The easiest AP classes to self-study are: Computer Science Principles, Psychology and Environmental Science. These are also rated as the easiest and least time-consuming AP classes overall, so you should be OK.
United States History, Biology, English Literature, Calculus BC, Physics C, and Chemistry are often named as the hardest AP classes and tests. These classes have large curriculums, tough tests, and conceptually difficult material.
The answer is yes. APUSH difficulty ranks up there as one of the hardest AP® courses and exams. We will outline the details that make the APUSH exam so difficult, the high expectations that come with being an APUSH student, and advice on how to move forward in the AP® US History review process.
The two sections of an
AP test—multiple choice and free response—are quite different.
How Long Is Each AP Exam?
| Exam | Total Length |
|---|
| Comparative Government and Politics | 2 hours 25 minutes |
| Computer Science A | 3 hours |
| Computer Science Principles | 2 hours |
| English Language and Composition | 3 hours 15 minutes |
55
points for the Multiple Choice questions. 9
points for the Short Answer questions.
How Is the AP US History Exam Scored?
| Scaled Score | AP Score | % of Students Who Earned Score (2020) |
|---|
| 90-114 | 4 | 19.2% |
| 65-89 | 3 | 26.6% |
| 44-64 | 2 | 20.4% |
| 0-43 | 1 | 21.0% |
Section II is 1 hour and 30 minutes
long and consists of one document-based question (
DBQ) and one
long essay question (LEQ).
AP U.S. History: What is Tested.
| Section | Number of Questions | Time |
|---|
| Total: | 55 Multiple-choice, 4 Short-answer, 1 Document-based, and 1 Long essay | 3 hours and 15 minutes |
The 2021 AP® US History exam will be available in two versions: a paper exam and a digital exam. Both versions of the exam will cover the same topics but they have slightly different structures. Paper APUSH exam: follows the “traditional” APUSH exam structure: 3 SAQs, 1 DBQ, and 1 LEQ.
Advanced Placement United States History
Most high schools recommend taking APUSH as a junior, so it'd say go for it.
You should have at least one body paragraph for each part of the task question. For this essay, you will probably either have 2 body paragraphs (one for religious and one for economic/political) or 4 paragraphs (1 for each document). Your body paragraphs will consist mostly of information from the documents.
APUSH scores exams on a scale of 1 to 5. The better your performance on the test, the higher your score. Scores ranking “qualified” or above reflect skills that prove overall academic success in the subject of AP US History. For most, a score of 3 or above is sufficient for college credit and placement.
A score of 3 or higher is generally considered good, because that means you passed the exam! A 4 is considered very good, and a 5 is especially impressive since it is the highest score. Also keep in mind that every college sets its own policy about AP credit.
AP Score Distributions
| Exam | 5 | 1 |
|---|
| AP Physics 1 | 8.8% | 21.9% |
| AP Physics 2 | 14% | 5.4% |
| AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 40.4% | 9.5% |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | 41.6% | 6.5% |
AP US History Flashcards By Time Period
- Period 1: 1491 – 1607.
- Period 2: 1607 – 1754.
- Period 3: 1754 – 1800.
- Period 4: 1800 – 1848.
- Period 5: 1844 – 1877.
- Period 6: 1865 – 1898.
- Period 7: 1890 – 1945.
- Period 8: 1945 – 1980.
AP® US History Multiple Choice Strategies
- Break Down the Information by Time Periods.
- Familiarize Yourself with Cultural History.
- Practice Before the Exam.
- Read the Excerpts All The Way Through.
- Pay Close Attention to the Wording.
- Immediately Eliminate Wrong Answers.
- Answer Every Question, Even If You're Unsure.
Nearly 27% of students who took this exam scored a 5, while only 13.8 % of students who took AP Computer Science Principles earned a 5. According to the data and overview of the AP courses, Computer Science A is not as hard to earn the highest score, but it is certainly a challenging task either way.
How Is the AP Calculus AB Exam Scored?
| Composite Score Range | AP Score | % of Students Who Got Score |
|---|
| 27-38 | 2 | 20.4% |
| 39-51 | 3 | 20.5% |
| 52-67 | 4 | 24.1% |
| 68-108 | 5 | 16% |
Here are the basics of the
AP English
exam: it has 55 multiple-choice questions, worth 45% of your score, and three essays, worth 55% of your score.
Step 3: Use the Chart to Estimate Your Scaled Score.
| Composite Score (0-100 or 0-150) | Scaled Score (1-5) |
|---|
| 76-91 | 3 |
| 50-75 | 2 |
| 0-49 | 1 |
5 Tips to Ace AP US History
- Stay organized. This is a common tip, but it's crucial.
- Don't stress about specific dates and facts. Although there are a lot of dates, people, and events mentioned in every history textbook, you don't have to remember them all.
- Remember the heart of the history.
- Find the fun.
- Do what works for you.
Using Our APUSH Cram Packet to Study Smarter
- Create a study calendar. Begin by marking out the time you have left until the APUSH exam.
- Make the most of your study time. With only a short time left until your exam, make the most of the time you spend studying.
- Take time to test yourself.
- Keep studying!
Setting Up a Successful Study Plan
- Survey. Going through your history textbook, look at chapter titles and section headings.
- Question. Now that you have surveyed the chapter, you should formulate questions based on the section headings.
- Read.
- Recite.
- Review.
Students will answer all multiple-choice questions and type all free-response answers directly in the digital exam application. Scratch paper is permitted for notes or planning, but students cannot handwrite or otherwise upload responses.
