AP WORLD
HISTORY: MODERN
AP World History: Modern - Exam Overview
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.
Exam Duration
3hrs 15mins
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:
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Analyze the provided sources
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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.
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Question 1 is required, includes 1 or 2 secondary sources, and focuses on historical developments or processes between the years 1200 and 2001.
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Question 2 is required, includes 1 primary source, and focuses on historical developments or processes between the years 1200 and 2001.
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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.
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You'll be asked to:
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Analyze the provided sources
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Analyze historical developments and processes described in the sources
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Put those historical developments and processes in the context
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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.
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You'll be presented with seven documents that give various perspectives on a historical development or process.
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You’ll be asked to develop and support an argument based on these documents and other evidence from your own knowledge.
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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
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You'll have a choice of three questions; you’ll pick one to answer.
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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).
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You'll be asked to develop and support an argument based on evidence.
AP World History: Modern Exam – Scoring
For the first section (multiple-choice), for every question you answer correctly, you will get one point each. There is no negative marking. It means that even if your answer is wrong or left blank, no points are deducted.
Next is the free response section. Its scoring system is a bit complicated. Rather than being graded by AI, it is reviewed by AP graders and scored following these guidelines for AP World History: Modern Exam.
For more information about AP World History: Modern Exam and scoring, you can visit the College Board’s website.
AP World History: Modern Exam – Credit
Keep in mind, credit and advanced standing based on AP scores vary 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 depend on the policy that your desired college or university has for AP exams.
AP World History: Modern Exam - Study Resources
• College Board Classroom Resources
• Princeton Review’s Cracking the AP World History Exam, 2020 Edition
• Fiveable
• World History for Us All: The Experience of Colonialism
• Internet History Sourcebooks Project
• Asia for Educators: Mongols in World History
• Stanford History Education Group (SHEG)
AP World History: Modern Exam Tips
The following strategies for answering the free-response questions were developed by faculty consultants to help you on exam day.
Keep an eye on your time.
Monitor your time carefully. Make sure not to spend too much time on any one question so that you have enough time to answer all of them. If you reach the end of the test with time to spare, go back and review your essays. And don’t waste time restating the question in your answers: that won’t earn points.
Plan your answers.
Don’t start to write immediately: that can lead to a string of disconnected, poorly planned thoughts. Carefully analyze the question, thinking through what is being asked and evaluating the points of view of the sources and authors. Identify the elements that must be addressed in the response. For example, some questions may require you to consider the similarities between people or events, and then to think of the ways they are different. Others may ask you to develop an argument with examples to support it. Be sure to answer exactly what is being asked in the question prompt!
Integrate evidence.
After you have determined how to answer the question, consider what evidence you can incorporate into your response. Review the evidence you learned during the year that relates to the question and then decide how it fits into the analysis. Does it demonstrate a similarity or a difference? Does it argue for or against a generalization that is being addressed?
Decide your thesis statement.
Begin writing only after you have thought through your evidence and have determined what your thesis statement will be. Once you have done this, you will be in a position to answer the question analytically instead of in a rambling narrative.
Support your thesis statement.
Make your overarching statement or argument, then position your supporting evidence so that it is obviously directed to answering the question. State your points clearly and explicitly connect them to the larger thesis, rather than making generalizations.
Elaborate on the evidence.
Don’t just paraphrase or summarize your evidence. Clearly state your intent, then use additional information or analysis to elaborate on how these pieces of evidence are similar or different. If there is evidence that refutes a statement, explain why. Your answer should show that you understand the subtleties of the questions.
Practice!
Answering free-response questions from previous AP Exams is a great way to practice: it allows you to compare your own responses with those that have already been evaluated and scored. Free-response questions and scoring guidelines are available on the About the Exam page for World History: Modern.
Task Verbs
Pay close attention to the task verbs used in the free-response questions. Each one directs you to complete a specific type of response. Here are the task verbs you’ll see on the exam:
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Compare: Provide a description or explanation of similarities and/or differences.
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Describe: Provide the relevant characteristics of a specified topic.
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Evaluate: Judge or determine the significance or importance of information or the quality or accuracy of a claim.
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Explain: Provide information about how or why a relationship, process, pattern, position, situation, or outcome occurs, using evidence and/or reasoning; explain “how” typically requires analyzing the relationship, process, pattern, position, situation, or outcome; whereas, explain “why” typically requires analysis of motivations or reasons for the relationship, process, pattern, position, situation, or outcome.
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Identify: Indicate or provide information about a specified topic, without elaboration or explanation.
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Support an argument: Provide specific examples and explain how they support a claim.
AP Short-Answer Response Booklets
Important reminders for completing short-answer responses:
Write each response only on the page designated for that question.
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1 lined page is provided for each short-answer question.
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The question number is printed as a large watermark on each page, and also appears at the top and bottom of the response area.
Keep responses brief–don’t write essays.
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The booklet is designed to provide sufficient space for each response.
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Longer responses will not necessarily receive higher scores than shorter ones that accomplish all the tasks set by the question.
For more information, check the AP Short-Answer Response Booklets here.
Best Ways to Study for the AP World History: Modern Exam
Assess Your Skills
The College Board’s AP World History Course and Exam Description provides a number of sample test questions and exam tips. You can also find sample questions from Past Exam Questions and Scoring Information for AP World History exam that is useful for identifying focal areas for studying. Practice tests are also found in many of the official study guides.
Study the Material
The AP World History course develops your understanding of the world’s history through the span of approximately 10,000 years. Obviously, this covers an enormous amount of material, so you should allow plenty of time to prepare. Material for the course is divided into six themes:
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Developments and Processes
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Sourcing and Situation
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Claims and Evidence in Sources
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Contextualization
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Making Connections
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Argumentation
Throughout the course, students use these themes to frame and connect historical developments in different times and places. You will need to learn significant events, people, developments, and processes from world history in four historical periods (1200 to 1450, 1450 to 1750, 1750 to 1900, and 1900 to present) and employ the thinking skills and methods used by historians to study the past. These include analyzing primary and secondary sources, making historical comparisons, chronological reasoning, and argumentation.
Ask an Expert
For a more specific idea of where to focus your studying, you should consider using an updated formal study guide. Both the AP World History: Modern Premium, 2022-2023: 5 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Online Practice (Barron's Test Prep) Tenth Edition and Princeton Review’s Cracking the AP World History Exam, 2020 Edition are proven and reliable resources.
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Task a Teacher
There are also a number of free study resources available online. Many AP teachers—such as Mrs. Gibson from East Aurora High School in New York—have posted complete study guides, review sheets, and test questions. Be careful when accessing these, as many will be from previous versions of the exam.
Try a study app
Another convenient way to study is to use one of the recently-developed apps for AP exams. These can be free or cost a small fee, and they provide an easy way to quiz yourself. Make sure you read reviews before choosing one—their quality varies widely. Here’s a free AP World History app from Varsity Tutors, and another free AP World History app that’s highly rated.
Practice Multiple-Choice Questions
Once you have your theory down, give it a try 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 and Exam Description includes many practice multiple-choice questions along with explanations of their answers. 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 concepts that are still unfamiliar.
Practice Free-Response Questions
The AP World History exam is different from many AP exams in that it consists of five free-response questions of varying length and content. To be successful in these sections, you should know what to expect from each question.
Short-Answer Questions: The first three free-response questions are considered “short answer”. These questions tend to have multiple parts, with each being very specific and limited in scope. In this section, you will have an opportunity to explain the historical examples you know best. You will probably be asked to interpret a graph or figure, compare and contrast the effects of different cultural approaches from specific time periods, or list distinct precipitating factors of significant historical events. You should be able to answer each part of these questions in a short, succinct paragraph.
Document-Based Question: You will need to carefully read the question, practice active reading skills while reviewing the documents, and make a strong outline before you begin to write. In this section, you will assess written, quantitative, or visual materials as historical evidence. Be sure to completely review the outline of requirements provided before the prompt, and check them off as you are outlining and writing your response.
Long Essay: The long essay gives you the choice of three separate prompts, asking you to explain and analyze significant issues in world history and develop an argument supported by your analysis of historical evidence.
Take Another Practice Test
Just like at the very beginning of your studying, take a practice test to assess 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.
Conclusion
Students who are interested in developing your ability to analyze historical sources and develop historical arguments- this exam is for you! Remember that a positive mindset and a clear goal will surely help you in having a passing score. On exam day, if you make little mistakes, it's okay! If you fail, do not be afraid to try again. Good luck!