By Rosie Lu
Chances are, if you’re reading this article, you are a sophomore taking your first AP class—AP World History, commonly referred to as WHAP. You’ve probably heard horror stories about this class, like the impossible parameters of DBQs or starting a unit MCQ feeling confident, only to see questions you have no idea how to answer. AP World History seems difficult because it spans over eight centuries and, obviously, encompasses the entire world, not to mention the differing expectations between teachers and the varied curriculum between school districts. So I’m unpacking and simplifying the course, because an A is really not as unachievable as it seems.
Learn how to take notes effectively: You will be required to submit notes for every one of the fifteen chapters—for Gary Rose’s class, two and a half pages, and for James Marshall, a thesis, SPICE categories, and evidence of notes in each section.
- Rewriting the entire text into bullet point form will not help you with retention or understanding—the Ways of the World textbook tends to change between topics before circulating back to its original point, and may only serve to confuse you further if not used properly. Instead, read through all the paragraphs of each subheading to get an idea, then go back to start your notes for that section.
- Categorize everything. I prefer nesting—include causes, effects, people involved, and other details when applicable. You may have to collect and combine information across different paragraphs. Visual organization methods like flowcharts or Venn diagrams also work well.
MCQs are EASY: For WHAP, MCQs are more about historical thinking skills—cause and effect, continuity and change over time, or compare and contrast. You won’t need to waste time memorizing dates or tiny details.
- Practice MCQs using sites like Crack AP and Quizlet, which both have shockingly similar questions to chapter MCQs and the actual AP exam.
- Review all your answers after finishing the test—more often than not, some questions can give away answers to other questions.
Know the rubric and structure of DBQs and LEQs: Both DBQs and LEQs are argumentative essay-form tests, but with one main difference—DBQs are document-based, while LEQs require you to extract knowledge from the depths of your very own brain.
- Both types are structured roughly like an English essay. Contextualization, a thesis (claim and two to three DOPs), and one body paragraph for each DOP. The singular difference is that you don’t need a conclusion paragraph. More of your time should be allocated towards earning the specific points for each essay.
- The easiest way to earn the complexity point on both essays is to form a counterargument that doesn’t undermine your main argument.
- Memorize the rubrics from AP Classroom before your exam in April!
TIME PERIODS AND UNITS: On the actual AP exam, knowing which time periods events fall into is essential, especially for long answer questions—the holy trinity of the SAQ, LEQ, and DBQ. For example, the prompts will ask you to evaluate the extent to which a historical process occurred or explain how states operated, but always for a specific time period.
- Use units as a tool to help you remember the time periods—Unit 5 is titled Atlantic Revolutions, and it’s from 1750-1900, so you would know that anything in the first wave of revolutions is during that time period.
- Start reviewing these two or three weeks before the exam. Fill out the study guides given by your teacher completely from memory, then watch Heimler’s History unit reviews, and fill in what you missed.
Here’s my final reminder to not be too terrified going into AP World History—as long as you put in hard work in the right areas, you will succeed in this course. Always reach out to your teacher for help if there’s something you don’t understand, because they will be more than ecstatic to help! Best of luck, and here’s to a five on your AP exam!