Introduction: Why the DBQ Matters
The Document-Based Question (DBQ) is the single most important part of the AP U.S. History exam. It makes up 25% of your total score and tests whether you can:
- Analyze historical documents.
- Write a clear, evidence-based essay.
- Connect documents to broader historical themes.
Practicing DBQs at home is the best way to build the skills you’ll need on exam day. With the right structure, resources, and tools like RevisionDojo’s DBQ planners, you can turn the DBQ into your strongest section.
Step 1: Understand the DBQ Format
A DBQ will always include:
- 1 prompt asking you to analyze a historical issue.
- 7 documents (texts, images, maps, political cartoons).
Your job:
- Write a thesis that answers the prompt.
- Use at least 6 of the 7 documents in your essay.
- Provide outside evidence not found in the documents.
- Show sourcing analysis (POV, audience, purpose, context).
- Connect to broader historical themes.
Step 2: Learn the DBQ Rubric
The College Board rubric gives points for:
- Thesis (1 pt): Clear, historically defensible.
- Contextualization (1 pt): Broader historical background.
- Evidence (3 pts): Use of 6 documents + outside evidence.
- Analysis (2 pts): Sourcing + complexity.
Total = 7 possible points.
RevisionDojo’s DBQ rubric checklists make grading your own essays easier.
Step 3: Set Up a DBQ Practice Routine at Home
Here’s how to practice effectively:
- Step 1: Gather prompts. Use past APUSH DBQs (available on College Board) or RevisionDojo’s DBQ bank.
- Step 2: Time yourself. 15 minutes planning, 45 minutes writing.
- Step 3: Grade with rubric. Use College Board or RevisionDojo rubrics.
- Step 4: Review mistakes. Did you miss contextualization? Outside evidence?
Goal: Do at least 1 DBQ per week before the exam.
Step 4: Practice DBQ Planning
Before you write, spend 10–15 minutes planning:
- Read the prompt carefully. Identify the time period + task (evaluate, analyze, compare).
- Skim documents. Note author, audience, and main idea.
- Group documents. Organize into 2–3 categories.
- Write thesis. Example: “Between 1890 and 1920, Progressives sought to expand democracy and government regulation, building on earlier Populist demands while also addressing urban social issues.”
RevisionDojo’s DBQ planners walk you through each step.
Step 5: Practice Using Documents
Don’t just quote documents — analyze them.
- Example: “In his 1896 ‘Cross of Gold’ speech, William Jennings Bryan argued for bimetallism to help struggling farmers. His populist rhetoric reveals how rural discontent shaped national politics.”
Add sourcing:
- Who wrote it?
- Why?
- For whom?
- What’s the broader context?
Step 6: Add Outside Evidence
To earn maximum points, you need 1 piece of outside evidence.
Examples:
- Populism DBQ: Outside evidence could be the Panic of 1893.
- Civil Rights DBQ: Could use Brown v. Board of Education.
- Cold War DBQ: Could reference the Marshall Plan.
RevisionDojo has flashcards of outside evidence sorted by period.
Step 7: Write Full Practice Essays
At home, you should write under real timed conditions.
- Set timer: 60 minutes.
- 15 minutes: Outline.
- 45 minutes: Write essay.
- Grade: Compare against rubric.
RevisionDojo provides sample high-scoring DBQs so you can compare your work.
Step 8: Example DBQ Practice Prompts
Try these at home:
- Populism/Progressivism: Evaluate the extent to which Populist ideas influenced Progressive reforms.
- Civil Rights Movement: Evaluate the extent to which the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s was a continuation of earlier reform movements.
- Cold War: Evaluate the extent to which U.S. foreign policy from 1945–1963 was driven by containment.
Step 9: Common Mistakes Students Make
- Summarizing documents instead of analyzing them.
- Forgetting outside evidence.
- Weak thesis statements.
- Not connecting to broader themes.
- Running out of time.
Practicing at home helps you avoid these mistakes before exam day.
Step 10: The RevisionDojo Advantage
RevisionDojo gives you:
- DBQ planners for structuring essays.
- Sample high-scoring DBQs with annotations.
- Outside evidence flashcards.
- Rubric checklists to grade your own essays.
- Unit DBQ banks sorted by period (Revolution, Civil War, Cold War, etc.).
With these tools, practicing DBQs at home becomes efficient and effective.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How many DBQs should I practice before the APUSH exam?
A: Aim for at least 5–7 full DBQs across different periods.
Q: Can I just outline DBQs instead of writing them?
A: Outlining helps, but you should write at least 3 full essays to practice timing and stamina.
Q: Do DBQs always come from 1800s or 1900s?
A: Usually, but they can cover any period 1754–1980. Always review all 9 units.
Q: How do I grade myself?
A: Use the official College Board rubric or RevisionDojo’s simplified checklists.
Q: What’s the #1 skill for DBQs?
A: Writing a clear thesis and supporting it with grouped evidence.
Final Thoughts
The APUSH DBQ may seem intimidating, but with structured at-home practice, it becomes manageable.
- Plan your essay first.
- Use at least 6 documents.
- Add outside evidence.
- Analyze sourcing, not just summarize.
- Practice regularly under timed conditions.
By combining official prompts with RevisionDojo’s DBQ planners, sample essays, and flashcards, you’ll be ready to write a high-scoring DBQ on exam day.
