom

Free-Response Questions and Scoring Information

Go to the Exam Questions and Scoring Information section on the AP United States History Exam page at AP Central to review the latest released free-response questions and scoring information.

Past Exam Free-Response Questions and Scoring Information  

Go to AP Central to review free-response questions and scoring information from past AP United States History exams. 

AP U.S. History Course and Exam Description

This is the core document for the course. It clearly lays out the course content and describes the exam and the AP Program in general.

Services for Students with Disabilities

Students with documented disabilities may be eligible for accommodations for the through-course assessment and the end-of-course exam. If you’re using assistive technology and need help accessing the PDFs in this section in another format, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 212-713-8333 or by email at [email protected] . For information about taking AP Exams, or other College Board assessments, with accommodations, visit the Services for Students with Disabilities website.

Credit and Placement

Search AP Credit Policies

Find colleges that grant credit and/or placement for AP Exam scores in this and other AP courses.

Additional Information

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, every ap us history practice exam available: free and official.

Advanced Placement (AP)

If you want to do well on the AP US History exam, you have to practice! Practice tests can help you organize your prep logically around areas of the curriculum that are most challenging for you. This article provides a complete list of all official and unofficial AP US History practice test materials available online , as well as detailed instructions and tips on how to use them in your studying.

Official AP US History Practice Exams and Questions

This section lists all the free official practice tests and questions available online for AP US History. These practice tests and free-response questions come directly from the College Board. You can use the free-response questions to practice writing essays at any point during the school year, but I'd save the full exams for the final stages of your study process .

The closer you get to the AP US History exam, the more important it'll be to understand exactly where your weaknesses lie and which aspects of the test present the most significant challenges. Official materials provide the best practice because the questions are a consistently accurate representation of the content and format of the real test .

Full-Length AP US History Practice Exams

There is one full-length, official AP US History practice tests available for download:

• 2017 Practice Exam

Though the practice test comes with answer keys for the multiple-choice part, you'll have to use the official scoring guidelines to score your own free-response answers. You could also ask your AP US History teacher if they'd be willing to grade your practice essays for you.

This test is the very best free practice exam available online, so try to save it for when you're closer to test day and want to get an accurate estimate of your score level.

AP US History Free Response Questions, 2015-2020 and 2021

Free-response questions for AP US History have undergone some minor changes in recent years, but these sample questions will still closely resemble the format of the free-response section of the test that you're taking . You'll also find scoring guidelines here and some sample student responses.

I encourage you to save the most up-to-date questions for later on in the study process so that you can get a better idea of what your scores will look like on the real AP test.

AP US History Course and Exam Descriptions

Official AP US History Course and Exam Descriptions offer plenty of multiple-choice questions and free-response questions—just not in the format of a full-length test . You can get some great practice with these materials, especially if you're looking to zero in on specific weaknesses.

Here are the APUSH Exam Descriptions that are currently available online:

• Course and Exam Description : Updated for current AP exam format. Contains 17 multiple-choice questions, one short-answer question, one DBQ, and one Long Essay prompt.
• 2017-18 Course and Exam Description : Mostly updated for current exam format. Contains the same questions as those in the 2017 practice test linked above.

There is also this document with sample questions from the 2012 AP US History curriculum framework . With this, you'll get 11 multiple-choice questions, three short-answer questions, one DBQ, and two Long Essay prompts.

AP Classroom

This new and innovative tool by the College Board allows you to complete and submit homework for your AP US History class online through a special portal managed by your US History teacher. What's really cool, though, is that your teacher can also assign you official practice questions here as a way to supplement your exam prep.

AP US History Document-Based Questions, 1973-1999

This document includes a bunch of DBQs from past versions of the AP US History test. This question has remained relatively consistent throughout the years, so I'd say these are totally fine to use as practice materials.

You never know exactly what the documents will look like on the test, so you should practice analyzing them until you feel comfortable with all different types of sources.

Unofficial AP US History Practice Tests and Questions

The following AP US History tests are not directly from the College Board, but they will still help you become familiar with the material. This section includes links to both full unofficial practice tests and small-scale, topic-specific quizzes. The short quizzes may be useful in the early stages of your studying when you want to target certain eras or avoid questions on material your class hasn't covered yet.

AP US History Prep Books

Even though I'm emphasizing online practice materials in this article, it's also worth mentioning that some APUSH prep books include high-quality practice tests that are modeled directly after the newest version of the exam. If you're willing to part with some of that sweet cash money, check out our list of the best review books for AP US History .

High School Test Prep Practice Tests

This site has nine quizzes, each covering a different time period. The quizzes are each 20 questions long and are multiple choice. They're not a great match for the actual AP US History exam, but they can be good practice for basic dates and facts, especially if there's a time period you're particularly shaky on.

Full Old-Format Practice Exam

This old-format AP US History practice test was created by an AP teacher. It has 80 multiple-choice questions, each with five answer choices (the current test format has 55 questions and four answer choices for each question, so you'll need to tweak this old exam a lot). It also has one DBQ and some essay prompts that are a little different from the current Long Essay requirement.

Historyteacher.net Mini Practice Quizzes

Here, you'll find practice quizzes for every topic covered in the US History course. There are multiple-choice questions and for some topics "short answer" questions (there's a drop-down menu of 12 answer choices). These won't help much with the more analytical elements of the test, but if you want to test your factual recall, they'll serve you well.

Albert AP US History Practice Quizzes

Albert maintains a series of free, high-quality practice quizzes on every topic covered by the AP US History curriculum (and all have been updated for the 2020 exam format and units). Some resources other fee, other require a paid membership. As you take them, the site will display stats that detail how you're faring on questions of each difficulty level. This should help you figure out the areas in which your memory is shakier.

Practice Quizzes for The American Pageant , 12th Edition

This site has chapter-by-chapter practice quizzes organized around an old edition of The American Pageant textbook. Questions are multiple choice and true/false. Again, this is more helpful for factual recall than for analysis questions.

AP US History Notes Multiple-Choice Practice Test

This test has just 40 questions, but the website also includes a list of frequently asked AP US History multiple-choice questions that will prepare you better for the exam.

McGraw-Hill American History Chapter Quizzes

This site contains 32 multiple-choice quizzes, one for each chapter of the 13th edition of the McGraw-Hill US History textbook. The quizzes follow the organization of the textbook, but they can still be useful even if your class uses a different book. Each quiz is titled so you can know what part of US History it's testing you on.

Additional Resources for Practice Quizzes on All US History Topics

These are a few additional sites that have a bunch of short practice quizzes on every topic in the APUSH curriculum. Use these resources if you're looking for additional questions that will test your basic knowledge of events in US History, or if you're looking for more questions dealing with a specific time period.

• CourseNotes Practice Quizzes for AP US History
• Varsity Tutors AP US History Practice Quizzes  
• Matching and Multiple-Choice Short Practice Quizzes
• Crack AP Multiple-Choice Practice Tests

How to Use AP US History Practice Exams in Each Semester

Now, you have all sorts of AP US History practice resources—but what's the best way to use them? In this section, we go over exactly how you should be studying with AP practice exams during each semester of the APUSH class.

First Semester

At this point, you can mostly rely on unofficial AP US History tests and quizzes that only deal with the topics your class has covered. Many of the websites listed above have large collections of questions for each unit of the course. Work on building a strong foundation of knowledge so that you'll be prepared to answer more advanced analytical questions in the future.

You can also look through the official free-response practice questions to find some you feel confident answering based on what you've learned so far. It's never too early to start practicing for the free-response section, especially when it comes to the Document-Based Question, or DBQ.

Writing a coherent argumentative essay that incorporates six or seven different sources in just 50 minutes is a tough skill to master! Try to come up with an essay-writing process that works well for you so that you're a pro by the time the AP test rolls around.

Second Semester

Start taking full AP US History practice tests and assessing your score level midway through the second semester (March is a good time to get the ball rolling on this). By then, you've learned enough of the material for your scores on APUSH practice tests to be fairly accurate predictions of your final AP exam scores.

Since the US History test has undergone various changes in recent years, you won't have many full official practice tests that reflect the current format. Use your limited resources wisely by carefully assessing your performance on each practice test and studying your weak areas before you take additional tests.

We recommend taking and scoring an initial APUSH practice test (with accurate time constraints!) before you do any studying. As you take the test, mark any questions you're unsure about; you will want to study that material later even if you end up guessing correctly. After you score your test, categorize your mistakes by time period and theme to see whether there are any patterns .

Next, start studying the areas that need work . You can turn to unofficial AP US History practice questions here to test your knowledge. You should also practice writing essay outlines so you're more prepared for the free-response section. Once you feel that you've mastered all the AP topics that stumped you on the first test, take another practice test to see whether you've improved.

Decide whether or not you want to repeat this process based on your score on the second test. If you haven't improved much, you should reconsider your prep methods. Spend a longer time checking in with yourself to make sure you've retained information. You can also plan on doing more practice questions between full tests so that you're prepared for both the format and the content tested.

AP US History Practice: 4 Essential Testing Tips

Before we wrap up, here are four critical test-day tips to remember on the day of your US History exam.

#1: Read Excerpts Carefully and Look for Direct Evidence

The multiple-choice section on AP US History is based on excerpts from historical source materials, or stimuli, so it tests both analytical skills and factual recall. You'll have to read the source material carefully to find the correct answer.

In many cases, several answer choices are historically accurate, but only one will be directly supported by the evidence in the excerpt or illustration. Look for direct connections, and don't make too many assumptions based on your prior knowledge.

#2: Plan Out Your Essays

When you have to write a timed essay, it can sometimes end up an unfocused, disorganized mess. This is exactly what you don't want to happen on the AP US History exam. Hold yourself back from starting the writing process immediately, even if you're anxious about not finishing in time.

Writing a preliminary outline is critical on this test. Without an outline, you run the risk of rambling and getting stuck when you can't identify a good piece of supporting evidence! It'll be far easier to write your essays if you already have a structure in place that makes sense.

#3: Get Comfy With the Document-Based Question

The Document-Based Question is different from other essay questions that you'll encounter on AP tests. In fact, it's probably the only question of its kind that you've ever seen on any test. DBQs can seem intimidating and weird, so make sure you practice them as much as possible before the real exam.

Write notes next to each piece of source material to give yourself a basic idea of what it is and how it could be used to support the points you plan on making in your essay. You should also come up with a strategy for approaching these questions that works well for you before you're face-to-face with the DBQ on test day.

#4: Incorporate Background Information (Wisely)

It's a great move to include outside historical references that support your arguments for the DBQ and/or Long Essay. Even though you're given seven sources to use as evidence in the DBQ, making additional outside connections will show that you've really mastered the material .

Just remember to be careful with using outside information. Don't fact-vomit all over the essay with everything you've ever learned about a topic. Structure your thoughts so that any outside information relates directly to the main argument of your essay.

Recap: Using AP US History Practice Tests to Ace the Exam

The AP US History practice tests in this article should serve as useful resources for you as you prep for the AP exam and any in-class assessments. Remember that official College Board questions are the highest quality practice materials, so use them wisely. We recommend trying to save most of the official practice resources for when you're closer to the actual APUSH test. You can use unofficial materials throughout the school year to brush up on specific topics in the course.

To recap, here are our four top study tips for AP US History :

• Read excerpts carefully and look for direct evidence in the source(s)
• Practice planning out and outlining your essays for free-response questions
• Get comfortable with the Document-Based Question
• Use background information without over using it

With these tips in mind, you can take full advantage of the practice materials, become a master of US History, and show the AP test who's boss!

What's Next?

Are you missing some of your notes from class? We've got links to great notes for AP US History that will give you tons of information on every topic in the course.

How can you know whether your AP US History practice test results are equivalent to a high or low AP score? Learn more about how AP tests are scored in our guide .

Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.

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AP US History Practice Tests

Try our free AP US History practice tests. We have 9 tests which cover each of the periods in this course, followed by a full-length APUSH practice exam. Our practice questions include detailed explanations for every answer. Choose a test from the list below to start your AP US History review right now!

Free AP US History Practice Tests

Full-length ap us history practice exam, ap us history exam.

The AP U.S. History exam is also known as the APUSH exam. It covers American History from 1491 to the present. The exam is divided into two sections: Section I includes multiple choice and short answer questions, and Section II includes a document-based question and a long essay question.

Part A of Section I has 55 APUSH multiple choice questions that must be answered within 50 minutes. Part B of Section I has 3 short answer questions that must be answered within 40 minutes.

Part A of Section II is the document-based question (DBQ) which must be answered within 60 minutes. Part B of Section II is the long essay question which must be answered within 40 minutes. For the long essay, three questions are presented and you choose the one that you would like to answer. The total length of the APUSH exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes.

These APUSH practice tests are great for exam prep. We have an AP US History practice exam for each of the 9 time periods that are covered in this course. All of our multiple choice questions include detailed answer explanations. Choose a time period from the list above and start your test prep right now!

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My APUSH exam is coming up soon, and I want to make sure I'm covering all my bases. What do you think are the most important things to know for the exam? Are there any specific topics or themes I should make sure to review?

It's always good to prioritize your study efforts, so I'll try to consolidate the key things to know for the APUSH exam. Bear in mind that this is not an exhaustive list, but it should give you a solid foundation for your studies. Here are some important topics, themes, and study tips:

1. Chronological Periods: APUSH exam covers nine chronological periods, so make sure you're comfortable with the significant developments in each period. This includes major events, trends, and influential figures.

2. Themes: APUSH focuses on seven themes that recur throughout American history. These themes are American and National Identity; Politics and Power; Work, Exchange, and Technology; Culture and Society; Migration and Settlement; Geography and the Environment; and America in the World. Familiarize yourself with key events and trends related to these themes.

3. Historical Thinking Skills: Practice your historical thinking skills, such as comparison, causation, continuity and change over time, and context. These skills are essential for answering the short answer, long essay, and document-based questions on the exam.

4. Document Analysis: Develop your document analysis skills for the document-based question. Learn to analyze primary sources, such as political cartoons, speeches, and letters, by understanding the main ideas, biases, and historical context.

5. Essay Writing: Practice your essay-writing skills, particularly for the long essay question. Familiarize yourself with the rubric and be prepared to develop a clear thesis, support your argument with relevant historical evidence, and write a well-organized essay.

In terms of specific content, it's important to have a strong grasp of the following topics:

- Colonial America and early interactions between Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans

- The development and impact of the Atlantic slave trade

- The causes and consequences of the American Revolution

- The creation and ratification of the Constitution

- The early Republic, including the development of political parties and the rise of sectionalism

- Manifest Destiny, Westward Expansion, and their impact on Native Americans

- The causes, course, and consequences of the Civil War

- Industrialization, urbanization, and the rise of labor movements

- U.S. imperialism and foreign policy, including involvement in World War I and II

- The Great Depression and the New Deal

- The Civil Rights Movement

- The Cold War and its domestic and international consequences

- Social and cultural developments from the 1960s to the present

Finally, be sure to review major Supreme Court cases and landmark legislation throughout American history, as they might feature prominently in the exam.

Good luck with your APUSH exam preparations! Remember to practice with official College Board materials and seek help from your teacher if needed.

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