Top stories
AP World History Test Tips
USINFO | 2014-01-03 15:27
AP World History is a comprehensive course that studies the development of global societies over time. As an Advanced Placement course, students are expected to be tested by taking the Advanced Placement (AP) exam. Scored on a scale of 1 to 5, passing the AP exam with a 4 or 5 can often lead to college credit. Use these study tips to prepare for the AP World History test.
Create Timelines
●Advanced Placement (AP) World History is organized chronologically from 8000 B.C.E. to the present. Review course content throughout the year. First, organize information into manageable chunks, one era at a time. Put major world events for that era into a timeline.
For example, the first period of time from 8000 B.C.E to 600 C.E. may include the Neolithic Revolution, the rise of river valley civilizations in Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley and China, as well as the development of belief systems such as polytheism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. The next period of history is from 600 C.E. to 1450. On a timeline, include major events such as the founding of Islam, the rise of the Mongols, and developments in the Americas.
Examine Themes
●AP World History also examines themes that play a role in all global societies, which help students to understand causes and changes in the world. Examine each theme as you review different periods of history. Keep in mind how many societies interacted together. Themes include human-environment interaction, cultural diffusion, conflict, economics and trade, and social structures.
As you review a period of history, also review what other interactions happened at that time. For example, when reviewing the Indus River Valleys in era one, think about trade and their interaction with Egypt.
Analyze Maps
●Maps are an important component of the AP World History test. Study both physical and political maps. One exercise is to choose an event and draw before and after maps by hand, such as Europe before and after World War I. Label changes in countries, leaders and boundaries as a result of the war.
Multiple-Choice Skills
●A significant portion of the AP World History test is multiple choice. Practice multiple-choice quizzes throughout the school year. The College Board, makers of the AP exam, have practice questions on their website (apcentralcollegeboard.com) .
Create a study group with class members. Use vocabulary terms to write your own multiple-choice questions on each chapter throughout the year.
Essay Writing Practice
●Document-based questions, or DBQs, are perhaps the most challenging aspects of the AP World History test along with the Free Response essays. DBQs are questions based on a primary source document, such as a political cartoon or an article from the time period. Free-response portions often deal with wider themes such as continuity and change. Important skills to use include analyzing, describing, comparing and contrasting. If the question asks to compare and contrast two societies, it is necessary that comparisons and contrasts are clearly made.
Practice DBQs and free responses by using questions on the College Board site.
With a study group, write your own essay questions. Make questions for each type of essay skill: compare and contrast, describe, discuss and analyze. Peer edit group members' responses.
Create Timelines
●Advanced Placement (AP) World History is organized chronologically from 8000 B.C.E. to the present. Review course content throughout the year. First, organize information into manageable chunks, one era at a time. Put major world events for that era into a timeline.
For example, the first period of time from 8000 B.C.E to 600 C.E. may include the Neolithic Revolution, the rise of river valley civilizations in Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley and China, as well as the development of belief systems such as polytheism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. The next period of history is from 600 C.E. to 1450. On a timeline, include major events such as the founding of Islam, the rise of the Mongols, and developments in the Americas.
Examine Themes
●AP World History also examines themes that play a role in all global societies, which help students to understand causes and changes in the world. Examine each theme as you review different periods of history. Keep in mind how many societies interacted together. Themes include human-environment interaction, cultural diffusion, conflict, economics and trade, and social structures.
As you review a period of history, also review what other interactions happened at that time. For example, when reviewing the Indus River Valleys in era one, think about trade and their interaction with Egypt.
Analyze Maps
●Maps are an important component of the AP World History test. Study both physical and political maps. One exercise is to choose an event and draw before and after maps by hand, such as Europe before and after World War I. Label changes in countries, leaders and boundaries as a result of the war.
Multiple-Choice Skills
●A significant portion of the AP World History test is multiple choice. Practice multiple-choice quizzes throughout the school year. The College Board, makers of the AP exam, have practice questions on their website (apcentralcollegeboard.com) .
Create a study group with class members. Use vocabulary terms to write your own multiple-choice questions on each chapter throughout the year.
Essay Writing Practice
●Document-based questions, or DBQs, are perhaps the most challenging aspects of the AP World History test along with the Free Response essays. DBQs are questions based on a primary source document, such as a political cartoon or an article from the time period. Free-response portions often deal with wider themes such as continuity and change. Important skills to use include analyzing, describing, comparing and contrasting. If the question asks to compare and contrast two societies, it is necessary that comparisons and contrasts are clearly made.
Practice DBQs and free responses by using questions on the College Board site.
With a study group, write your own essay questions. Make questions for each type of essay skill: compare and contrast, describe, discuss and analyze. Peer edit group members' responses.
