APUSH Multiple-Choice Guide

How many Multiple Choice questions are on the APUSH Exam? / 55 Questions covering Periods 1-9.
How much time? / 55 Minutes (1 minute per question)
What % of the APUSH Exam Score / 40%
How many answer choices are there? / 4 – all questions have choices A, B, C, D. There is no guessing penalty.

All questions will be grouped in sets of 2 to 5 that will follow a stimulus material including: Charts/Graphs, Political Cartoons, Maps, Primary Source written documents, and Secondary Source written documents.

STRATEGIES:

  • Pace Yourself— You have 55 minutes to answer 55 questions on the AP Exam so be aware of time. Each question is worth the same number of points: one. Don’t spend too long on any one question. Either guess or mark it for later consideration. Make sure you have time to answer all of the questions to which you know the answers.
  • Read the questions before reading the document excerpts so you know what to look for.
  • Use The Process of Elimination—Eliminate the obvious wrong answers. If you can eliminate 2 choices you are down to a fifty-fifty chance of guessing correctly. On the APUSH exam you can cross out incorrect answers on the test booklet.
  • If you are very familiar with the document (Washington’s Farewell Address, Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”) you may be able to save time by answering the questions without even reading the document.
  • Read all of the possible answers, then choose the most accurate response. Sometimes there will be more than one answer choice that seems correct – if so, attempt to determine which most accurately and effectively answers the question.
  • Focus on the Big Picture—The A.P. exam is designed to illustrate basic principles of American history. Therefore, keep in mind that correct answers will typically not tend to contradict the general trends of American history.
  • Use Context Clues and Vocabulary—Sometimes the wording of a question can be deconstructed to give you a sense of what the right answer is or at least help you eliminate some wrong answers.
  • Be Careful of “Extreme” Wording and absolute responses —Answers that contain “extreme” words such as “always,” “never” and “completely” are much less likely to be correct than answers that more nuanced words such as “usually,” “rarely,” “seldom” or “often.”
  • Don’t Fall For “Distracters”—Some answers are designed to mislead you. Choose the answer that best fits. Remember, not all true statements are correct answers; it depends on what is being asked.
  • Look For Opposites—If two answers are opposites, one of them is often correct.
  • Be Careful—Always make sure you are answering the right question. Mark the answer sheet clearly but not so darkly that it cannot be erased easily. Do not leave any stray marks on the answer sheet.
  • Trust Your Instincts—When choosing between answers pay attention to what your hunch or first guess is. Don’t try to outsmart or overanalyze a question. It may be your “right brain” at work. This is particularly important for students with a tendency to change their correct answers to incorrect answers.