The AP U.S. History (APUSH) exam is one of the most content-heavy AP tests, covering centuries of political, social, and economic history. If you want to earn a top score, practice exams are your most powerful study tool.
This guide walks you through the exam structure, content focus, and best practice methods — plus how RevisionDojo can help you sharpen your skills for test day.
APUSH Exam Structure
The exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long and split into two sections:
Section I: Multiple Choice + Short Answer
- Part A: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
- 55 questions, 55 minutes
- 40% of score
- Stimulus-based with maps, charts, and historical excerpts
- Part B: Short Answer Questions (SAQ)
- 3 questions, 40 minutes
- 20% of score
- May require comparison, causation, or source analysis
Section II: Free Response
- Document-Based Question (DBQ) — 1 question, 60 minutes, 25% of score
- Long Essay Question (LEQ) — 1 question (choice of 3), 40 minutes, 15% of score
APUSH Content Periods & Weighting
The College Board divides APUSH into 9 historical periods:
- 1491–1607 — Pre-Columbian societies to early colonization (5%)
- 1607–1754 — Colonial America (6–8%)
- 1754–1800 — Revolution & early republic (10–17%)
- 1800–1848 — Nation-building & expansion (10–17%)
- 1844–1877 — Civil War & Reconstruction (10–17%)
- 1865–1898 — Industrial America (10–17%)
- 1890–1945 — Global conflicts (10–17%)
- 1945–1980 — Cold War & modern America (10–17%)
- 1980–Present — Contemporary America (4–6%)
Why Practice Exams Matter for APUSH
- Simulate Test Pressure — Learn to manage time across both multiple-choice and essays.
- Reinforce Content Knowledge — Identify which historical periods need more review.
- Improve Writing Speed & Clarity — Practice crafting strong thesis statements and evidence-backed arguments.
- Understand Question Patterns — Many prompts follow predictable structures.
How to Use APUSH Practice Exams Effectively
- Take at Least 2–3 Full Exams under realistic timing.
- Score Using Official Rubrics to understand how points are awarded.
- Analyze Wrong Answers to find content or skill gaps.
- Alternate Between MCQ/SAQ Drills and Full Tests to keep pacing sharp.
How RevisionDojo Prepares You for APUSH
RevisionDojo provides:
- Full-Length APUSH Practice Exams with DBQ, SAQ, and LEQ
- Model Essays & Rubric Breakdowns to guide your writing
- Period-Specific Question Banks
- Skills Drills for historical argumentation and source analysis
- Performance Tracking to target weak spots
And when you’re ready to see how APUSH scores impact your college path:
- University Match Quiz — Find universities that value APUSH credit.
- Universities Directory — See credit policies and application details.
FAQ – APUSH Practice Exam
1. Should I memorize every date?
No — focus on understanding events in context and relationships between them.
2. How do I improve on the DBQ?
Practice writing clear thesis statements, grouping documents logically, and including outside evidence.
3. How many periods should I focus on?
Review all nine periods, but prioritize those with higher weighting.
4. Is APUSH harder than AP World History?
It covers a smaller time span but with much greater depth.
5. How many FRQs should I practice?
At least 6–8 DBQs and LEQs combined before exam day.
6. Do MCQs always have sources?
Yes — most APUSH multiple-choice questions are stimulus-based.
Maximize Your APUSH Score with RevisionDojo
The right preparation turns content overload into confidence.
🎯 Take the University Match Quiz to see which colleges give credit for APUSH.
🌍 Browse our Universities Directory for AP credit info worldwide.
