By Sophie Tuan
AP US History is often viewed as the big brother of AP World History. Both courses have similar essay rubrics and multiple choice questions. However, AP US History takes place in a much more condensed time period. Therefore, it’s more important to remember key details and exactly when some events were. However, it can be hard to balance between memorizing key information and trying to memorize everything. Use these six tips to ensure your success in APUSH this year!
- DO NOT memorize specific dates.
Instead, memorize by unit; it’s better to know what events start and end unit time periods rather than a hundred random dates. All writing prompts and multiple choice questions have a date attached; you must know what time period to write about or answer in order to do well.
- Create Connections
The College Board rarely ever tests on pure memorization. They test on how well you know relationships: cause and effect, change and continuity, similarities and differences, etc.
- Know the essay rubrics! There’s no need to write a full 5 paragraph essay for APUSh. For both Long Essay Questions (LEQs) and Document Based Questions (DBQs) you only need two body paragraphs, an introduction with context and a thesis statement, and a counterargument or “more nuanced analysis.” You don’t need to write an artsy conclusion.
- Memorize at least two to three events per unit and how they connect to everything else. By knowing a few specific events and how they connect to everything (society, economics, politics, etc) it will ensure you get points on any free response question. There’s no need to know every event, but it’s always helpful to know a few in depth so that you’ll always have something to write about.
- Always read the time period for prompts and MCQs . College Board loves to try and trick you with correct answers from different time periods. By knowing when things happened, you can easily avoid falling for the most common trap.
- Have a FRQ frame work response
It’s hard to come up with essays or short answers at the moment. Therefore, it’s much easier to have a framework for every type of free response question. Here are a few examples to maximize points below:
LEQ
P1) Context + thesis
P2) DOP 1 with at least 2 pieces of specific evidence with analysis
P3) DOP 2 with 2 specific pieces of evidence and analysis
P4) counterargument or an expanded thesis (for the extended analysis point)
DBQ
*I personally use all 7 documents so I get an automatic extended analysis point
P1) Context +Thesis
P2) 3+document examples, analysis, at least 1 HIPPA analysis
P3) 3+document examples, analysis, at least 1 HIPPA analysis
P4)Counter argument with 1 document example
SAQ
Always 3 sentences: thesis, example, analysis