How to Earn a Five (5) on the AP United States History Exam

Many colleges award college credit to students who earn a score of four (4) or a five (5) on the Advanced Placement exam for United States history. Many folks do not realize that students are not required to be enrolled in an AP class to be eligible to sit for the AP US history exam. This tutorial will explain how any student studying US history can earn a high enough score to earn college credit on the US AP history test.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• United States history course or study materials
• Register for the AP US History exam

1. Study US History. You do not need to be enrolled in an AP class, but you must have a mastery of Unite States history in order to do well on the AP US history exam.

2. Compare your course of study with the outline for the AP US History. The outline and copies of old AP exams are available online for free on the college board AP central website.

3. Sign up to take the AP US History test.

4. Use flash cards and outlines to study important dates in United States history. You can make the flash cards and outlines yourself, find them online from PBS and a number of teachers that teach AP United States history or your can purchase them. Barron and Spark Notes make flash cards. Spark Notes also make some plastic outlines that make very good bathroom reading.

5. A few weeks before the exam, take at least one practice test. The essay portions of the AP US History exam are available online for free from the College Board website—the same folks who brought you the SAT. Samples of the multiple choice portions can be found at your local bookstore or library. We like the Spark Notes AP Power pack, but many other publishers provide sample multiple choice tests.

6. Review the results of your practice exam and study the areas you lost points. A great way to review information and bone up on areas you are weak is to watch either The Presidents series from the History Channel, the American President Series from PBS or the Presidents Collection from PBS Home Video.

7. The AP United States history test rewards effective essay writing. Practice writing the essay exams so that each essay begins with a topic sentence that answers the question and then proceeds with a well delineated argument supported by primary historical documents.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not be frightened of the DBQ or data based question. This is actually the easiest essay question you will be asked to write. All the documents are included. Take time to read them carefully. The documents provided either support your conclusion or debate your hypothesis. Answer the question and explain in the answer how each of the documents provided either supports, debates or is neutral considering your interpretation of the historical question.
• Remember that there is almost no right or wrong answer to the questions asked. The interpretation of history is debated. Your job is to write an answer that answers the question asked with well supported, well crafted arguments.
• Try to use as many primary documents you can recall when crafting your answers.
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Resources

• Other tutorials by GeltDesigns
• PBS AP US History
• The Presidents Collection by PBS
• American Presidents Bundle by the History Channel
• Peterson's Master the AP US History, 2nd edition
• 5 Steps to a 5 AP U.S. History (2010-2011 Edition) by Stephen Armstrong
• AP Achiever (Advanced Placement* Exam Preparation Guide) for AP US History (College Test Prep) by Jason George
• Cracking the AP U.S. History Exam, 2010 Edition (College Test Preparation) by Princeton Review
• HippoCampus AP US History