AP World History: Modern - In-Depth Notes

Overview of AP® World History: Modern Course and Exam

  • Effective Fall 2023
  • Updated regularly; check AP Central for updates
  • Developed by experienced AP teachers and field experts

Principles of AP Courses

  1. Clarity and Transparency: Clear expectations for teachers and students.
  2. Engagement with Evidence: Promote independent thinking and evidence-based discussions.
  3. Opposition to Censorship: Respect for intellectual freedom; topics cannot be restricted.
  4. Critical Analysis: Students analyze various perspectives and are not required to agree with them.
  5. Open-Mindedness: Study of diverse cultures and histories using primary sources.
  6. Respect and Inclusion: Students must value diverse views in discussions.
  7. Choice in Enrollment: Access to information for parents and students about AP courses.

Course Framework Components

  • Historical Thinking Skills and Reasoning Processes: Skills crucial for understanding world history (e.g., sourcing, contextualization).
  • Course Content: Organized into units covering major historical themes and developments.

Key Themes in AP World History: Modern

  1. Humans and the Environment
  2. Cultural Developments and Interactions
  3. Governance
  4. Economic Systems
  5. Social Interactions and Organization
  6. Technology and Innovation

Breakdown of Units with Approximate Weighting on Exam

  1. The Global Tapestry (c. 1200 - c. 1450) - 8-10%
  2. Networks of Exchange (c. 1200 - c. 1450) - 8-10%
  3. Land-Based Empires (c. 1450 - c. 1750) - 12-15%
  4. Transoceanic Interconnections (c. 1450 - c. 1750) - 12-15%
  5. Revolutions (c. 1750 - c. 1900) - 12-15%
  6. Consequences of Industrialization (c. 1750 - c. 1900) - 12-15%
  7. Global Conflict (c. 1900 - present) - 8-10%
  8. Cold War and Decolonization (c. 1900 - present) - 8-10%
  9. Globalization (c. 1900 - present) - 8-10%

Exam Structure

  • Section I: Multiple-choice and short-answer (55 multiple-choice questions, 3 short-answer questions)
  • Section II: Document-based and long essay questions (1 DBQ and 1 selected LEQ)
Key Historical Thinking Skills Assessed
  • Skill 1: Category of Developments and Processes
  • Skill 2: Analyze Sourcing and Situation
  • Skill 3: Analyze Arguments
  • Skill 4: Contextualization
  • Skill 5: Making Connections
  • Skill 6: Develop an Argument
Notable Task Verbs in Free-Response Questions
  • Compare
  • Describe
  • Evaluate
  • Explain
  • Identify
  • Support an argument

Scoring Guidelines for Exam

  • Emphasis on accuracy and clarity, independent points for responses; multiple reasoning pathways allowed.
Sample Exam Question Types
  • Multiple-choice: Usually includes stimuli such as texts, images, and charts.
  • Short-answer: Analyze specific sources.
  • Free-response: Students develop arguments based on provided evidence, including documents.