CHAPTER 1

What You Need to Know About the AP World History Exam

IN THIS CHAPTER

Summary: Learn background information on the AP program and exam, how exams are graded,
what types of questions are asked, what topics are tested, and basic test-taking information.

Key Ideas

            Many    colleges    and universities    will    give    you credit  for exam    scores  of  3   or  above.

            Multiple-choice questions   reflect the amount  of  course  time    spent   on  each    of  the five    AP  World

History periods.

            The three   types   of  free-response   questions   are based   on  the broad   course  themes.

Background Information

What Is the Advanced Placement Program?

The Advanced Placement (AP) program was begun by the College Board in 1955 to construct
standard achievement exams that would allow highly motivated high school students the opportunity
to be awarded advanced placement as freshmen in colleges and universities in the United States.
Today, there are more than 30 courses and exams with nearly two million students taking the annual
exams in May.
There are numerous AP courses in the social studies besides World History, including U.S.
History, European History, U.S. Government, Comparative Government, Macroeconomics,
Microeconomics, and Psychology. The majority of students who take AP tests are juniors and
seniors; however, some schools offer AP courses to freshmen and sophomores, especially in World
History.