ap world history essay example

Scores for 2024 AP Exams will be available starting July 8.

AP World History: Modern

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About the Exam

The AP World History: Modern 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.

Wed, May 15, 2024

AP World History: Modern Exam

This is the regularly scheduled date for the AP World History: Modern 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 or 2 secondary sources, and focuses on historical developments or processes between the years 1200 and 2001.
• Question 2   is required, includes 1 primary source, and focuses on historical developments or processes between the years 1200 and 2001.
• You can choose between  Question 3   (which focuses on the period from 1200 to 1750) and  Question 4   (which focuses on the period from 1750 to 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 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 1450 and 2001.

Long Essay Question 40 Minutes | 15% of Score

• You'll have a choice of three questions; you’ll pick one to answer.
• Each tests the same skills but the questions focus on different historical time periods (either the period from c. 1200–1750, from c. 1450–1900, or from c. 1750–2001).
• You'll be asked to develop and support an argument based on evidence.

Exam Essentials

Exam preparation, ap classroom resources.

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Free-Response Questions and Scoring Information

Go to the Exam Questions and Scoring Information section on the AP World History: Modern 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 World History: Modern exams. 

AP World History: Modern 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

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Additional Information

2024 AP World History: Modern Exam Guide

12 min read • june 18, 2024

Your Guide to the 2024 AP World History: Modern Exam

We know that studying for your AP exams can be stressful, but Fiveable has your back! We created a study plan to help you crush your AP World History exam. This guide will continue to update with information about the 2024 exams, as well as helpful resources to help you do your best on test day.  Unlock Cram Mode  for access to our cram events—students who have successfully passed their AP exams will answer your questions and guide your last-minute studying LIVE! And don't miss out on unlimited access to our database of thousands of practice questions.

Format of the 2024 AP World History: Modern Exam

Going into test day, this is the exam format to expect:

Section IA: Multiple Choice

55 Questions | 55 Minutes | 40% of Exam Score

Questions usually appear in sets of 3–4 questions with primary and secondary sources, images, graphs, and maps.

Students analyze historical texts, interpretations, and evidence.

Section IB: Short Answer

3 Questions | 40 Minutes | 20% of Exam Score 

Question 1 is required, includes 1 secondary source, and focuses on the years 1200-2001.

Question 2 is required, includes 1 primary source, and focuses on the years 1200-2001.

Students choose between Question 3 (which focuses on the years 1200-1750) and Question 4 (which focuses on the years 1750-2001). No sources are included for either Question 3 or Question 4.

Section IIA: Document-Based Question

1 Question | 1 Hour (includes 15-minute reading period) | 25% of Exam Score

Standard DBQ question with 7 documents that offer various perspectives on a historical development or process.

The document-based question focuses on topics from 1450 to 2001.

Section IIB: Long Essay

1 Question | 40 Minutes | 15% of Exam Score 

Students develop an argument supported by an analysis of historical evidence.

3 prompts will be presented focusing primarily on historical developments and processes in different time periods—students will choose to write.

Scoring Rubric for the 2024 Exam

👉 DBQ and LEQ Rubrics

📖 DBQ, LEQ, & SAQ Rubrics Points Explained

Check out our study plan below to find resources and tools to prepare for your AP World History: Modern exam.

When is the 2024 AP World Exam and How Do I Take It?

You will have 3 hours and 15 minutes to take the exam. Unlock Cram Mode to get updates on the latest 2024 exam news. 

How Should I Prepare for the Exam?

First, download the AP World History Cheatsheet PDF - a single sheet that covers everything you need to know at a high level. Take note of your strengths and weaknesses! 

We've put together the study plan found below to help you study between now and May. This will cover all of the units and essay types to prepare you for your exam. Pay special attention to the units that you need the most improvement in.

Study, practice, and review for test day with other students during our live cram sessions via  Cram Mode . Cram live streams will teach, review, and practice important topics from AP courses, college admission tests, and college admission topics. These streams are hosted by experienced students who know what you need to succeed.

Pre-Work: Set Up Your Study Environment

Before you begin studying, take some time to get organized.

🖥 Create a study space.

Make sure you have a designated place at home to study. Somewhere you can keep all of your materials, where you can focus on learning, and where you are comfortable. Spend some time prepping the space with everything you need and you can even let others in the family know that this is your study space. 

📚 Organize your study materials.

Get your notebook, textbook, prep books, or whatever other physical materials you have. Also, create a space for you to keep track of review. Start a new section in your notebook to take notes or start a Google Doc to keep track of your notes. Get yourself set up!

📅 Plan designated times for studying.

The hardest part about studying from home is sticking to a routine. Decide on one hour every day that you can dedicate to studying. This can be any time of the day, whatever works best for you. Set a timer on your phone for that time and really try to stick to it. The routine will help you stay on track.

🏆 Decide on an accountability plan.

How will you hold yourself accountable to this study plan? You may or may not have a teacher or rules set up to help you stay on track, so you need to set some for yourself. First, set your goal. This could be studying for x number of hours or getting through a unit. Then, create a reward for yourself. If you reach your goal, then x. This will help stay focused.

AP World History: Modern 2024 study plan

🐎unit 1: the global tapestry, c. 1200 - c. 145.

Big Takeaways

Before 500 CE, many classical powers like Rome, Han China, and Gupta India dominated. However, between 500-1200, these powers fell and their regions became decentralized. By 1200, these regions are once again unifying. Europe, China, South Asia, and regional powers in Africa and the Americas are both buildings on their paths by infusing traditional religions and philosophies into their societies while also advancing economically and technologically. 

Definitely do this:

📚 Read these study guides:

Overview of Unit 1: The Global Tapestry

East Asia from 1200-1450

Dar al-Islam from 1200-1450

South and Southeast Asia from 1200-1450

The Americas from 1200 to 1450

Africa from 1200 to 1450

Europe from 1200 to 1450

Comparisons in the Period from 1200-1450

If you have more time or want to dig deeper:

🎥 Watch these videos:

Southeast Asia in the Global Middle Ages : SE Asian History is World History

Connections and Development in the Americas : Don’t forget the Western Hemisphere!

💎 Check out this interactive website, Virtual Plasencia , and explore a city in Spain.

🐫 Unit 2: Networks of Exchange

Before 1200, trade networks were largely local, usually between civilizations bordering each other. However, with more technological inventions allowing merchants to travel farther more efficiently, and the growing demand for goods in growing empires, trade routes began to rapidly expand.

As the routes (such as the Silk Roads) began to spread, they carried new goods and ideas with them, such as Buddhism and the development of diasporic communities where merchants settled down in different states other than their own. Knowledge began to travel faster than ever before.

2.0 Overview of Unit 2: Networks of Exchange

2.1 Silk Roads

2.2 The Mongols

2.3 Indian Ocean Trade Routes

2.4 Trans-Saharan Trade Routes

2.5 Cultural Effects of Trade

2.6 Environmental Effects of Trade

2.7 Comparison in Trade from 1200-1450

💎 Check out this interactive website on the history of humans in the Indian Ocean

🗺 Can you identify the countries of the world? Play this game!

You won’t be asked to label maps on the exam, but it’s useful to know where countries are located so you can draw conclusions from their region.

🕌 Unit 3: Land-Based Empires, c. 1450 - c. 1750 CE

While the Columbian Exchange and Columbus’s Voyages captured most of the attention between 1450-1750, at the same time, around the world a number of land empires centralized. These Land Empires are meant to be a topic to compare and contrast with each other and with the Maritime Empires of Unit 4. 

Gunpowder technology was getting better, making it easier to use guns en masse. Intensification of trade routes also occurred on land, meaning that the new empires would have access to a larger pool of resources than their predecessors. 

These empires were different, but a few continuities remained. Religion and cultural ideas continued to play a role, and even spread within empires. Empires continued to be absolute, with most maintaining strict political and economic control over their domains.

Overview of Unit 3: Land-Based Empires

Expansion of Land-Based Empires

Governments of Land-Based Empires

Belief Systems of Land-Based Empires

Comparison in Land-Based Empires

Imperial Art and Architecture includes lots of great images of art and buildings that can be used as evidence when writing about these empires

Changing Religions in the Early Modern World discusses the religious dimensions of this time period

📰 A Much-Maligned Mughal looks at the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb differently, and more thoughtfully than your textbook probably does.

💎 Check out this podcast episode on Popular Sufism, Ottomans, and Safavids

🍕 Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections, c. 1450 - c. 1750 CE

Before 1450, regional trade was all the rage as the Silk Roads, Indian Ocean network, and Trans-Saharan routes exploded with more merchants and goods flowing. By 1450, Europeans were set on finding a faster route to Asia. Relying on overland trade was too slow and you couldn’t bring all that many goods with you on a camel’s back. Maritime trade would prove to be far more economically efficient.

Overview of Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections

New Technologies from 1450-1750

Exploration from 1450-1750

Columbian Exchange

Maritime Empires Established

Expansion of Maritime Empires

Resistance to European Expansion

Continuity and Change from 1450 to 1750

Maritime Empires : Explains the growth of European overseas empires

Technological Innovations in the Early Modern World provides lots examples that can be used as evidence

📰 Graphic History of Queen Nzinga Mbanda who resisted Portuguese expansion 

💎 Read or listen to “ Cruel Ships of Prosperity ” on the hardships aboard the Manila Galleons

✊🏽Unit 5: Revolutions, c. 1750 - c. 1900 CE

Some historians and textbooks consider this as one transformation: a dual revolution in industry and in politics. The political revolutions of this time period included many common people taking action against elites, along with competition among elites. Students should be familiar with three political revolutions--American, French, and Haitian--and the Latin American Wars of Independence. These revolutions produced new states. At the same time as these political revolutions in the Atlantic World, the Industrial Revolution began in Britain and spread to Western Europe, the United States, Japan. This change in a production led to enormous social and cultural changes.

📚 Read these Fiveable study guides:

Overview of Unit 5: Revolutions

The Enlightenment

Revolutions from 1750-1900

Industrialization Begins

Spread of Industrialization

Technology in the Industrial Age

State-Led Industrialization

Economic Effects of Industrialization

Responses to Industrialization

Social Effects of Industrialization

Continuity and Change in the Industrial Age

Industrialization in World History : Explains this important development that provided context for much of the history at the time and after

Egalite for All: Toussaint Louverture and the Haitian Revolution tells part of the amazing story of the Haitian Revolution

Throwing Off Asia is a collection of woodblock prints from Japan that show its transformation in the late Nineteenth Century who resisted Portuguese expansion 

“ Letter from Jamaica ,” Simón Bolívar (1815) is an important document that expresses some of the reasons that prominent creoles in colonial Latin America desired independence from Spain

🚂 Unit 6: Consequence of Industrialization, c. 1750 - c. 1900 CE

Students will begin to learn about how Britain, France, the British and Dutch East India Companies, Portugal, and Spain all began this period with colonial possessions in the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Industrial developments allowed states to expand their power through imperialism. Native peoples in these colonies resisted imperialist expansion into their countries in a variety of ways. Unit 6 also includes global migrations.

Overview of Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization

Rationales for Imperialism

Expansion of Imperialism

Indigenous Responses to Imperialism

Global Economic Development from 1750 to 1900

Economic Imperialism

Causes of Migration from 1750 to 1900

Effects of Migration from 1750 to 1900

Causation in the Imperial Age

Causes and Effects of Migration in the 19th Century : Explains the second most important topic in this unit

The Magnificent African Cake is a classic documentary on European imperialism in Africa

📰 Read these articles:

“ Rani of Jhansi, India’s Warrior Queen Who Fought the British ” from The New York Times’s “Overlooked No More” series of obituaries for people whose deaths were not reported in the paper when they occurred. Queen Laxmibai, aka the Rani of Jhansi, led some of her subjects in battle against British imperialism. 

Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and the Women’s Union of Abeokuta : a graphic history of Nigerian woman who resisted British imperialism

💣 Unit 7: Global Conflict

The Global Conflict Unit is the first time that we see alliances forming and when we see new interconnections of the globalized world! Make sure to look for causes and effects from all of the major conflicts and see if you can find other similar causations in contemporary world history!

Overview of Unit 7

Shifting Power After 1900

Causes of World War I

Conducting World War I

The Economy in the Interwar Period

Unresolved Tensions After World War I

Causes of World War II

Conducting World War II

Mass Atrocities After 1900

Causation in Global Conflict

🎥Watch: WHAP - World Wars in World History

🏆Trivia - World Wars in World History

🎥Watch: WHAP - Unit 7 Review: Causation in Global Conflict

🏆Trivia - Causation in Global Conflict

🥶 Unit 8 (1900-Present) - Cold War & Decolonization  

As you probably already know, WWI was caused by a bunch of nationalism in the warring countries, increased military power due to the Industrial revolution, imperialism, and alliances. It was largely unsuccessful in solving disputes and 21 years later there was WWII. 

Both of these wars resulted in a ton of death and destruction, and most importantly, a bunch of colonies started to think for themselves. They fought in the war, after all-- why shouldn’t they be independent? 

After the war, the Soviet Union and the United States were left largely undamaged by the war, whereas Western Europe was totally destroyed. This left both of them primed to become world powers.

Overview of Unit 8

Setting the Stage for the Cold War and Decolonization

The Cold War

Effects of the Cold War

Spread of Communism After 1900

Decolonization After 1900

Newly Independent States

Global Resistance to Established Order After 1900

End of Cold War

Causation in the Age of the Cold War and Decolonization

🎥Watch: Crash Course - Cold War

🎥Watch: Crash Course - Decolonization

📝Read: Freemanpedia - Notes

📝Read: Freemanpedia - Cold War

📝Read: Freemanpedia - Decolonization

✈️ Unit 9 (1900-Present) - Globalization 

According to the College Board, in the last unit of the course, you'll continue your study of period c. 1900–present by investigating the causes and effects of the unprecedented connectivity of the modern world.

Unit 9 Overview: Globalization

9.1 Advances in Technology and Exchange after 1900

9.2 Technological Advances and Limitations after 1900: Disease

9.3 Technological Advances: Debates about the Environment after 1900

9.4 Economics in the Global Age

9.5 Calls for Reform and Responses after 1900

9.6 Globalized Culture after 1900

9.7 Resistance to Globalization after 1900

9.8 Institutions Developing in a Globalized World

9.9 Continuity and Change in a Globalized World

📚 Review the following resources:

Global Movements - Slides

AP World History Unit 9 Playlist

Global Movements

AP World History Unit 9: Globalization Flashcards

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the complete guide to the ap world history exam.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Before you start studying for the AP World History exam, you should get the inside scoop on its format and content. The types of questions you'll see might differ from your expectations. It's especially smart to practice writing essay outlines based on past questions before you're faced with fresh prompts on test day.

In this article, we'll go through the structure, content, and question types on the AP World History exam and provide some helpful tips for acing it !

How Is the AP World History Exam Structured?

The AP World History exam is three hours and 15 minutes and consists of two sections, each of which contains a Part A and a Part B. Here's a basic overview of these sections before we get into the nitty-gritty below:

• Section 1, Part A: Multiple Choice
• Section 1, Part B: Short Answer
• Section 2, Part A: Document-Based Question (DBQ)
• Section 2, Part B: Long Essay

It should be noted that the AP World History exam has undergone some big changes for the 2019-20 school year . Instead of covering thousands of years of human history and development, now it will cover only the years 1200 to the present ; as a result, the exam has been renamed AP World History: Modern (an AP World History: Ancient course and exam are in the works).

Section 1 Format

Section 1 on the AP World History exam lasts a total of 95 minutes and consists of two parts:

• Part A: Multiple Choice
• Part B: Short Answer

This chart shows what you can expect for each part of Section 1 on the World History exam:

Part A lasts 55 minutes and counts for 40% of your total AP World History score. Each question on this part comes with four possible answer choices (labeled A-D). Since there are no penalties for wrong answers, it's in your best interest to fill in an answer for every question.

Most multiple-choice questions come in sets of three to four questions and require you to analyze primary and secondary sources as well as data in the form of graphs, charts, maps, etc.

Part B lasts 40 minutes and counts for 20% of your final AP score. For this section, you must write three short answers (you'll get four prompts in total, but you choose one of two prompts to write on for your third essay). You'll have different sources, or stimuli, for each short-answer prompt:

• Short Answer 1: Includes one secondary source
• Short Answer 2: Includes one primary source
• Short Answer 3/4 (choose one prompt): No stimulus for either option; prompt 3 focuses on the years 1200-1750, while prompt 4 focuses on the years 1750-2001

Section 2 Format

Section 2 on the AP World History test lasts 100 minutes and, like Section 1, consists of two parts:

• Part A: Document-Based Question (DBQ)
• Part B: Long Essay

Here's a brief overview of the format of Section 2 of the World History exam:

Part A in Section 2 lasts one hour and counts for 25% of your total score. For the Document-Based Question, or DBQ, you'll get seven documents offering different viewpoints on a certain historical development. You must write an essay with an argument supported by this historical evidence.

Part B, which is the Long Essay, lasts for just 40 minutes and counts for 15% of your AP score. This part of the test requires you to write a full-fledged essay in response to one of three prompts (you choose which one you want to write on). Unlike the DBQ, you're not given any direct historical evidence to use in your essay; you must come up with it yourself to support your argument.

Here are the three types of prompts you can choose from for the Long Essay:

• Prompt 1: Focuses on the years 1200-1750
• Prompt 2: Focuses on the years 1450-1900
• Prompt 3: Focuses on the years 1750-2001

What Kind of Content Is Covered in AP World History?

Content on the AP World History exam is divided into six overarching themes and nine distinct units . Knowing these categorizations can help you get a better sense of what kinds of historical trends you will be asked to examine (this is especially helpful when writing free-response essays!). The units are roughly divided up into overlapping periods of time.

Below, we introduce the current themes and units, as described in the 2019-20 AP World History: Modern Course and Exam Description .

The 6 Themes in AP World History

Let's start by looking closely at the six major themes covered on the AP World History exam.

Theme 1: Humans and the Environment

The environment shapes human societies, and as populations grow and change, these populations in turn shape their environments.

Key points:

• Demography and disease
• Patterns of settlement

Theme 2: Cultural Developments and Interactions

The development of ideas, beliefs, and religions illustrates how groups in society view themselves, and the interactions of societies and their beliefs often have political, social, and cultural implications.

• Religions and cultures
• Belief systems, philosophies, and ideologies
• Science and technology
• The arts and architecture

Theme 3: Governance

A variety of internal and external factors contribute to state formation, expansion, and decline. Governments maintain order through a variety of administrative institutions, policies, and procedures, and governments obtain, retain, and exercise power in different ways and for different purposes.

• Political structures and forms of governance
• Nations and nationalism
• Revolts and revolutions
• Regional, transregional, and global structures and organizations

Theme 4: Economic Systems

As societies develop, they affect and are affected by the ways that they produce, exchange, and consume goods and services.

• Agricultural and pastoral production
• Trade and commerce
• Labor systems
• Industrialization
• Capitalism and socialism

Theme 5: Social Interactions and Organization

The process by which societies group their members and the norms that govern the interactions between these groups and between individuals influence political, economic, and cultural institutions and organization.

• Gender roles and relations
• Family and kinship
• Racial and ethnic constructions
• Social and economic classes
• Slavery and abolition

Theme 6: Technology and Innovation

Human adaptation and innovation have resulted in increased efficiency, comfort, and security, and technological advances have shaped human development and interactions with both intended and unintended consequences.

• Intellectual innovation
• Transportation technologies and trade
• Modes of production and machinery
• Communication

The 9 Units in AP World History

Here, we'll go over the nine units of the AP World History course and exam. But before we describe each one in depth, here's a quick overview of how these units are tested:

Source: AP World History Course and Exam Description, 2019-20

Unit 1: The Global Tapestry (1200-1450)

• Developments in East Asia from c. 1200 to c. 1450
• Developments in Dar al-Islam from c. 1200 to c. 1450
• Developments in South and Southeast Asia from c. 1200 to c. 1450
• State Building in the Americas
• State Building in Africa
• Developments in Europe from c. 1200 to c. 1450
• Comparison in the period from c. 1200 to c. 1450

Unit 2: Networks of Exchange (1200-1450)

• The Silk Roads
• The Mongol Empire and the making of the modern world
• Exchange in the Indian Ocean
• Trans-Saharan trade routes
• Cultural consequences of connectivity
• Environmental consequences of connectivity
• Comparison of economic exchange

Unit 3: Land-Based Empires (1450-1750)

• Empires expand
• Empires: administration
• Empires: belief systems
• Comparison in land-based empires

Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections (1450-1750)

• Technological innovations from 1450 to 1750
• Exploration: causes and events from 1450 to 1750
• Columbian exchange
• Maritime empires established
• Maritime empires maintained and developed
• Internal and external challenges to state power from 1450 to 1750
• Changing social hierarchies from 1450 to 1750
• Continuity and change from 1450 to 1750

Unit 5: Revolutions (1750-1900)

• The Enlightenment
• Nationalism and revolutions in the period from 1750 to 1900
• Industrial Revolution begins
• Industrialization spreads in the period from 1750 to 1900
• Technology of the Industrial Age
• Industrialization: government's role from 1750 to 1900
• Economic developments and innovations in the Industrial Age
• Reactions to the industrial economy from 1750 to 1900
• Society and the Industrial Age
• Continuity and change in the Industrial Age

Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization (1750-1900)

• Rationales for imperialism from 1750 to 1900
• State expansion from 1750 to 1900
• Indigenous responses to state expansion from 1750 to 1900
• Global economic development from 1750 to 1900
• Economic imperialism from 1750 to 1900
• Causes of migration in an interconnected world
• Effects of migration
• Causation in the Imperial Age

Unit 7: Global Conflict (1900-Present)

• Shifting power after 1900
• Causes of World War I
• Conducting World War I
• The economy in the interwar period
• Unresolved tensions after World War I
• Causes of World War II
• Conducting World War II
• Mass atrocities after 1900
• Causation in global conflict

Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization (1900-Present)

• Setting the stage for the Cold War and decolonization
• The Cold War
• Effects of the Cold War
• Spread of communism after 1900
• Decolonization after 1900
• Newly independent states
• Global resistance to established order after 1900
• End of the Cold War
• Causation in the age of the Cold War and decolonization

Unit 9: Globalization (1900-Present)

• Advances in technology and exchange after 1900
• Technological advances and limitations after 1900: disease
• Technological advances: debates about the environment after 1900
• Economics in the Global Age
• Calls for reform and responses after 1900
• Globalized culture after 1900
• Resistance to globalization after 1900
• Institutions developing in a globalized world
• Continuity and change in a globalized world

Sample AP World History Test Questions

Let's go through examples of each of the four types of questions you'll see on the AP World History exam. All sample questions come from the 2019-20 World History Course and Exam Description .

Multiple-Choice Question Example

Most multiple-choice questions come in sets of three to four questions that ask you to respond to a particular source, or stimulus, such as a primary source, a secondary source, or data in the form of a map, chart, or table.

In this sample question, you're being asked to read and interpret two separate passages . You must have background knowledge of economic trends in the late 20th century to be able to select the correct answer here (which is answer choice C ).

Short-Answer Question Example

This short-answer question is accompanied by a secondary source. In each short-answer question on the test, each part (A-C) should only require a one- to two-sentence answer . You'll then get 1 point per correct response (so the max you can earn on one short-answer question is 3 points).

Here's how you could earn full credit for this question, per the official scoring guidelines .

(A) Sample Answers

• Hakuseki's argument was influenced by Confucianism.
• Hakuseki's argument that sovereign is Heaven to the subjects and the father is Heaven to the child was influenced by Confucian beliefs.
• Hakuseki's argument that only the emperor is supposed to serve the Lord of Heaven reflects the beliefs of Confucianism.

(B) Sample Answers

• One important difference is that most Christian missionaries and Muslim Sufis traveled across the world and spread their religion without being banned by other governments.
• One important difference between the circumstances of the religious encounter in eighteenth century Japan and other religious encounters in the period 1450–1750 is that religious interactions in this period more frequently led to the development of syncretic belief systems such as Vodou or Santería than the outright banning of the preaching of a religion.
• One important difference between the Tokugawa shogunate banning the preaching of Christianity and most other religious interactions in the period 1450–1750 is that some governments, such as the Mughal Empire under Akbar, encouraged religious tolerance and interaction.

(C) Sample Answers

• The Mughal emperors of India and the African kings of Kongo attempted to restrict European merchants to certain towns and trading posts.
• The Ming and Qing emperors of China confined the Portuguese merchants to Macao and placed legal restrictions on converting to Christianity.
• Although the Safavid Empire allowed European merchants to settle in some cities and even serve as advisors at court, preaching Christianity was strictly forbidden.

Document-Based Question Example

You'll get seven documents with your DBQ (not shown in the sample above), and you must use at least six of these as evidence in your response. The DBQ is worth up to 7 points .

Here's what you'd need to do to earn full credit for this sample DBQ, per the scoring guidelines .

Long Essay Question Example

For the Long Essay, you'll get three possible prompts to choose from. This question is an example of an Option 2 prompt with a focus on the years 1450-1900 —in this case, the 19th century. You can earn up to 6 points for your essay.

Here's what you'd need to do to earn full credit for this sample, per the official scoring guidelines :

How Is the AP World History Exam Scored?

Now that you've seen what questions look like on the AP World History test, let's quickly go over exactly how the exam is scored. Like all other AP tests, you will get a final scaled score for AP World History on a scale of 1-5 . This is a cumulative score that combines your raw scores from each of the four parts of the test (Multiple Choice, Short Answer, DBQ, and Long Essay).

Keep reading to see how each part of the AP World History test is scored.

Multiple Choice

Raw scoring for the multiple-choice section is simple: you earn 1 point for each multiple-choice question you answer correctly . Since there are 55 questions, the max number of points you can earn here is 55. Remember that this part counts for 40% of your total score .

No points are taken off for incorrect answers, so be sure to fill in every answer bubble!

Short Answer

Each short-answer question is worth 3 points—one for each task (labeled A-C) you must complete. Because there are three short-answer questions, this means you can earn a total of 9 raw points for all your responses. The short-answer portion counts for 20% of your final AP score .

Document-Based Question

The DBQ is worth 25% of your final score and is graded on a 7-point rubric , as shown below:

The Long Essay is worth just 15% of your overall score and is graded on a 6-point rubric :

The Best Way to Prep for the AP World History Exam: 3 Tips

Here are a few of the most important prep tips for AP World History. If you want more advice, take a look at our article on the best study strategies for this exam .

Tip 1: Make Connections to Themes (and Memorize Examples)

World History is a course that covers a ton of information, so much so that it can be hard to think of specific examples that relate to your arguments in essay questions. You should be able to elaborate on one or two concrete events from each period that relate to each theme of the course.

As long as you can preserve this bank of information in your mind, you'll be able to support your answers to any essay questions the test throws at you.

Tip 2: Use Outside Information Selectively

Providing specific historical examples in your essay lets you show your mastery of the material, but you need to be cautious. This test is less about how much you know and more about how well you understand the connections and underlying themes that connect historical facts.

Each fact you mention must have a specific purpose and should tie directly into what the question is asking and what you've stated in your argument.

Tip 3: Learn to Read Multiple-Choice Questions Carefully

You can get into some trouble if you don't understand exactly what the multiple-choice questions are asking on this exam. You'll only find the correct answer if you stick to the specifics of the question. Otherwise, you could get tripped up by choices that are accurate statements about history but inaccurate answers to the question being asked.

Practice your skills in selecting answers that directly pertain to the evidence presented in the question.

Summary: What to Know About the AP World History Exam

The AP World History exam is a three-hour and 15-minute test that consists of 55 multiple-choice questions, three short answers, one DBQ, and one essay.

Questions address six major historical themes and nine units, with periods stretching back to the year 1200 CE. While this is undoubtedly a lot of information to study, it's important to realize that long-term trends are more important than small details.

You can do extremely well on the World History test, as long as you master the major events of each period and understand their essential causes and effects .

What's Next?

Looking for some practice materials for the World History exam? Then check out this detailed guide to all the AP World History practice tests available online .

It's a smart idea to practice your writing skills on DBQs before any AP history test. Learn about the best places to find DBQ examples and how you can write an excellent response .

Which AP classes should you take in high school besides World History? Our expert guide will help you decide based on your goals, academic interests, and schedule.

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 World History Long Essay Question Example 1

Have you written out your own response to the first of our AP World History Long Essay Questions ? Below you can review a sample answer and evaluate what earns this AP World History LEQ example a perfect score.

Evaluate the impact of the trans-Saharan trade routes on the exchange of goods, cultures, and ideas in Africa and the Islamic world during the period c. 1200–1750.  Analyze the role of trade networks in shaping societies and economies during this era.

Sample Answer:

Thesis/Claim (1 point):  The trans-Saharan trade routes played a pivotal role in facilitating the exchange of goods, cultures, and ideas between regions in Africa and the Islamic world during the period c. 1200–1750, leading to significant economic, cultural, and technological advancements. Contextualization (1 point):  Before the emergence of the trans-Saharan trade routes, both Africa and the Islamic world experienced dynamic historical developments. In Africa, the Kingdom of Ghana flourished as a major trading empire, while in the Islamic world, the spread of Islam led to increased cultural diffusion and intellectual growth. These developments set the stage for the establishment of the trans-Saharan trade networks. Evidence (2 points):  The trans-Saharan trade routes facilitated extensive exchanges between regions. One specific example of this exchange is the trade of gold from West Africa for salt and textiles from North Africa. The availability of gold in West Africa, particularly in the Mali Empire, spurred demand for North African goods. This trade not only enriched both regions economically but also led to cultural exchanges. Furthermore, the introduction of new crops such as sorghum and millet to West Africa from the Islamic world improved agricultural practices, leading to increased food production and population growth. Another significant development is the spread of Islam along these trade routes. As merchants and traders traveled across the Sahara, they also brought Islamic culture and religion with them. This resulted in the conversion of some African societies to Islam, creating a cultural and religious connection between regions. Additionally, the construction of notable centers of learning such as Timbuktu in Mali became hubs for intellectual exchange, where scholars from Africa and the Islamic world gathered to share knowledge. Analysis and Reasoning (2 points):  The trans-Saharan trade routes not only connected regions economically but also fostered cultural and intellectual exchanges. This is evident in the adoption of Islamic practices and the establishment of centers of learning in West Africa. Furthermore, the trade in goods such as gold and salt played a vital role in the economic development of both regions. To achieve a more complex understanding, it’s essential to consider that while the trans-Saharan trade routes brought about positive exchanges, they also had challenges, such as the harsh desert environment and the impact on local communities. Nevertheless, the overall impact was largely beneficial, contributing to the growth and interconnectedness of African and Islamic societies. In conclusion, the trans-Saharan trade routes during the period c. 1200–1750 were instrumental in promoting economic, cultural, and intellectual exchanges between regions in Africa and the Islamic world. This interconnectedness resulted in mutual enrichment and the spread of Islamic culture and knowledge.

Total Points: 6

This essay provides a historically defensible thesis, relevant contextualization, specific evidence, and a well-structured analysis, earning a perfect score according to the AP World LEQ Rubric.

When you are finished with LEQ question 1, proceed to the next sample answers to review other strong essays or return to the main menu with the buttons below.

Home — Essay Samples — History — World History — Ap World History Application Essay Sample

Ap World History Application Essay Sample

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AP World History Exam: Long Essay Question

• respond to the question with an evaluative thesis that makes a historically defensible claim. The thesis must consist of one or more sentences located in one place—either in the introduction or the conclusion. Neither the introduction nor the conclusion is necessarily limited to a single paragraph.
• explain how a relevant historical context influenced the topic addressed in the question. It should also relate the topic of the question to broader historical events, developments, or processes that occur before, during, or after the time frame of the question. This explanation should consist of more than merely a phrase or a reference.
• use historical reasoning to explain relationships among the pieces of evidence provided in the response and how they corroborate, qualify, or modify the argument made in the thesis.

For more help prepping for the AP World History exam, check out our  AP World History Prep Plus .

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AP World History: Modern

Ap world history: modern course and exam description.

This is the core document for the course.

Course Overview

AP World History: Modern is an introductory college-level modern world history course. Students cultivate their understanding of world history from c. 1200 CE to the present through analyzing historical sources and learning to make connections and craft historical arguments as they explore concepts like humans and the environment, cultural developments and interactions, governance, economic systems, social interactions and organization, and technology and innovation.

Rubrics Updated for 2023-24

We’ve updated the AP World History: Modern document-based question (DBQ) and long essay question (LEQ) rubrics for the 2023-24 school year.

This change only affects the DBQ and LEQ scoring, with no change to the course or the exam: the exam format, course framework, and skills assessed on the exam all remain unchanged.

The course and exam description (CED) has been updated to include: 

• Revised rubrics (general scoring criteria) for the DBQ and LEQ.
• Revised scoring guidelines for the sample DBQ and LEQ within the CED.

Course and Exam Description

This is the core document for this course. Unit guides clearly lay out the course content and skills and recommend sequencing and pacing for them throughout the year. The CED was updated in the fall of 2023 to include updated scoring rubrics and scoring guidelines for the example questions.

Course Resources

Ap world history course overview.

This resource provides a succinct description of the course and exam.

AP World History: Modern Course and Exam Description Walk-Through

Learn more about the CED in this interactive walk-through.

AP World History: Modern Course at a Glance

Excerpted from the AP World History: Modern Course and Exam Description, the Course at a Glance document outlines the topics and skills covered on the AP World History: Modern Exam, along with suggestions for sequencing.

Course Content

Influenced by the Understanding by Design® (Wiggins and McTighe) model, this course framework provides a description of the course requirements necessary for student success.

The AP World History: Modern framework is organized into nine commonly taught units of study that provide one possible sequence for the course. As always, you have the flexibility to organize the course content as you like.

Historical Thinking Skills

The AP World History: Modern framework included in the course and exam description outlines distinct skills that students should practice throughout the year—skills that will help them learn to think and act like historians.

AP and Higher Education

Higher education professionals play a key role in developing AP courses and exams, setting credit and placement policies, and scoring student work. The AP Higher Education section features information on recruitment and admission, advising and placement, and more.

This chart  shows recommended scores for granting credit, and how much credit should be awarded, for each AP course. Your students can look up credit and placement policies for colleges and universities on the  AP Credit Policy Search .

Meet the Development Committee for AP World History: Modern

The AP Program is unique in its reliance on Development Committees. These committees, made up of an equal number of college faculty and experienced secondary AP teachers from across the country, are essential to the preparation of AP course curricula and exams.

AP World History: Modern Development Committee