• How to respond to the short-answer questions.
Included are some commonly asked questions as well as advice taken from my experience as a
reader of the AP World History exam.
Step 4: Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High
In this step you’ll learn or review the material you need to know for the test. This review section takes
up the bulk of this book. It contains not only summaries of key events and concepts, but also
vocabulary lists and review questions. The material is organized according to the time periods in the
AP World History course. Each unit in this review section is followed by a timeline, a list of key
comparisons, and a change/continuity chart. The chart will show you at a glance key events and issues
in the major world regions. It will also refresh your memory of changes and continuities within each
region during the time period covered by the unit.
As you review this material, it may be helpful to work with others. Find a study pal or form a small
study group, and set a time when you can get together to review.
Step 5: Build Your Test-Taking Confidence
In this step you’ll complete your preparation by testing yourself on a full-length practice exam
modeled after the actual examination. The test is followed by a discussion of the answers. Be aware
that this practice exam is not simply a reproduction of questions from actual AP exams, but it mirrors
both the material tested and the way in which it is tested.
• Try the strategies provided in Chapter 4 of this book for each type of question on the test.
• For the document-based, comparative, and continuity and change-over-time essays, have another
student read and critique your essays.
• Take the time not only to check whether or not your answers are correct, but also to read the
explanation for the correct answers. By doing this, you will review a broad body of concepts in a
shorter period of time.
Finally, at the back of this book you’ll find additional resources to aid your preparation. These
include:
• Glossary of terms
• Bibliography for further reading
• List of websites related to the AP World History exam
The Graphics Used in This Book
To emphasize particular concepts and strategies, we use several icons throughout this book. An icon
in the margin will alert you that you should pay particular attention to the accompanying text. We use
these three icons: