A Comprehensive Study Guide For AP World History

The AP World History exam covers centuries of people, places, and events. Preparing for this expansive test isn’t easy, but it is possible.

Start the year by creating a study plan that optimizes your time and resources. We’ve provided plans for two months, one month, and two weeks before the exam.

Review the AP Course Description

AP exams follow consistent question types, weighting, and scoring guidelines. Students should familiarize themselves with these AP world history study guide over the summer, ideally before their AP World History class begins. An excellent way to do this is by reviewing the AP Course Description, which provides a thorough overview of course concepts and skills. It’s also helpful to read the AP World History teacher perspectives, which offer insight into the personal viewpoints and teaching styles of experienced AP teachers.

However, it’s important to remember that a good AP World History score is not about memorizing every tiny detail from the course—it’s about understanding significant patterns and developments over time. For this reason, students should focus on studying throughout the year rather than trying to cram for the exam in April.

Review the AP Exam Format

The AP World History exam covers many periods, from 1200 to the present. This makes it challenging for students to remember everything they’ve learned. However, if you study for the exam over the year in a way that’s well-suited to your learning style, you can do quite well on the test.

The exam format features multiple-choice questions as well as free-response questions. Students will get 60 minutes to complete the document-based question (DBQ) and 40 minutes for the extended essay question. Both of these sections are worth 40% of your score.

DBQs require you to analyze primary and secondary sources and make connections to other historical developments. The extended essay question requires you to develop an argument based on your analysis of a specific set of documents.

The AP World History course is rigorous, and the exam is one of the hardest to pass. Students often receive scores of 2 or below on the exam. However, the percentage of students who receive a five on the exam has risen steadily in recent years. If you want to earn credit or advance your standing in college, studying hard for this exam is essential.

Take Practice Exams

It’s important to practice taking the AP World History exam as much as you can before test day. Practice tests will help you get a feel for the exam format and allow you to identify which areas you need to study more. Moreover, practicing test-taking skills can also help you become a more efficient exam taker by eliminating wrong answers and learning from mistakes.

Some have a few different practice exams that you can use to prepare for the AP World History exam. These exams include both multiple-choice and free-response questions. They’re designed to be as similar as possible to the actual exam, so you’ll get familiar with the type of questions and topic coverage that’s likely to be on the test.

These practice exams also include sample DBQs and LEQ questions. Focusing on these questions that require you to build an argument and analyze historical documents is recommended, as these are more difficult than the multiple-choice questions. Moreover, these questions are worth more points on the test, so they’re worth spending extra time on.

Review Your Notes

Whether taking an online AP World History course or just studying from your textbook, your notes are one of the most essential study materials. Ensure you’re reviewing them regularly, especially if you plan on taking the exam.

You’ll also want to focus on your writing skills since the AP World History exam has a long essay section that makes up 15% of your score. The best way to practice writing fluency is by finding journal prompts on various topics and setting a timer for yourself to write about them. Try to write as many words as possible in the allotted time and keep track of your word count. Doing this a few times a week can help you increase your writing speed over time and give you the confidence to tackle the essay portion of the exam.

Taking the AP World History exam without practicing first would be like jumping into a race without a driver’s license! That’s why having a good AP World History prep book that includes practice tests and sample essay questions is essential.

Review Your Study Strategies

The AP World History exam covers a lot of material and can be overwhelming. A plan that optimizes your study time will help you succeed on the exam.

Remember, knowing the facts is not enough to score a 5. It expects you to apply your knowledge to analyze documents and create arguments. You’ll also need to be able to answer free-response questions. Answering practice questions and reviewing sample responses from previous exams can help you develop these skills.

Take a full practice test in the spring. This will give you a sense of what it’s like to sit for the exam and help you familiarize yourself with the format. Keep your practice going up to the week before the exam. Review your study notes and textbooks, watch content videos, and read out loud to reinforce the information. Pay attention to your weak areas and focus a more significant portion of your studying on those topics. This is how you’ll improve your chances of scoring a 5!

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