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Ultimate Guide to the AP Art History Exam

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In 2019, only about 24,476 of the more than five million students taking AP exams took the AP Art History exam. If you’re planning to take the AP Art History exam, whether you’ve taken the class or have self-studied, read on for a breakdown of the test and CollegeVine’s advice for how to best prepare for it.

When is the AP Art History Exam?

The 2020 AP Art History exam takes place on Friday, May 8, at 12 pm. For more information on all of the AP exams and their 2020 test times, check out our blog post 2020 AP Exam Schedule: Everything You Need to Know . 

What Does the AP Art History Exam Cover?

The AP Art History course teaches students the nature of art (its uses, meanings, and production) and societal responses to art throughout history. It seeks to immerse students in rich artistic traditions across cultures dating from prehistory to the present while fostering an in-depth understanding and appreciation of the history of art.

In this class, you can expect to learn “visual, contextual, and comparative analysis applied to a variety of art forms, understanding of individual works and connections between processes and products throughout history.” Although there are no official prerequisites for the coursework, students who have excelled in the humanities, such as literature or history, or in studio art classes, will find that these experiences enrich their perspective as they undertake the studying of art history. 

The AP Art History course was redesigned for the 2015-2016 school year, and while much of the course content remains the same, it is now presented alongside clear learning objectives for the exam. The scope was also narrowed to focus more on conceptual understanding, critical thinking, and analysis skills, with less emphasis placed on knowledge of specific artworks. The course does still require that students become familiar with a set of specific artwork, but this set shrunk from over 500 pieces in the previous curriculum to 250 included in the course redesign. 

The AP Art History course is commonly broken into 10 units. Below is a sequence of the units suggested by the College Board, along with the percentage of questions from each unit that will appear on the multiple-choice section of the AP Art History exam. 

AP Art History Exam Content

The AP Art History exam is one of the longer AP exams, clocking in at three hours. It comprises two sections: one section of multiple-choice questions, the other of free response questions. 

Section 1: Multiple Choice 

1 hour | 80 questions | 50% of score

The first section lasts one hour, is made up of 80 multiple-choice questions, and accounts for 50% of your total score. Of these 80 questions, there are approximately 40 individual questions, some of which are based on a color image of a work of art. The other 40 questions are grouped into eight sets of 3-6 questions, each set based on a different color image. 

Section 2: Free Response 

2 hours | 6 questions | 50% of score

The second section is the free response section, which lasts for two hours, includes six questions, and accounts for the remaining 50% of your total score. This section is divided into two 30-minute essays and four 15-minute essays, which often include images of art as stimuli for the given prompt.

30-Minute Essays: The longer of the free response questions will provide you with 3-5 works of art from the AP Art History course with a unifying idea. They may also call upon you to respond with a choice of artwork of your choosing, either from within or outside of the required course content. 

Question 1: The first 30-minute free response question focuses on comparison, tasking you with comparing select artwork from the course (images provided), and articulating the similarities and differences between the works. 

Question 2: The second long-answer free response question is about visual/contextual analysis, requiring you to analyze the visual and contextual features of a work of art from the AP Art History course (this is the only free response question which will not provide an image of artwork), and respond to a prompt with a thesis supported by evidence.  

Question 3: This question tests visual analysis, and requires you to examine the visual elements of a work of art—image provided—and connect it to a tradition, style, or practice. 

Question 4: The fourth question covers contextual analysis and asks you to evaluate the contextual elements from an image set and explain how context can influence artistic decisions. 

Question 5: This question focuses on attribution. Here, you must attribute a work of art to an artist and justify your assertion using visual evidence. 

Question 6: The final free response question spotlights continuity and change. You’ll need to identify the relationships—including artistic tradition, style, and/or practice—between works of art. 

AP Art History Score Distribution, Average Score, and Passing Rate

The AP Art History exam is a tough one to master, though many students pass it with average scores. In 2019, 63.1% of students who took the AP Art History received a score of 3 or higher. Of these, only 11.9% of students received the top score of 5, with another 24.6% scoring a 4. If you’re curious about other score distributions, see our post Easiest and Hardest AP Exams .

Keep in mind, credit and advanced standing based on AP scores varies widely from school to school. Though a score of 3 is typically considered passing, it is not always enough to receive credit. Regulations regarding which APs qualify for course credits or advanced placement at specific colleges and universities can be found on the College Board website . 

A full course description that can help to guide your studying and understanding of the knowledge required for the exam can be found in the College Board’s course description .

Read on for tips for preparing for the exam.

Best Ways to Study for the AP Art History Exam

Step 1: assess your skills.

Take a practice test to assess your initial knowledge of the material. Although the College Board AP Art History website provides a number of sample test questions and exam tips, it does not provide a complete sample test. However, practice tests are readily available in commercial study guides such as Barron’s AP Art History, 3rd Edition . Varsity Tutors also offers a handful of free diagnostic tests for AP Art History . You can also find an older version of test questions from the College Board’s 2011 exam or image-based questions from the 2013 exam to get a general idea of the test’s structure and content.

Step 2: Study the Material

The content and curriculum of the AP Art History course are based on three sets of big ideas and essential questions. These overarching concepts are intended to encourage critical thinking, analysis, and appreciation of art throughout time and place, and to foster your understanding of the field of art history. The big ideas and their associated essential questions are:   

• Big Idea 1: Artists manipulate materials and ideas to create an aesthetic object, act, or event. Essential Question: What is art and how is it made?
• Big Idea 2: Art making is shaped by tradition and change. Essential Question: Why and how does art change?
• Big Idea 3: Interpretations of art are variable. Essential Question: How do we describe our thinking about art?

Through the exploration of big ideas and answering essential questions, you should develop a foundational set of art historical thinking skills. Below are eight distinct art history skills you’ll develop in the AP Art History course and the percentage of the multiple-choice section of the AP Art History exam you can expect them to represent. 

In addition to these specific art history thinking skills, you will also need to be familiar with the official AP Art History image set which contains “250 works of art categorized by geographic and chronological designations, beginning with works from global prehistory and ending with global contemporary works.” These works are found in the College Board AP Art History Course Description .   

The College Board refers students to Khan Academy’s comprehensive AP Art History Study Guide . This website has a wealth of free material for effectively and efficiently learning what you’ll need to know for the exam. The College Board also provides a series of useful videos on the AP Art History teacher site that give an overview of the curricular framework, exam format, and writing tips.

There are also a number of free study resources available online. Many AP teachers have posted complete study guides, review sheets, and test questions—for example, this website from Valerie White , a ceramics teacher. Be careful when accessing these, as many will be from previous versions of the exam.

Finally, another convenient way to study is to use one of the recently-developed apps for AP exams. These can make studying on-the-go a lot easier. Make sure you read reviews before choosing one—their quality varies widely. Here’s an AP Art History app from Varsity Tutors that currently has 4.2 stars.

Step 3: Practice Multiple-Choice Questions

Once you have your theory down, test it out by practicing multiple-choice questions. You can find these in most study guides or through online searches. You could also try taking the multiple-choice section of another practice exam.

The College Board Course Description includes many practice multiple-choice questions along with explanations of their answers. There are additional questions available in commercial study guides. As you go through these, try to keep track of which areas are still tripping you up, and go back over this theory again. Focus on understanding what each question is asking and keep a running list of any vocabulary that is still unfamiliar.

Step 4: Practice Free Response Questions

All free response questions on the AP Art History exam include either images of works of art (from the required course content, except in the case of attribution questions) or a list of works from the required course content to prompt student responses. For questions that ask you to identify a piece of work, you should try to include all available identifiers including title or designation, name of the artist and/or culture of origin, date of creation, and materials. You should be able to provide at least two correct identifiers, but you will not be penalized for any additional identifiers that are incorrect. 

On the free response section of the AP Art History exam, a distinct emphasis is placed on the strength of your writing. To be successful, you will need to use clear, appropriate, and descriptive language. Your ideas should be organized logically with coherent evidence to support your assertions. You will need to make fact-based inferences and closely align your writing with the prompt’s directives.

As you complete the free response questions, make sure to keep an eye on the time. Though you will be reminded of the time remaining by the exam proctor, you will not be forced to move on to another question. Make sure you stay on track to address each section of every question. No points can be awarded for answers left completely blank when time runs out.

A fantastic way to prepare for the free response questions on the AP Art History exam is to practice with them. The College Board has the free response questions from the 2019 , 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 exams posted on its website. Another helpful resource when preparing for the AP Art History exam is also found on the College Board website— this presentation from Heather Madar of Humboldt State University provides a small sampling of the free response questions, along with insight into how students performed and the places they struggled.

Step 5: Take Another Practice Test

As you did at the very beginning of your studying, take a practice test to evaluate your progress. You should see a steady progression of knowledge, and it’s likely that you will see patterns identifying which areas have improved the most and which areas still need improvement. If you have time, repeat each of the steps above to incrementally increase your score.

Step 6: Exam day specifics

If you’re taking the AP course associated with this exam, your teacher will walk you through how to register. If you’re self-studying, check out our blog post How to Self-Register for AP Exams .

For information about what to bring to the exam, see our post What Should I Bring to My AP Exam (And What Should I Definitely Leave at Home)?

Wondering what your odds of acceptance are to your dream school? Using your GPA, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, and other data points, our chancing engine lets you know your chances of acceptance to over 500 colleges in the U.S. You can also see how you stack up against other applicants, and learn how to improve your profile. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account to start using our chancing engine today!

Looking for more great information about AP exams? Check out these other posts from CollegeVine: 

2020 AP Exam Schedule

How Long is Each AP Exam?

Easiest and Hardest AP Exams

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2024 AP Art History Exam Guide

12 min read • july 10, 2023

Your Guide to the 2024 AP Art History 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 Art 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 Art History Exam

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

80 multiple-choice questions with 60 minutes to complete them.

There will be around 40 questions put together in sets of 3-6 that will be based around color images of works of art.

There will also be around 40 individual questions centered around color images of works of art. 

6 free-response questions with 120 minutes to complete them.

Question 1 is a long essay focusing on comparison. You should spend ~35 minutes on this question.

Question 2 is another long essay focusing on visual and contextual analysis. It is recommended you devote 25 minutes to this response.

Questions 3-6 are short essay questions and it is recommended that you spend 15 minutes on each one.

Question 3 focuses on describing using visual analysis .

Question 4 is based on describing using contextual analysis .

Question 5 focuses on attribution .

Question 6 is based on analyzing continuity and change .

👉 Check out the 2023 AP Art History Free-Response Section posted on the College Board site.

Scoring Rubric for the AP Art History Exam

View an example set of questions and the corresponding scoring guidelines from the College Board to get an idea of what they look for in your responses!

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

When is the 2024 AP Art History Exam and How do I Take it?

Tests will be taken in person at your school. Here is what we know from College Board so far:

The exam date will be in-person and on paper at your school on Monday, May 6, 2024 at 12 pm, your local time. 

You will have 3 hours to take the exam. We will have more updates from the College Board soon, but as of now this is what we know!

How Should I Prepare for the Exam?

First, download the AP Art 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 Art History 2024 Study Plan

🗿 unit 1: global prehistory , 3000–500 bce, unit summary:.

The artists of the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods didn't have access to the same materials that we do nowadays, and instead used media, or materials, that were readily available, like natural pigments, stone, and bone. Also, people had very little time to create art before the specialization of labor, which is when people were assigned specific jobs and responsibilities. This makes the artistic works of this unit all the more impressive ( cue the round of applause 👏).

Definitely do this:

📚 Read these study guides:

Unit 1 Overview: Global Prehistory , 30,000-500 BCE

1.1 Cultural Influences on Prehistoric Art

1.2 Materials, Processes, and Techniques in Prehistoric Art

1.3 Theories and Interpretations of Prehistoric Art

1.4 Unit 1 Required Works

If you have more time or want to dig deeper:

💻 Learn about the best prep books so you can start studying early:

Best AP Art History Textbooks and Prep Books

🏛 Unit 2: Ancient Mediterranean , 3500 BCE–300 CE

When people ask AP Art History students about their favorite work in the course, many of them say ones from this unit, and with good reason. The ancient Mediterranean is home to some of the most renowned artworks and historical sites of all time, like the Pyramids of Giza and the Colosseum . The people of this area also developed new artistic techniques that are used to this day, showing the influence of groups like the Mesopotamians , Greeks , and Romans on art throughout history.

Unit 2 Overview: Ancient Mediterranean , 3500-300 BCE

2.1 Cultural Contexts of Ancient Mediterranean Art

2.2 Interactions Across Cultures in Ancient Mediterranean Art

2.3 Purpose and Audience in Ancient Mediterranean Art

2.4 Theories and Interpretations of Ancient Mediterranean Art

2.5 Unit 2 Required Works

🎥Watch these videos from the College Board :

Ancient Mediterranean , 3500 BCE-300 CE [Part 1]

Ancient Mediterranean , 3500 BCE-300 CE [Part 2]

Ancient Mediterranean , 3500 BCE-300 CE [Part 3]

Ancient Mediterranean , 3500 BCE-300 CE [Part 4]

💻 It is never to early to want to prepare for the exam:

How to Get a 5 in AP Art History

⛪️ Unit 3: Early Europe and Colonial Americas , 200–1750 CE

Now that the Roman Empire and ancient civilizations of unit 2 have fallen (or at least settled down a little bit), we get to discover their respective countries and some new ones, too! This unit will go over the artistic movements of Europe from 200 to 1750 CE and explain how peoples' conversions to religions like Christianity and Islam and historical events influenced the art made there. Later in the unit, we'll also get to travel to European-conquered areas of the Americas and see how those traditions have syncretized with the continent's native artistic traditions. 

Unit 3 Overview: Early Europe and Colonial Americas , 200-1750 CE

3.1 Cultural Contexts of Early European and Colonial American Art

3.2 Interactions Within and Across Cultures in Early European and Colonial American Art

3.3 Materials, Processes, and Techniques in Early European and Colonial American Art

3.4 Purpose and Audience in Early European and Colonial American Art

3.5 Theories and Interpretations of Early European and Colonial American Art

3.6 Unit 3 Required Works

Early Europe and Colonial Americas , 200-1750 CE [Part 1]

Early Europe and Colonial Americas , 200-1750 CE [Part 2]

Early Europe and Colonial Americas , 200-1750 CE [Part 3]

Early Europe and Colonial Americas , 200-1750 CE [Part 4]

⚔️ Unit 4: Later Europe and Americas , 1750–1980 CE

In this unit, we'll get to see how different historical events and social problems from 1750 to 1980 have influenced the art made in each period and how that has influenced the works that we see today. We'll also get to see artists in each movement break traditional rules by choosing to depict subjects that have never been painted before, create new techniques, use newly invented media, and expose issues that have historically not been acknowledged.

Unit 4 Overview: Later Europe and Americas , 1750-1980 CE

4.1 Interactions Within and Across Cultures in Later European and American Art

4.2 Purpose and Audience in Later European and American Art

4.3 Materials, Processes, and Techniques in Later European and American Art

4.4 Theories and Interpretations of Later European and American Art

4.5 Unit 4 Required Works

Later Europe and Americas , 1750-1980 CE [Part 1]

Later Europe and Americas , 1750-1980 CE [Part 2]

Later Europe and Americas , 1750-1980 CE [Part 3]

Cultural Interactions in Later European and American Art [Part 1]

Cultural Interactions in Later European and American Art [Part 2]

Purpose and Audience in Later European and American Art [Part 1]

Purpose and Audience in Later European and American Art [Part 2]

Materials, Processes, and Techniques in Later European and American Art

🌽 Unit 5: Indigenous Americas , 1000 BCE –1980 CE

We're going to move on to some of the cultures that weren't covered in that section. In unit 5, we'll be exploring works made by indigenous (native) American artists, both before and after European colonization (pre-Columbian and post-Columbian), and see how the region's distinctive cultures have influenced the art made there. As we go through this unit, be sure to make note of the similarities and differences that you see between these works and those made by mestizo (part indigenous, part European) artists in Unit 4.

Unit 5 Overview: Indigenous Americas , 1000 BCE-1980 CE

5.1 Interactions Within and Across Cultures in Indigenous American Art

5.2 Materials, Processes, and Techniques in Indigenous American Art

5.3 Purpose and Audience in Indigenous American Art

5.4 Theories and Interpretations of Indigenous American Art

5.5 Unit 5 Required Works

Indigenous Americas , 1000 BCE-1980 CE [Part 1]

Indigenous Americas , 1000 BCE-1980 CE [Part 2]

⚱️ Unit 6: Africa , 1100–1980 CE

With more than 3,000 different ethnic groups and 2,100 languages spoken on the continent 🗣️, Africa is extremely ethnically diverse, and we can see this through its art. Unlike in Europe, where art styles vary by nation or region (Central Europe, Western Europe, etc.), African art can look completely different in neighboring villages because of religious, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic dissimilarities. 

Unit 6 Overview: Africa , 1100-1980 CE

6.1 Cultural Contexts of African Art

6.2 Purpose and Audience in African Art

6.3 Theories and Interpretations of African Art

6.4 Unit 6 Required Works

Africa , 1100-1980 CE [Part 1]

Africa , 1100-1980 CE [Part 2]

🕌 Unit 7: West and Central Asia , 500 BCE–1980 CE

Unit 7 may be one of the shortest units in AP Art History at 11 required works, but it still packs a mighty punch. The works from West and Central Asia are incredibly diverse in media (materials used to create a work), function, and pretty much every other identifier, which is why so many AP Art History students enjoy this part of the course. 

Unit 7 Overview: West and Central Asia , 500 BCE-1980 CE

7.1 Materials, Processes, and Techniques in West and Central Asian Art

7.2 Purpose and Audience in West and Central Asian Art

7.3 Interactions Within and Across Cultures in West and Central Asian Art

7.4 Unit 7 Required Works

🛕 Unit 8: South, East, and Southeast Asia , 300 BCE–1980 CE

In unit 7, we learned about West and Central Asia , but now, we're going to move east to the areas that we haven't explored yet; welcome to South, East, and Southeast Asia ! In this unit, you'll learn about the influence of different religions and philosophies on people's beliefs and how this translates to their artworks. We'll also learn more about cross-cultural interactions on the continent between Europeans and native groups, and how this led to artistic syncretism (fusion of different cultures).

Unit 8 Overview: South, East, and Southeast Asia , 300 BCE-1980 CE

8.1 Materials, Processes, and Techniques in South, East, and Southeast Asian Art

8.2 India and Southeast Asia

8.3 Interactions Within and Across Cultures in South, East, and Southeast Asian Art

8.5 Unit 8 Required Works

🐚 Unit 9: The Pacific, 700–1980 CE

Spread across approximately 25,000 islands, the Pacific region is one of the most expansive and remote places studied in AP Art History . Because of this unique characteristic, many of its people have not had contact with those living in nearby areas, keeping artistic styles to their islands of origin and not allowing for syncretism (the blending of elements from another region into native art). 

Unit 9 Overview: The Pacific, 700-1980 CE

9.1 Materials, Processes, and Techniques in Pacific Art

9.2 Interactions Within and Across Cultures in Pacific Art

9.3 Theories and Interpretations of Pacific Art

9.4 Unit 9 Required Works

Materials, Processes, and Techniques in Pacific Art

Interactions Within and Across Cultures in Pacific Art [Focus: Polynesia ]

Theories and Interpretations of Pacific Art [Focus: Polynesia & Melanesia ]

🏢 Unit 10: Global Contemporary , 1980 CE to Present

This is the final unit of AP Art History ( cue the round of celebratory applause 👏 )! Unit 10 is a great way to finish off this course because its works are unlike any that we've seen previously with respect to theme, media (things used to make a work), and technique. Unfortunately, though, contemporary art (art made in the second half of the 20th or the 21st century) gets a bad rap from many viewers.

Unit 10 Overview: Global Contemporary , 1980 CE to Present

10.1 Materials, Processes, and Techniques in Global Contemporary Art

10.2 Purpose and Audience in Global Contemporary Art

10.3 Interactions Within and Across Cultures in Global Contemporary Art - coming soon

10.4 Theories and Interpretations of Global Contemporary Art

10.5 Unit 10 Required Works

Purpose and Audience in Global Contemporary Art [Part 1]

Purpose and Audience in Global Contemporary Art [Part 2]

Purpose and Audience in Global Contemporary Art [Part 3]

Interactions Within and Across Cultures in Contemporary Art [Part 1]

Interactions Within and Across Cultures in Contemporary Art [Part 2]

💻 Use these Quizlet decks to help you study for the exam:

Best Quizlet Decks for AP Art History

Key Terms to Review ( 26 )

Ancient Mediterranean

AP Art History

Christianity

College Board

Early Europe and Colonial Americas

Free-Response Section

Global Contemporary

Global Prehistory

Indigenous Americas

Later Europe and Americas

Mesopotamians

Paleolithic

Pyramids of Giza

Scoring Rubric

South, East, and Southeast Asia

West and Central Asia

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Advanced Placement (AP)

Thinking about taking AP Art History but aren't sure what it covers? AP Art History differs from other AP arts courses in that you're not creating your own art—instead, you're learning about the huge variety of art that has been created across time and around the world. The course covers a lot of ground, and knowing what to expect from the start can help you have a productive and manageable year. In this guide, we'll look at what students learn in AP Art History, what the AP Art History exam is like, if the course is considered hard, and resources and tips you can use to help you ace the class and the AP exam.

What Does AP Art History Cover?

AP Art History is designed to give students broad knowledge in a variety of artistic forms and styles across the globe and over the course of human history. The course covers six continents and over 30,000 years of art history. Students who take the course learn how to critically examine a wide variety of art and express their thoughts on it.

There are roughly 250 works of art (known as the AP Art History 250 ) you're expected to know as an AP Art History student. (If that terrifies you, know that the list used to stretch to over 500 before the 2015-2016 course update!)  For each AP Art History 250 piece, you'll learn facts about the art, its creation, and how it fits into larger art history patterns.

There are ten units in AP Art History, each covering a specific region and time frame. You can read the AP Art History Course and Exam Description for an in-depth look at each major topic the course covers. Below is an overview of the ten units along with the percentage of questions you can expect to focus on that unit in the multiple-choice section of the AP exam.

Unit 1: Global Prehistory, 30,000-500 BCE 

• Origins of human art across the globe during the stone ages.
• 4% of multiple-choice score

Unit 2: Ancient Mediterranean, 3500 BCE-300 CE 

• A broad range of artistic works from the civilizations of the ancient Near East and Egypt, as well as the Greek, Etruscan, and Roman cultures.
• 15% of multiple-choice score

Unit 3: Early Europe and Colonial Americas, 200-1750 CE

• Evolution of art from the early middle ages through the mid-18th century in Europe and the Americas.
• 21% of multiple-choice score

Unit 4: Later Europe and Americas, 1750-1980 CE

• The effect of rapid societal change on art from the modern period in Europe and the Americas.

Unit 5: Indigenous Americas, 1000 BCE-1980 CE

• The roots and evolution of indigenous American art from the ancient civilizations of Central and South America to Native North American societies.
• 6% of multiple-choice score

Unit 6: Africa, 1100-1980 CE

• The diversity of African art and the role it played in the many and varied societies on the continent.

Unit 7: West and Central Asia, 500 BCE-1980 CE

• The techniques, materials, and evolution of art throughout West and Central Asia.

Unit 8: South, East, and Southeast Asia, 300 BCE-1980 CE

• The tradition of Asian art from prehistoric times to modern works.
• 8% of multiple-choice score

Unit 9: The Pacific, 700-1980 CE

• Types of art from the vast network of islands in the Pacific Ocean stretching from Australia to Hawaii.

Unit 10: Global Contemporary, 1980 CE to Present

• The many forms of modern art from across the globe.
• 11% of multiple-choice score

What's the Exam Format for AP Art History?

As with most AP exams, Art History's is split into two parts: multiple choice, followed by free response. The chart below gives an overview of the exam format:

For the multiple-choice section, you'll have an hour to answer 80 questions. The questions can be sets of 2-3 related questions, or individual questions. Each question is based on a color image of a work of art. For this section you'll be asked to:

• Analyze visual and contextual elements of works of art and link them to a larger artistic tradition.
• Compare 2 or more works.
• Attribute works of art beyond the images provided in questions.
• Analyze art historical interpretations.

For the free-response section, there are six questions. Here's what you'll need to do for each:

Question 1: Long Essay–Compare a required work of art and another of your choosing and explain the significance of the similarities and differences between those works, citing evidence to support your claim.

Question 2: Long Essay–Select and identify a work of art and make assertions about it based on evidence.

Question 3: Short Essay–Describe a work of art beyond the image[s] provided in the prompt and connect it to an artistic tradition, style, or practice.

Question 4: Short Essay–Describe contextual influences of a work of art in the image set and explain how context can influence artistic decisions or affect the meaning of a work of art.

Question 5: Short Essay–Attribute a work of art beyond the image set to a particular artist, culture, or style, and justify your assertions with evidence.

Question 6: Short Essay–Analyze the relationship between a provided work of art and a related artistic tradition, style, or practice.

Question 1 is worth 8 points, Question 2 is worth 6 points, and Questions 3-6 are each worth 5 points. The free-response section as a whole is worth 50% of your total AP score.

How Hard Is AP Art History?

Is AP Art History hard? It certainly covers a lot of information and requires you to use multiple skills, but how does it compare to other AP courses and exams? We have an entire article on the toughest AP classes and tests , but in this section we'll analyze AP Art History specifically.

To start, let's look at some data. Here's how students scored on the AP Art History exam in 2021 :

There are two measurements we can look at to determine AP Art History difficulty. The first is the 5 rate, or what percentage of test takers earned the highest score on the exam. The 5 rate for AP Art History is 12%, which is roughly the average for all AP exams. The other measurement is the passing rate, or what percentage of test takers earned a 3 or higher. Art History has a passing rate of 55% which is below average. Out of 44 exams, only 12 had a lower passing rate than Art History. This means that Art History may be harder than the average AP course.

From forums like College Confidential, Reddit, and Quora, we know that, even though many students think the course material and exam questions are fairly straightforward, the sheer amount of information you need to know--about different types of art, different regions, different styles etc. can make it difficult to do well in Art History. 

Another way to gauge the difficulty of AP Art History is to ask former students their opinions. Maybe your school has a really great Art History teacher who makes the material interesting and easier to understand. Or maybe the class is known for having a ton of homework that makes it difficult to find time for your other classes.

Whichever resources you use to decide if AP Art History is hard or not, remember to take all that information with a grain of salt. What's difficult for one person can be easy for another. If you have a genuine interest in art history, you'll likely have an easier time than someone who doesn't because you'll be more motivated to learn all the information required. Similarly, if you are naturally good at memorizing facts, you may fare better than someone who can't keep dates or names straight but is excellent at broad analysis, simply because of the type of course AP Art History is.

Should You Take AP Art History?

Now you know what to expect from the AP Art History course and exam, but the question remains: should you take AP Art History? The answer really depends on how you personally feel about the course and the material it covers.

As we mentioned above, Art History can be a tough AP course with a lot of memorization and homework required to do well. If you don't have an interest in the subject, that can make it a slog to get through the class. However, because art history is an interdisciplinary subject, it can appeal to a lot of students, including those interested in history, art, different cultures, and social science in general. If you're interested in fine arts, it can be an especially good option because it's a test-based AP (as opposed to portfolio-based APs like 3D and 2D Art) that allows you to study art but also show off your writing and test-taking skills to colleges.

Many times high school students feel pressured to take "impressive" classes that they think will look good on their college applications, and they want to know how colleges will view AP Art History. The truth is that, since it's an AP course, AP Art History will automatically look good on your transcript and will be more impressive than a regular-level or honors-level course. Many colleges do tend to see STEM AP courses (like AP Biology, Calculus, etc.) as a bit more impressive, but if you're really interested in the material, sign up for AP Art History! You'll likely get a higher grade on the AP exam than you would in a course you don't care about, and a high AP score is another bonus for you.

AP Art History Practice Tests

Practice tests are one of the best ways to study for an AP exam, but only if you're using the right materials. In this section we cover the best AP Art History study resources to get your prep off on the right foot.

Official Practice Tests

Official practice materials are the absolute best to use for any AP exam. They're made by the same people who design the actual AP exam questions, so you know their practice materials will be high quality. 

For free-response questions, you can access dozens of old AP Art History exam questions and answer explanations on the AP site.

• FRQ from 2021
• FRQ from 1999-2020

These are a great resource, and you should be sure to make use of them. More recent questions (2016 and later) will be more useful since they'll be in line with the current format of the exam.

Additionally, the AP Art History Course and Exam Description contains 15 multiple-choice questions and three free-response questions beginning on page 327 of the document.

Unofficial Practice Tests

Because there are so many official free-response questions available, we recommend using only them for your prep. Save unofficial resources for multiple-choice questions. There are quite a few unofficial resources for AP Art History practice questions; unfortunately, many of them are low quality and not worth your time. 

A good rule of thumb is that, if the multiple-choice questions aren't accompanied by an image of a work of art, they aren't close to what you'll see on the actual AP exam and should be avoided. Right now Albert is the only really solid unofficial online resource. You'll have to create an account to access the materials, and, additionally, some questions require a paid account on top of that, but their questions are high-quality and a good match to the actual exam.

There are also prep books available that include practice exams. These can be a helpful resource but, like any other unofficial material, be sure to read reviews carefully before buying one.

3 Study Tips for AP Art History

Once you have your study materials in hand, follow the three tips outlined below to ace both sections of the AP Art History exam.

#1: Get Friendly With Flashcards

As we mentioned above, you'll need to know the AP Art History 250 works of art. For each one, you should be able to rattle off the title, artist, date and location of creation, and a fact or two about its importance. All together, that's over a thousand bits of information you'll need to keep straight. Flashcards will be your friend! Once you've created your set of flashcards, we recommend using the waterfall method as the best way to drill down into the cards you don't know and memorize all the information as efficiently and easily as possible.

#2: Make Connections Between Works of Art

Just memorizing facts isn't enough to do well in AP Art History; you also need to be able to analyze different works of art and discuss their similarities, differences, and relation to the region and time period as a whole. You'll likely be doing a lot of this in class, but because it's such an important skill, make sure to spend time on it outside of class as well. As you're going through your flashcards, draw a couple cards randomly and try to make connections between them. What characteristics do they share? How do they differ? What changes in the world contributed to these differences? If you need help getting started, the free-response questions on the AP website are a great place to see the types of questions you might be asked (as well as what strong answers look like).

#3: Keep Track of Time

A time crunch is always present on AP exams, and Art History is no exception. For the multiple-choice section, you'll have 60 minutes to answer 80 questions, which gives you 45 seconds per question. For most people, this is doable as long as they don't get tripped up and spend several minutes struggling over a single question. 

For the free-response section, time pressure is often even greater because you'll have to write what are effectively six short essays. It's very easy to get caught up in one essay and suddenly realize that there are ten minutes left in the section and you haven't even started the last two essay questions. Don't let this happen to you!

At a minimum, you should pause for a moment at the midway point of each section (that's 30 minutes into the multiple-choice section and one hour into the free-response section) and assess how you're doing for time. Have you answered about half of the questions? Then you can keep the pace you're at. If not, then you know you need to speed things up.

It's also important to be OK with skipping questions. If you've spent over a minute staring at a multiple-choice problem and still have no idea how to answer it, mark a random answer and come back to it if you have extra time at the end of the section. For free response, don't be afraid to answer the questions out of order. And keep to about 20 minutes per essay in order to have enough time to answer each of the questions.

Summary: What Is AP Art History?

AP Art History covers the history of art spanning six continents and over 30,000 years. Students who take the course will learn how to analyze and discuss various works of art (including the AP Art History 250). Is AP Art History hard? Students often mention the large amount of information you need to memorize, and the AP exam has a lower passing rate than average, but don't let that dissuade you if you're interested in the course material. If you do decide to take the class, be sure to make use of flashcards, get lots of practice making connections between works of art, and keep track of time throughout the AP exam.

What's Next?

Is art school in your future?  Read our guide on the 10 best art schools in the US to get an overview of the top options.

If you're planning on going to art school, you'll need to create a portfolio of your best work. Learn more about how to make a great portfolio that will impress your dream school.

If you're worried about paying for college, there are tons of scholarships out there for you. Read this article on the best scholarships you can win as a high school senior.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Hey guys, I'm prepping for the AP Art History exam and I'm trying to understand the breakdown of the test. Can someone give me a quick overview of the exam, like the sections, number of questions, and time allotments? Thanks in advance!

Sure, I'd be happy to provide an overview of the AP Art History exam! The test is divided into two sections: multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and free-response questions (FRQs).

Section I: Multiple-Choice Questions

This section has 80 questions and you'll have 1 hour and 20 minutes to complete it. The MCQs primarily focus on analyzing artworks and artifacts from different cultures and historical periods. Some questions might require you to look at a provided image and answer questions based on the visual information, while others may ask about specific characteristics or the historical context of an artwork. It's important to be familiar with the 250 required artworks in the Art History curriculum.

Section II: Free-Response Questions

This section consists of 6 questions, and you'll have 2 hours to complete it. There are two types of FRQs:

1. Long essay questions (2 questions): For each of these, you'll be asked to analyze a specific art piece or compare two pieces in a comprehensive and in-depth manner. You'll need to provide historical context, stylistic elements, artistic techniques, and connections to the larger themes within art history. Each long essay question should take you about 30 minutes to complete.

2. Short essay questions (4 questions): These questions are more focused and require you to analyze an artwork, an image, or a concept from a narrower perspective. You will likely have to identify specific details, explain their significance, and make connections to broader themes in art history. Each short essay question should take you about 15 minutes to complete.

Good luck with your preparation!

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AP® Art History

How long is the ap® art history exam tips to manage your time for a 5.

• The Albert Team
• Last Updated On: March 1, 2022

AP® Art History covers art from a variety of different cultures throughout history. This course will open your eyes to how art is created, has a deeper meaning, and reflects society. AP® Art History will cover 250 different pieces of art. This course will enable you to experience, learn, write about, and respond to a variety of art. At the end of this course, you will be able to demonstrate your comprehension and skills you learned during the exam. How long is the AP® Art History Exam? What can you expect the exam to entail? This article will break down all aspects of the AP® Art History Exam. We will review how to manage your time in each section to ensure you receive a 5.

How Long is the AP® Art History Exam?

The AP® Art History Exam is three hours. The exam has a multiple-choice section and a free-response section. These two sections are put together to determine your score. Students have one hour to complete the multiple-choice section and two hours to complete the free-response section. All the questions will be based on your learning objectives for the course. A single question can cover multiple learning objectives and address various works of art from different cultures. This helps you apply analytic skills obtained throughout AP® Art History. Throughout the exam, a proctor will announce time designations. However, you can go through the sections of the test at your own pace. Take a practice exam under the same time conditions to help your prepare. This will give you an idea on how to pace yourself. In addition, taking a practice exam will allow you to relax and perform better at exam time.

How Long is Section I of the AP® Art History Exam?

Section I is made up of multiple-choice questions. You will have one hour to complete this section. There are 80 questions total. The questions are made up of 35 discrete questions and 45 sets of questions. An incorrect answer does not deduct points from your score, so do not skip any questions. Also, remember to give yourself a few minutes to check your answers. Below are two sample multiple-choice questions from CollegeBoard:

1. Although the cave paintings in the Great Hall of the Bulls at Lascaux were originally interpreted as depictions of hunting scenes, they have more recently been interpreted as paintings intended to

(A) warn people about dangerous animals threatening villages

(B) portray scenes of animal domestication

(C) document a series of animal-based rituals

(D) tell a mythic narrative of human origins

Correct Answer: C

2. Which of the following statements is true of both the Standard of Ur from the Royal Tombs at Ur and the Palette of King Narmer?

(A) They portray dynastic succession.

(B) They celebrate military victory.

(C) They designate the king as a sun god.

(D) They depict an enemy’s military banner.

Correct Answer: B

How to Manage Your Time in Section I of the AP® Art History Exam

You should aim to spend an hour on Section I of the exam. You will want to move promptly through this section so you can effectively respond to all questions and leave time to complete Section II. Time your practice exam to help pace yourself to complete the multiple-choice section. According to CollegeBoard, multiple-choice questions will determine your ability to identify works, artists, and cultures from the required course content of 250 works of art. Due to the variety of artwork covered, a great tip is to create flashcards while you study. This will improve your memory of all the artwork. In addition, you will need to use analysis skills to show you grasped historical concepts. You will have the opportunity to use the art skills you learned to make decisions about unfamiliar art. Remember that it is not just about memorization, but being able to apply art analytical skills to breakdown different art. The multiple-choice questions will serve as a way to show your comprehension of the art and the relationships of their form, function, content, and context.

How Long is Section II of the AP® Art History Exam?

Section II is free response part of the exam. This section consists of short and long essay questions. Section II is comprised of 6 questions. There will be two 30-minute essay questions and four 15-minute essay questions. This section will call for you to apply the art historical skills you have obtained. All of the questions in this section will include images of works of art or a list of works from the required course content. As stated by CollegeBoard, “For questions that require students to identify a work of art, students should try to include all of the following identifiers: the title of designation, name of the artist and/or culture of origin, date of creation, and materials”. If you give two correct identifiers, you will earn credit for the identification. If additional identifiers are incorrect or inaccurate, you will not be penalized. All of the questions in this section must be written in essay form. Similarly to the multiple-choice section, make sure you give yourself a few minutes to go over your responses! Below are two sample essay questions from CollegeBoard:

Long Essay Questions Sample

1. Many works of art are intended to convey an interpretation of a culture’s history.

Select and completely identify one work of art that conveys an interpretation of a culture’s history.

Identify the intended audience of the work.

Describe the historical content that the work is intended to convey.

Then, using specific visual and contextual evidence, analyze how the work conveys that historical content.

To answer this question, you may select a work from the list below or any other relevant work of art. When identifying the work you select, you should try to include all of the following identifiers: title or designation, the name of the artist and/or culture of origin, date of creation, and materials. You will earn credit for the identification if you provide at least two accurate identifiers, but you will not be penalized if any additional identifiers you provide are inaccurate. If you select a work from the list below, you must include at least two accurate identifiers beyond those that are given.

• Alexander Mosaic from the House of Faun, Pompeii
• The Burghers of Calais
• Lukasa (memory board)

Short Essay Questions Sample

2. Attribute this painting to the artist who painted it.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

Completely identify the painting by the same artist in the required course content.

Then, using specific visual evidence, justify your attribution by comparing the two works.

How do both works demonstrate the artist’s ongoing experimentation with form through landscape?

When identifying the work you select, you should try to include all of the following identifiers: title or designation, the name of the artist and/or culture of origin, date of creation, and materials. You will earn credit for the identification if you provide at least two accurate identifiers, but you will not be penalized if any additional identifiers you provide are inaccurate.

How to Manage Your Time in Section II of the AP® Art History Exam

Time management is key in Section II of the AP® Art History Exam. You will have two hours to complete all six essay questions. Questions 1 and 2 are long essay questions. It is recommended that students spend 30 minutes on each question. Questions 3 through 6 are short essay questions. It is recommended that students spend 15 minutes on each question. CollegeBoard assures students that a test proctor will announce when each time interval has elapsed to help you manage your time.

The two 30-minute essay questions allow you to discuss and respond to the art and topic in more depth. In this section, you can apply your perspective and analytical skills that you have learned throughout your course study. The long essay questions were created to give you the chance to discuss a different part of the artwork, analyze the relationship of works of art, and show your deeper understanding. For Questions 1 and 2 (the long essay questions) you can use additional works of art to add depth to your answer. The extra artwork can be from the work covered in the course or from outside research. Questions 3 through 6 (the short essay questions) will give you the opportunity to inspect and describe art historical concepts and relationships.

How can You Practice Time Management for AP® Art History?

As stated earlier, the AP® Art History exam will be three hours long with a mix of multiple-choice and essay questions. It is imperative to manage your time so that you are able to complete all sections of the exam and have a chance to review your work. One of the best tips to help you stay relaxed and obtain that 5 is to take a practice test with the same time conditions. In addition, making sure you take the time to study and go over all of the work you learned with help you succeed and do well with the exam. Albert has a variety of study materials and information to help assist you! On the website, you can find articles and sample questions for both multiple-choice and essay questions. Make sure to take your time, study, relax, and go into your AP® Art History Exam with confidence!

What’s your next step for preparing for the exam and getting that 5?

Looking for AP® Art History practice?

Kickstart your AP® Art History prep with Albert. Start your AP® exam prep today .

Need help preparing for your AP® Art History exam?

Albert has hundreds of AP® Art History practice questions, free response, and full-length practice tests to try out.

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Art History Analysis – Formal Analysis and Stylistic Analysis

Typically in an art history class the main essay students will need to write for a final paper or for an exam is a formal or stylistic analysis.

A formal analysis is just what it sounds like – you need to analyze the form of the artwork. This includes the individual design elements – composition, color, line, texture, scale, contrast, etc. Questions to consider in a formal analysis is how do all these elements come together to create this work of art? Think of formal analysis in relation to literature – authors give descriptions of characters or places through the written word. How does an artist convey this same information?

Organize your information and focus on each feature before moving onto the text – it is not ideal to discuss color and jump from line to then in the conclusion discuss color again. First summarize the overall appearance of the work of art – is this a painting? Does the artist use only dark colors? Why heavy brushstrokes? etc and then discuss details of the object – this specific animal is gray, the sky is missing a moon, etc. Again, it is best to be organized and focused in your writing – if you discuss the animals and then the individuals and go back to the animals you run the risk of making your writing unorganized and hard to read. It is also ideal to discuss the focal of the piece – what is in the center? What stands out the most in the piece or takes up most of the composition?

A stylistic approach can be described as an indicator of unique characteristics that analyzes and uses the formal elements (2-D: Line, color, value, shape and 3-D all of those and mass).The point of style is to see all the commonalities in a person’s works, such as the use of paint and brush strokes in Van Gogh’s work. Style can distinguish an artist’s work from others and within their own timeline, geographical regions, etc.

Methods & Theories To Consider:

Expressionism

Instructuralism

Postmodernism

Social Art History

Biographical Approach

Poststructuralism

Museum Studies

Visual Cultural Studies

Stylistic Analysis Example:

The following is a brief stylistic analysis of two Greek statues, an example of how style has changed because of the “essence of the age.” Over the years, sculptures of women started off as being plain and fully clothed with no distinct features, to the beautiful Venus/Aphrodite figures most people recognize today. In the mid-seventh century to the early fifth, life-sized standing marble statues of young women, often elaborately dress in gaily painted garments were created known as korai. The earliest korai is a Naxian women to Artemis. The statue wears a tight-fitted, belted peplos, giving the body a very plain look. The earliest korai wore the simpler Dorian peplos, which was a heavy woolen garment. From about 530, most wear a thinner, more elaborate, and brightly painted Ionic linen and himation. A largely contrasting Greek statue to the korai is the Venus de Milo. The Venus from head to toe is six feet seven inches tall. Her hips suggest that she has had several children. Though her body shows to be heavy, she still seems to almost be weightless. Viewing the Venus de Milo, she changes from side to side. From her right side she seems almost like a pillar and her leg bears most of the weight. She seems be firmly planted into the earth, and since she is looking at the left, her big features such as her waist define her. The Venus de Milo had a band around her right bicep. She had earrings that were brutally stolen, ripping her ears away. Venus was noted for loving necklaces, so it is very possibly she would have had one. It is also possible she had a tiara and bracelets. Venus was normally defined as “golden,” so her hair would have been painted. Two statues in the same region, have throughout history, changed in their style.

Compare and Contrast Essay

Most introductory art history classes will ask students to write a compare and contrast essay about two pieces – examples include comparing and contrasting a medieval to a renaissance painting. It is always best to start with smaller comparisons between the two works of art such as the medium of the piece. Then the comparison can include attention to detail so use of color, subject matter, or iconography. Do the same for contrasting the two pieces – start small. After the foundation is set move on to the analysis and what these comparisons or contrasting material mean – ‘what is the bigger picture here?’ Consider why one artist would wish to show the same subject matter in a different way, how, when, etc are all questions to ask in the compare and contrast essay. If during an exam it would be best to quickly outline the points to make before tackling writing the essay.

Compare and Contrast Example:

Stele of Hammurabi from Susa (modern Shush, Iran), ca. 1792 – 1750 BCE, Basalt, height of stele approx. 7’ height of relief 28’

Stele, relief sculpture, Art as propaganda – Hammurabi shows that his law code is approved by the gods, depiction of land in background, Hammurabi on the same place of importance as the god, etc.

Top of this stele shows the relief image of Hammurabi receiving the law code from Shamash, god of justice, Code of Babylonian social law, only two figures shown, different area and time period, etc.

Stele of Naram-sin , Sippar Found at Susa c. 2220 - 2184 bce. Limestone, height 6'6"

Stele, relief sculpture, Example of propaganda because the ruler (like the Stele of Hammurabi) shows his power through divine authority, Naramsin is the main character due to his large size, depiction of land in background, etc.

Akkadian art, made of limestone, the stele commemorates a victory of Naramsin, multiple figures are shown specifically soldiers, different area and time period, etc.

Iconography

Regardless of what essay approach you take in class it is absolutely necessary to understand how to analyze the iconography of a work of art and to incorporate into your paper. Iconography is defined as subject matter, what the image means. For example, why do things such as a small dog in a painting in early Northern Renaissance paintings represent sexuality? Additionally, how can an individual perhaps identify these motifs that keep coming up?

The following is a list of symbols and their meaning in Marriage a la Mode by William Hogarth (1743) that is a series of six paintings that show the story of marriage in Hogarth’s eyes.

• Man has pockets turned out symbolizing he has lost money and was recently in a fight by the state of his clothes.
• Lap dog shows loyalty but sniffs at woman’s hat in the husband’s pocket showing sexual exploits.
• Black dot on husband’s neck believed to be symbol of syphilis.
• Mantel full of ugly Chinese porcelain statues symbolizing that the couple has no class.
• Butler had to go pay bills, you can tell this by the distasteful look on his face and that his pockets are stuffed with bills and papers.
• Card game just finished up, women has directions to game under foot, shows her easily cheating nature.
• Paintings of saints line a wall of the background room, isolated from the living, shows the couple’s complete disregard to faith and religion.
• The dangers of sexual excess are underscored in the Hograth by placing Cupid among ruins, foreshadowing the inevitable ruin of the marriage.
• Eventually the series (other five paintings) shows that the woman has an affair, the men duel and die, the woman hangs herself and the father takes her ring off her finger symbolizing the one thing he could salvage from the marriage.

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Ap art history.

This course can help prepare students who wish to continue their art education after high school, as well as students who wish to perform exceptionally well on the SAT exam. The level of aptitude in this subject will assist students wishing to excel on the SAT and in college courses. While there is no formal prerequisite for an AP Art History class, students should have a basic understanding of art terms. Students would also benefit from taking more basic art courses such as Art I or any art classes requiring studio time.

The Art History AP course is designed to allow students to examine major forms of artistic expression relevant to a variety of cultures evident in wide variety of periods from present times into the past. In this course, students acquire an ability to examine works of art critically, with intelligence and sensitivity, and to articulate their thoughts and experiences. The main focus is on European Art, but the course does deal with African, Hindu, South and East Asian, and Muslim Art. Pre-Historic art has now been removed from the curriculum. 

College art courses vary in their approach to interpreting art. They often include selections of chronological frameworks, themes, and an emphasis on analytical skills. These courses are carefully monitored by the AP Development Committee in order to ensure that the exam is compatible with the AP Art History Exam. These courses are typically very regulated courses, which ensures that students across the country are receiving similar educations and are not subject to the artistic preferences of different teachers.

AP Art History is a serious course and includes many course goals. According to the College Board’s website, by the time students take their AP Art History exam (or the SAT exam) they should be prepared with:

• The ability to apply basic art and art history terminology and tools.
• An appreciation for the artistic process as well as the importance of how art is displayed.
• A knowledge of different types of art from prehistoric art, to Medieval art, to Expressionist and Modern art. Students will come to develop their own understanding of what makes art “good” or classic.”
• An understanding of art’s purpose and function throughout history and in today’s society.
• The ability to understand and analyze works of art in context of historical evidence and interpretation. They will e able to examine issues such as politics, religion, ethnicity, patronage, and gender.
• An understanding of the cross-cultural and global nature of art.
• The ability to perform higher thinking skills and articulate visual and art historical concepts in verbal and written forms.
• Use study notes and other basic study techniques in conjunction with textbooks such as Smarthistory and Gardner’s Art Through the Ages.

Students that take AP Art History should expect to cover art and art history as follows:

• 40-50% coursework on painting and drawing
• 25% coursework on architecture and design
• 25% coursework on various forms of sculpture
• 5-10% coursework on other media such as printmaking, photography, ceramics, fiber arts, and others.

The AP Art History exam will cover these areas of study in proportion to how much time is spent covering them over the course of the class.

Students considering taking AP Calculus or any other Advanced Placement course should recognize that taking these classes requires a commitment of both time and energy on the part of the student. Students that commit themselves to their coursework will see a definite payoff in both their SAT exam scores as well as their college preparedness.

Students that wish to get accepted into prestigious or highly-selective schools should seriously consider taking AP courses since they not only look excellent on high school transcripts, but they can also give students an inside look at college courses before they even take them. They can earn college credit while still in high school, saving valuable time and money in the process. They will also help students develop the skills they need to succeed in the sometimes high-pressure college atmosphere, and give students valuable knowledge that they can use both in college and beyond their schooling. 

Here you will find AP Art History outlines. We are working to add more AP Art History resources such as unit notes, topic notes, study questions, and practice quizzes.

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