In 2024, 379,385 students took the AP World History exam. The average score was 3.11, and about 63.7% passed with a 3 or higher. That’s solid, but don’t let it fool you—this exam is no walk in the park. With global empires, revolutions, industrialization, and colonization packed into one course, you’re going to need more than just stock knowledge to pass.
This blog covers everything you need to know about the AP World History exam: what’s on it, how to study, and how to avoid meltdown mode during test day.
- AP World History Course and Exam Description
- AP World History Exam Format
- AP World History Exam Questions
- How to Study for the AP World History Exam
- AP World History Exam Test-Taking Tips
- AP World History Exam Date
- Is the AP World History Exam Hard?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Takeaways
AP World History Course and Exam Description
The AP World History course—officially called AP World History: Modern—covers global history from 1200 CE to the present. Not only will you be challenged to memorize important dates and leaders, but you’ll also learn how to connect significant events across different time periods and regions.
The course is broken into 9 units:
| Units | Time Period | Weight on Exam |
| 1. The Global Tapestry | 1200–1450 | 8–10% |
| 2. Networks of Exchange | 1200–1450 | 8–10% |
| 3. Land-Based Empires | 1450–1750 | 12–15% |
| 4. Transoceanic Interactions | 1450–1750 | 12–15% |
| 5. Revolutions | 1750–1900 | 12–15% |
| 6. Industrialization | 1750–1900 | 12–15% |
| 7. Global Conflict | 1900–present | 8–10% |
| 8. Cold War & Decolonization | 1900–present | 8–10% |
| 9. Globalization | 1900–present | 8–10% |
The AP World History course and exam description (CED) from College Board outlines everything: the topics, themes, and the historical thinking skills you’ll be tested on. You’ll practice comparing societies, identifying causes and effects, and explaining how and why developments shift over time.
In short, you’ll learn how revolutions spread, how trade routes evolved, and why events like the Cold War and processes like globalization still matter. Big-picture thinking is key here.
AP World History Exam Format
The AP World History exam has two big sections:
Section I
Part A: Multiple choice questions (MCQs)
- 55 questions
- 55 minutes
- 40% of your score
Questions come in sets tied to sources like images, maps, or texts. You’ll use those to answer questions that test both historical knowledge and analysis.
Part B: Short answer questions (SAQs)
- 3 questions
- 40 minutes
- 20% of your score
You’ll write quick, paragraph-style answers. Two are required, and for the third, you choose between two prompts. Think of these like mini essays: no intro needed, just answer the question directly with evidence.
Section II
Document-based question (DBQ)
- 1 question
- 60 minutes (includes 15-min reading time)
- 25% of your score
You’ll get 7 documents and write an essay that uses them to support your argument. You also need to bring in some outside knowledge and analyze the documents for elements such as point of view, purpose, or historical context.
Long essay question (LEQ)
- Choose 1 of 3 prompts
- 40 minutes
- 15% of your score
For the long essay questions, you’ll write a full essay based on historical reasoning using examples you’ve learned in class.
How long is the AP World History Exam?
The AP World History exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long in total. Students will spend 95 minutes on Section I (MCQs and SAQs), and 80 minutes on Section II (DBQ and LEQ). Time management is huge—every minute counts.
The DBQ includes a built-in 15-minute reading period, so plan your pacing carefully. Practice under timed conditions to avoid surprises on test day.
AP World History Exam Questions
The AP World History exam questions challenge you to analyze sources, draw connections, and write evidence-based responses. Here’s are some sample questions based on real examples from the official practice materials.
Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
MCQs are grouped into sets tied to short primary or secondary sources—like a passage, map, or image—and they test your ability to interpret and apply historical knowledge.
Here is an example from the 2017 practice exam:
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Questions 1–3 refer to the passage below. “And if you, my vassal, disobey or break this treaty, may the god Adad, the canal inspector of heaven and earth, put an end to all vegetation in your land. May his waters hit your land with a severe destructive downpour. May locusts devour your crops. May there be no sound of grinding stone in your houses. May the wild animals eat your bread, and may your spirit have no one to take care of it and pour offerings of wine for it.” Excerpt from a treaty between an Assyrian king and the ruler of a subject city-state in northwestern Iran, circa 670 B.C.E. 1. The particular consequences invoked in the ritual curse in the treaty most strongly support which of the following statements about ancient Mesopotamia? (A) States’ legitimacy was based on claims to secular authority. (B) Ongoing environmental degradation occurred as a byproduct of the spread of pastoralism. (C) Maintaining and expanding agricultural production was seen as a core task of governments. (D) The domestication of plants occurred before the domestication of animals. |
The correct answer is C. The emphasis on crops, food, and labor reflects the central importance of agriculture to Mesopotamian governance and stability.
Short-answer questions (SAQs)
There are four short-answer questions on the exam. Students answer question 1 and question 2, and then you’re required choose to answer either question 3 or question 4. Note that the short-answer questions do not require students to develop and support a thesis statement.
Here is an example from the same practice exam:
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1. Use the two passages below to answer all parts of the question that follows. Source 1 “It seems, in hindsight, that the Cold War was inevitable. From the very beginning of the Russian-American relationship, the ideologies of the two nations were fundamentally incompatible. Founded in 1776, the young United States was republican and democratic. Russia, on the other hand, was an old autocracy, hostile to democracy, xenophobic, and known for ruthless suppression of its numerous subjects. There was another factor that seemed to make eventual conflict between the two nations inevitable: both were expansionist states whose respective spheres of interest would eventually expand to global dimensions.” — Ronald E. Powaski, The Cold War: The United States and the Soviet Union, 1917–1991, 1998 Source 2 “Most scholars (ourselves included) believe that it makes more sense to place the start of the Cold War in the mid-1940s when American and Soviet leaders had the military power, the economic resources, and the determination to engage in a far-flung and intense ideological, political, military, and cultural struggle for influence. Deeply affecting the domestic politics and foreign affairs of most of the world’s nations, this multifaceted competition between the United States and its allies and the U.S.S.R. and its allies was one of the major phenomena in modern history.” — Ralph Levering and Verena Botzenhart-Viehe, Debating the Origins of the Cold War: American and Russian Perspectives, 2001 a) Provide ONE piece of historical evidence (not specifically mentioned in the passages) that would support Powaski’s interpretation about the origins of the Cold War. b) Provide ONE piece of historical evidence (not specifically mentioned in the passages) that would support Levering and Botzenhart-Viehe’s interpretation about the origins of the Cold War. c) Explain ONE way in which the views of the Russian-American relationship expressed in the two passages led the authors to propose different interpretations for the origins of the Cold War. |
This is classic AP World History Exam: compare interpretations, cite outside info, and analyze historical perspectives—all in a few sentences each.
Document-based question (DBQ)
The DBQ gives you 7 documents and asks you to construct an argument using those sources, plus outside evidence. Here is an example from the 2017 practice exam:
| Evaluate the extent to which communist movements affected women’s struggle for rights in the twentieth century. |
You’ll get 7 historical documents related to the communist world, each one offering a different angle on gender, labor, and rights in the context of socialism or communist governance. Here’s the general idea of what each source includes:
- Document 1 is an autobiography by Alexandra Kollontai, a Russian Communist revolutionary, reflecting on her realization that women’s liberation could only be achieved through Marxist socialism. She discusses her role in integrating gender issues into the Soviet revolution.
- Document 2 is a directive from Maria Fedorovna Muratova, a Soviet official, calling out patriarchal customs (like veiling women) as incompatible with Communist values, especially in Central Asia. It shows how Communist regimes attempted to dismantle traditional gender roles.
- Document 3 comes from the North Vietnamese Constitution of 1960, which guarantees women equal rights in politics, labor, and society, including maternity leave and workplace protection.
- Document 4 is a statistical table from a U.S. study showing the percentage of women working in research and professional roles in the Soviet Union between 1947 and 1959. It’s useful quantitative evidence of women’s participation in the workforce under communism.
- Document 5 is a Chinese propaganda poster from the Cultural Revolution. It depicts a strong female figure in an industrial setting, promoting hard work, late marriage, and family planning. Visual proof that the Chinese Communist Party tied women’s emancipation to national progress.
- Document 6 is a 1974 speech by Fidel Castro acknowledging ongoing discrimination against women in Cuba. He admits women are underrepresented in leadership roles despite their contributions to the revolution.
- Document 7 is an open letter from Romanian women to Elena Ceaușescu, wife of dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. It criticizes poor living conditions and unequal burdens placed on women despite Communist promises of equality.
What you’ll do:
- Analyze how these sources reflect both progress and contradictions in gender equality under communist regimes.
- Decide how far these movements actually improved women’s rights, and where they fell short.
- Use at least 6 of the 7 documents.
- Bring in one outside example (e.g., gender policies in East Germany or Maoist China).
- Analyze sourcing—who wrote it, why, and for whom.
The DBQ is your chance to show off critical thinking and argument-building. Don’t just describe the docs; instead, group them by theme (e.g., policy vs. propaganda, early revolution vs. later regimes) and build a clear thesis around how far communism really helped women gain rights.
Long essay question (LEQ)
Students will choose one of three long essay questions to answer. The long essay requires students to demonstrate their ability to use historical evidence in crafting a thoughtful historical argument. In the following questions, students will analyze an issue using the reasoning skill of continuity and change over time.
The three questions focus on the same reasoning skills but apply them to different time periods. This allows students to choose which time period and historical perspective they are best prepared to write about.
Here’s a real example of a Long Essay Question from the 2017 AP World History practice exam published by the College Board. This prompt is designed to assess your ability to build a historical argument using evidence, context, and reasoning over time:
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In the period before 600 B.C.E., the adoption of agriculture had significant social, economic, and demographic effects. Develop an argument that evaluates how the adoption of agriculture in this time period affected the development of human societies. |
Your job is to write a full essay with a thesis and clear reasoning. You might talk about how agriculture led to:
- Permanent settlements
- Social hierarchies
- Population growth
- Economic specialization
You’ll get credit for strong structure, specific examples, and complexity in your argument.
How to Study for the AP World History Exam
The AP World History exam is built around historical reasoning, argumentation, and evidence-based writing. That means you need to study in a way that strengthens your ability to think like a historian.
Focus on identifying key trends, understanding continuity and change over time, and practicing with real exam-style questions to sharpen your essay-writing and document analysis skills.
1. Review the AP World History course outline.
The College Board’s official AP World History Course and Exam Description (CED) is your best friend. It breaks down exactly what you’re expected to know and the skills you’ll be tested on.
It outlines 9 units, from 1200 CE to the present, and emphasizes key themes like:
- Governance
- Cultural developments and interactions
- Economic systems
- Social interactions and organization
- Technology and innovation
If a unit like “Revolutions (1750–1900)” makes up 12–15% of the exam, then you’ll want to spend extra time learning about the Enlightenment, the Haitian and French Revolutions, and how nationalism spread.
Align your study plan with the units that carry more weight. This way, you’re focusing on what matters most.
2. Use AP World History practice tests.
There’s no better prep than working through full-length, timed practice tests. These help you get used to the pressure and format of the real exam, especially how long it takes to get through multiple choice, DBQ, and essays without getting stuck.
After each practice test, make sure to:
- Find your weak spots. Keep missing questions on post-classical trade routes or Cold War conflicts? Review those time periods until they click.
- Figure out why you got items wrong. Were you misreading the source? Misunderstanding the prompt? Time pressure? Learning from your errors helps you avoid them later.
- Work on pacing. The multiple-choice section gives you 55 questions in 55 minutes—that’s about 1 minute per question. DBQs take 60 minutes (with 15 minutes for reading and planning), and LEQs take 40 minutes. Train with these time blocks so you don’t run out of steam during the actual exam.
Use official past AP World History exams from College Board and reputable third-party resources like Barron’s, Kaplan, or Khan Academy. The more realistic your practice, the more confident you’ll feel.
3. Master historical thinking skills.
Facts alone won’t cut it. The AP World History exam wants you to analyze and argue. You’ll be expected to show six key reasoning skills:
- Contextualization. Situate events within broader historical frameworks.
- Comparison. Identify similarities and differences between historical events or processes.
- Causation. Explain short- and long-term causes and effects.
- Continuity and change over time (CCOT). Track what changes and what stays the same across periods.
- Argumentation. Make a claim and defend it using historical evidence.
- Sourcing. Evaluate the reliability and point of view of primary sources.
To improve in these areas:
- Practice with real prompts, especially DBQs and LEQs. Get used to identifying the task (e.g., “evaluate the extent,” “compare,” “analyze causes”) and structuring your response accordingly.
- Create comparison charts. Example: compare Mughal vs. Ottoman governance or Enlightenment ideals vs. traditional monarchies.
- Timeline drills. Build a mental map of major periods. Knowing when something happened is key to making sound arguments.
4. Strengthen your writing skills.
The FRQ section (DBQ + LEQ + SAQs) is where most students lose points, not because they don’t know the content, but because their writing lacks structure or clarity.
How to level up your essays:
- First, always use full sentences. No bullet points. No vague phrases. Your graders want real, direct arguments supported by evidence.
- Use clear thesis statements. For DBQs and LEQs, your intro needs a one-sentence thesis that answers the question and sets up your argument.
- Make sure you answer every part of the question. If the DBQ asks you to “evaluate the extent,” don’t just say it happened. Explain how much, why, and what the evidence shows.
- Support every claim with evidence. When you say the French Revolution spread Enlightenment ideas, cite a document (in DBQ) or specific event (in LEQ) to back it up.
- Use document sourcing effectively. In DBQs, explain why the author’s background, purpose, or audience matters. Don’t just drop a quote—analyze it.
Pro tip: Review College Board’s sample responses and scoring guidelines to see what a good answer looks like. The more you break down past student samples, the easier it gets to write high-scoring essays yourself.
AP World History Exam Test-Taking Tips
Having a solid study plan is key, but how you perform during the actual exam is just as important. Many students lose points because they mismanage their time, misunderstand what a question is asking, or fail to write structured answers.
Below are the best strategies to help you stay calm, stay sharp, and score higher.
1. Manage your time wisely.
The AP World History exam runs for 3 hours and 15 minutes. It is divided into two main sections:
Section I (95 minutes)
- Multiple Choice: 55 questions in 55 minutes
- Short Answer Questions (SAQs): 3 questions in 40 minutes
Section II (80 minutes)
- Document-Based Question (DBQ): 1 question in 60 minutes (including a 15-minute reading period)
- Long Essay Question (LEQ): 1 question in 40 minutes
Pacing matters. Here’s how to manage your time:
- For multiple choice, aim to spend about 1 minute per question. If you get stuck, make a quick guess, mark it, and move on. Come back later if you have time.
- For the SAQs, spend no more than 13 minutes per question. Keep your answers short but complete. Full sentences are required, but long-winded responses will cost you time.
- For the DBQ, use the 15-minute reading period to plan your essay. Group documents by theme and identify sourcing points before you write. Then spend about 45 minutes writing your essay.
- For the LEQ, budget around 5 minutes to plan and 35 minutes to write. Choose the question you know best and stick to a clear structure: thesis, evidence, and analysis.
If you don’t practice under timed conditions, now’s the time to start. Writing strong, structured answers under pressure is a skill that needs time to develop.
2. Read questions carefully.
Many points are lost because students misread the question or miss key instructions. The AP World History exam includes multi-step prompts that require specific kinds of reasoning.
For example, a DBQ might ask you to “evaluate the extent” of a historical event. If you only explain what happened without addressing how significant it was, you are leaving points on the table.
To avoid careless errors:
- Pay close attention to action words like explain, evaluate, analyze, or compare. These signal what kind of response the grader expects.
- Check if the prompt has more than one part. For example, “identify and explain” means you must do both, not just one.
- Watch for time frame cues. If a question asks about 1450 to 1750, do not include examples from the 1800s.
- Underline or circle keywords in the prompt during practice. This helps you stay focused on what the question is really asking.
3. Use the process of elimination.
You do not need to be 100 percent sure to get a multiple-choice question right. Often, the best strategy is to rule out clearly wrong answers and make an educated guess from what is left.
Here’s how to improve your odds:
- Cross out obvious wrong answers first. If an option directly contradicts what you know, eliminate it.
- Be careful with extreme wording. Choices that say “always,” “never,” or “completely” are often too absolute to be correct in historical contexts.
- Compare remaining answers. Look for the one that best fits the specific wording of the question.
- Guess if needed. There is no penalty for incorrect answers. Never leave a question blank. A smart guess gives you a better shot than skipping.
4. Show all your work in FRQs.
Short answer, DBQ, and LEQ questions are not all-or-nothing. You can earn partial credit by demonstrating historical reasoning, even if your answer is incomplete or not perfectly phrased.
To maximize your FRQ scores:
- Keep your answers clear and organized. For SAQs, label each part (a), (b), and (c). Graders will not hunt through a wall of text looking for your response.
- Justify your claims with historical evidence. If a question asks why a revolution occurred, do not just say “because of inequality.” Give specific examples and explain how they support your point.
- Use specific terminology. Mention actual reforms, ideologies, or systems rather than vague generalizations. Saying “the Meiji Restoration modernized Japan’s military and education” is better than “Japan got stronger.”
- Write something for every question. Even if you are unsure, a partially correct answer can still earn points. Leaving the page blank guarantees a zero.
No matter how much content you study, it all comes down to how well you can apply it on test day. Managing your time, understanding what the question is asking, and writing clear, focused answers will take you far. Keep practicing under real conditions, stay calm, and trust the work you’ve put in.
AP World History Exam Date
The AP World History exam is scheduled for Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 12:00 PM local time. Double check with your school if you’re taking it digitally or on paper—most students will use the Bluebook app.
Do the following:
- Arrive early.
- Bring your ID, pencils, pens, and whatever your testing center allows.
- Eat lunch before the test! You don’t want to hear your stomach louder than your thoughts.
To find test dates for other AP exams and registration details, check out our comprehensive guide.
AP World History Exam score release date
2025 AP scores will be available starting Monday, July 7. You’ll be able to view your score on the College Board website once it goes live. Make sure your College Board account is ready ahead of time so you don’t miss it.
If you’re sending scores to colleges, make sure to select your recipient in advance or shortly after testing. Most schools want scores sent directly from the College Board.
Is the AP World History Exam Hard?
The AP World History exam is challenging because it tests more than just content. You’ll be asked to analyze historical sources, make arguments with evidence, and understand how events are connected across regions and time periods. Many students struggle not because of the content itself, but because of how much writing and reasoning is involved.
If you’re wondering how tough this AP exam really is, here’s the 2024 AP World History score breakdown:
| Score | Percentage of Students |
| 5 | 11.9% |
| 4 | 22.2% |
| 3 | 29.6% |
| 2 | 25.2% |
| 1 | 11.1% |
| Total Passing (3+) | 63.7% |
With a mean score of 3.11, the AP World History Exam is considered “moderately difficult.” In 2024, about 63.7% of students passed (scored a 3 or higher), but only 11.9% earned a 5. That means fewer than 1 in 8 students hit the top score, which tells you that this exam takes more than just memorizing facts.
If you’re aiming for a 4 or 5, you’ll need a clear study plan, steady review of key units, and plenty of practice writing SAQs, DBQs, and LEQs. This is not the kind of test you can wing the night before.
If you want extra support, check out our AP tutorial services. We can walk you through source-based questions, help you structure essays, and show you what high-scoring answers actually look like. A little strategy goes a long way.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How hard is the AP World History Exam?
The AP World History exam is moderately difficult. In 2024, 63.7% of students scored a 3 or higher, but only 11.9% earned a 5. So if you’re aiming for a top score, expect a challenge. The test focuses on historical reasoning, document analysis, and structured writing, rather than memorizing dates and names. It’s more demanding than AP Human Geography, but often considered more accessible than AP U.S. History due to its global scope.
2. How many hours should you study for the AP World History Exam?
It depends on your background, but most successful students spend 80 to 100 hours preparing. If you want a 4 or 5, aim for 3 to 5 hours per week for about 3 to 4 months. Consistency is key. Spread your time between reading course content, practicing essays, reviewing timelines, and doing multiple-choice drills under timed conditions.
3. Do you need to memorize everything for the AP World History Exam?
No. While you should know major empires, events, and turning points, the test focuses more on historical thinking skills. You’ll be asked to evaluate sources, compare regions, analyze causes and effects, and explain change over time. Focus your prep around the AP World History Course and Exam Description (CED). It tells you exactly what to study so you don’t waste time on trivia.
4. Is AP World History worth taking?
That depends on your goals. If you’re interested in history, international studies, political science, or global affairs, AP World History is a great choice. Many colleges award credit for a score of 4 or 5, which can help you skip intro history courses. Even if your school doesn’t give credit, the course looks great on applications and shows that you can handle college-level reading and writing.
5. When do AP World History scores come out?
Scores are usually released in early to mid-July. You’ll get your score through your College Board account. If you plan to send scores to colleges, be sure to select your score recipients ahead of time so everything gets submitted before deadlines.
Takeaways
The AP World History exam can feel like a lot, but with the right strategy and consistent practice, it’s totally manageable. Whether you’re aiming for a 3 or going all in for a 5, here are the key points to remember:
- The AP World History exam tests more than just facts. You’ll need to apply historical thinking skills like causation, comparison, and sourcing, especially in the writing sections.
- Scoring well on the AP World History exam takes time. The average score in 2024 was 3.11, and only 11.9% of students earned a 5. That means success comes from smart prep, not last-minute cramming.
- Use the AP World History course and exam description to guide your studying. Focus on the units that carry more weight, and spend extra time mastering DBQs and LEQs.
- Don’t skip practice tests. They’re the best way to get used to the AP World History exam format and timing, especially for multiple-choice pacing and structured writing under pressure.
- If you need help breaking down DBQs, organizing essays, or building a study plan for the AP World History exam, consider working with a college admissions consultant. AdmissionSight specializes in helping students prepare with confidence and clarity.
