Published February 16, 2024
Natasha Potter
MSU Alumni, Creative Advertising Major, Marketing Associate at Knowt 😃
This guide will go over a few of our AP European History exam tips and tricks to getting a 5 and I’ll break them down in this article! With the right strategies and resources, and knowing how to prepare for the AP European History exam it’s definitely possible for you to ace the test.
If you’re cramming at the last minute for AP European History, don’t stress we’ve all been there! If you’re wondering how to pass AP European History in a time crunch, here are some of our student-made AP European History exam tips resources for a last minute cram.
This ULTIMATE AP European History Guide - pretty much everything you need to know for the exam, written by a former AP European History student!
Our Favorite Youtube Channel for all things AP European History Exam tips - Albert!
The College Board wants you to know these key themes for AP European History:
1. Interaction of Europe and the World: Commercial and religious motivations, trade competition, Christianity, slavery, immigration, and global conflicts.
2. Economic and Commercial Developments: Industrialization, revolutions, economic integration, labor laws, socialist ideology, and the Great Depression.
3. Cultural and Intellectual Developments: Renaissance art, scientific advancements, philosophies like Locke and Rousseau, and the impact of humanism and nationalism.
4. States and Other Institutions of Power: Wars, revolutions, imperialism, nationalism, collapse of communism, and the role of media and propaganda.
5. Social Organization and Development: Gender roles, social hierarchy, urbanization, industrialization's impact on society, and religious minorities.
6. National and European Identity: Class identities, self-determination, transnationalism, conflicts between religious groups, decolonization, and political movements.
7. Technological and Scientific Innovation: Dutch advances, Industrial Revolution, major inventions and discoveries, and advancements in technology and science.
These themes cover a wide range of historical aspects that will be explored in your AP Euro journey. Get ready to delve into the fascinating world of European history!
There are 9 units covered on the AP European History exam.
Unit 1: Renaissance and Exploration
Unit 2: Age of Reformation
Unit 3: Absolutism and Constitutionalism
Unit 4: Scientific, Philosophical, and Political Developments
Unit 5: Conflict, Crisis, and Reaction in the Late 18th Century
Unit 6: Industrialization and its Effects
Unit 7: 19th Century Perspectives and Political Developments
Unit 8: 20th Century Global Conflicts
Unit 9: Cold War and Contemporary Europe
AP European History exam breakdown:
Section 1:
Multiple Choice: 55 minutes, 55 questions. Worth 40% of your score. Analyze historical sources and rely on your own knowledge.
-Short Answer: 40 minutes, three questions. Worth 20% of your score. Provide three pieces of info for each question.
Section 2:
- Document-Based Question (DBQ): 60 minutes. Worth 25% of your score. Write an essay synthesizing your interpretation of a historical movement or period using seven given sources. Graded out of 7 points.
- Long Essay: 40 minutes. Worth 15% of your score. Choose one prompt and write an essay supported by historical evidence. Graded out of 6 points.
That's the AP Euro exam in a nutshell! Now go out there and conquer European history like a pro!
Alright, let's dive into the nitty-gritty of the multiple-choice section of the AP Euro exam. You've got 55 minutes to tackle 55 questions, and it's worth a solid 40% of your final score. So pay attention and remember all of your AP European History test tips!
Each question is like a mini-quiz, tied to a specific primary or secondary historical source. You'll be asked three to four questions about each source. And guess what? You've got four possible answer choices for each question.
Now, here's the deal. The questions in this section are all about analyzing those historical sources. They want to test your ability to evaluate and understand the evidence presented. You might have to connect the events in the source to a bigger historical movement, compare it with other sources, or even figure out if it supports or contradicts a certain historical trend. It's like being a history detective!
But wait, there's more! Some questions won't rely solely on the source. Nope, they'll dig into your own historical knowledge. These are the outside knowledge questions. They'll throw a historical question at you, and you'll need to rely on what you already know. It's not about the source itself, so don't get too hung up on it.
So there you have it. The multiple-choice section is a mix of analyzing historical sources and tapping into your own historical knowledge. Stay sharp, keep those detective skills handy, and you'll tackle this section like a pro!
Hey, good news! The College Board has given us an update on when we can expect those AP scores. Based on the latest info, we can look forward to getting our scores in July 2023. Normally, the College Board likes to release them early in the month, so keep an eye out!
When the time comes, all you need to do is log into your College Board account using your trusty username and password. Voila! Your AP scores will be right there, ready for you to check out. It's a convenient way to access your results online. Can't wait to see how you did!
Alright, folks, listen up! I've got five killer tips on how to study for the AP European History exam. Check 'em out
#1: Start Early and Keep It Fresh
Don't wait until the last minute, my friends. Start reviewing that juicy content early on. Keep periodically going back to old material to refresh your knowledge. By staying on top of it, you'll have less stress as the exam approaches. Plus, you'll be building your skills rather than cramming. Smart move!
#2: Fill in the Gaps
If you realize you're missing some knowledge about a particular historical period or movement (maybe after a not-so-great test or project), don't panic! Take action! Hit the books, do some extra studying, and review that stuff. And hey, consult with your awesome teacher for guidance. Don't leave any gaps unfilled!
#3: Get Breadth and Depth
When you're reviewing historical content, balance that knowledge, my friends. Understand the big movements and moments of European history, but also know some specific facts and events for each era. It'll boost your chances of nailing those short-answer and free-response questions. You don't have to memorize every single date and name, but have a few facts up your sleeve as solid evidence. You got this!
#4: Decode Historical Evidence
Get ready to flex those analytical muscles. Understanding historical evidence is key. When you face primary and secondary sources on the exam, think about who wrote it, why they wrote it, and the historical context. Are they dishing out facts, opinions, or interpretations? Be a master at decoding those sources and you’ll know how to ace the AP European exam.
#5: Master the DBQ
Oh yeah, the DBQ. It's a bit different from your typical essay, so make sure you know how to study for the AP European History exam DBQ and write one like a pro. Practice your ability to understand and synthesize different pieces of historical evidence into a kick-ass interpretation or argument. And don't forget to make connections to other time periods, movements, or disciplines. Use the rubric and check out awesome resources on writing a killer DBQ essay. You'll be DBQ royalty in no time!
So there you have it, the top five tips for the AP European History exam. Start early, fill those gaps, get breadth and depth, decode evidence, and master the DBQ. Now go rock that exam like a history boss!
When it comes to difficulty, AP European History falls somewhere in the middle. It's not a breeze, but it's not the most challenging AP class either. Compared to AP World History, which covers a wide range of information at a surface level, AP Euro dives deeper into events and trends. However, it doesn't require quite as much in-depth knowledge as AP US History, which has a reputation for being a tough nut to crack.
Now, what do students think about AP Euro? Well, most agree that it's not an easy class. However, if you've already tackled another AP history class and rocked it, and if you have the time to dedicate to studying and keeping up with the workload, you should be able to handle AP Euro without too much trouble. The multiple-choice questions and essay writing in AP Euro are similar enough to other AP history exams, so if you've already mastered the art of writing a DBQ essay and tracing major historical themes, you're already equipped with the skills needed to excel in AP Euro.
It's worth noting that many students choose to take AP European History as an elective, often during their senior year. This means they likely have prior experience with AP exams and a personal interest in the subject matter. Sometimes, students who have a strong passion for AP Euro might underestimate the need for dedicated exam preparation. They may think they don't need to study because they already know a lot about the content. However, this overlooks the specific essay-writing requirements set by the College Board and the sometimes tricky wording of multiple-choice questions. These factors could contribute to the exam's lower pass rate.
In a nutshell, even if you consider yourself an AP Euro pro, be prepared to put in a significant amount of effort to prepare for the exam. But if you've thrived in other AP history classes and can dedicate the necessary time, AP Euro shouldn't be much harder than your average AP class.
Looking at the AP data from 2020, we can see that AP European History wasn't a walk in the park for most students. Around 59.3% managed to pass the exam, and only a cool 13.7% snagged that coveted 5. The average score was 2.95, just shy of the passing mark.
Comparing AP Euro to other exams, it seems like a real challenge. Its pass rate and 5 rate are lower than the average for AP exams overall. Out of the 38 AP subjects, only six had a lower pass rate, and 15 had a lower 5 rate. So yeah, it's safe to say that AP Euro isn't a piece of cake.
What's interesting is that AP Euro doesn't have as many takers as other history courses. In 2020, about 94,312 students decided to take the AP Euro exam. While that may seem like a decent number, it pales in comparison to the massive crowds in World History (302,942 students) and AP US History (472,697 students). This could mean that those who take AP Euro really have a passion for history since it's often an elective. But even with a strong interest, many students are still struggling to ace the exam, which suggests it's a tough nut to crack.
Of course, numbers can only tell us so much. Let's keep digging to get the full picture!
