1. Exam format, tips and tricks
AP European History
Exam format, tips and tricks

2. Part I: Multiple Choice Section
There are 80 multiple choice questions, each with 5 possible answers
You will have 55 minutes to do these
You will not know the answer to every question. Some will be on information that is not in your book and was never discussed in class. That’s ok.

3. Part I: Multiple Choice Section
If you have a question for which you do not know the answer, Guess!

4. Part I: Multiple Choice Section
You are awarded ONE POINT for every correct answer
You gain/lose nothing for questions answered incorrectly
number correct X = MC score

5. Part I: Multiple Choice Section
40 questions correct (40)
40 X = 45 Part I Score
This is 50 percent of the total test score

6. Section IIA: Document Based Question
This essay is worth 45% of the Part II score, ½ % of the total exam score
This is scored on a rubric scale of 1-9. You have a copy of a generic rubric in your study guides
There will be about 12 documents. You must use at one more than half and analyze at least 3
Outside information is required for a score higher than 6

7. Section IIA: Document Based Question
You will have a 15 minute mandatory read time where you will read the docs, take notes, make an outline, note analysis and outside info, etc.
After 15 minutes, you will be told to open the booklet and to start writing.
You should spend approximately 45 writing this essay.
In reality, you’ll probably spend closer to an hour

8. Section IIB: Thematic Essays
You will have two groups of three essays.
You must select one essay from each group
Each essay is worth 27 ½ % of the Part II score, which is 13.75% of the entire test each
They are graded on a 1-9 point scale

9. Section IIB: Thematic Essays
You should spend 5 minutes organizing each essay, and approximately 30 minutes writing each one

10. The final score DBQ (out of 9) __________ X 4.5 = ___________
Thematic I (out of 9) __________ X 2.75 = ___________
Thematic II (out of 9) __________ X 2.75 = ____________
Sum of essay weighted scores = ____________
Composite Score
_____________ + _______________ = _________________
Weighted Weighted Composite Score Section I Section II (round to nearest whole number)

12. The Final Score 45 Multiple choice score (see slide 7)
6 on DBQ (6 X 4.75 = 28.5)
5 on T (5 X 2.75 = 13.75)
4 on T (4 X 2.75 = 11.00)
Add all weighted Part II scores together and round to the nearest whole number.
Section II Score = = 53

13. The Final Score Section I + Section II = _______ 45 + 53 = 98
Composite Range
AP Grade
College Board definitions
Average college grade 5
Extremely well qualified A
99-121 4
Well qualified B
66-98 3
Qualified C
45-65 2
Possibly qualified D
0-44 1
No recommendation F

14. A 110 composite score would be a 4
___49.5______ +_____60__________ = __110____
Weighted Weighted Composite Score
Section I Section II (round to nearest whole number)
Composite Range
AP Grade
College Board definitions
Average college grade 5
Extremely well qualified A
99-121 4
Well qualified B
66-98 3
Qualified C
45-65 2
Possibly qualified D
0-44 1
No recommendation F
A 110 composite score would be a 4

15. Extremely well qualified
The nationwide scores on the AP European History exam generally form a bell curve.
Below is a breakdown of a recent exam.
Bell Curve
Score
Number of students
Percent at Grade
Extremely well qualified 5
6,390
11.9
Well qualified 4
11,206
20.9
Qualified 3
19,451
36.3
Possibly qualified 2
9,506
17.8
Not recommendation 1
6,958
13.0