The Best AP World History Study Guide 6 Key Tips

The Best AP World History Study Guide 6 Key Tips SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you taking AP World History this year? Or considering taking it at some point in high school? Then you need to read this AP World History study guide.Instead of cramming every single name, date, and place into your head, learn how to study for the AP World History exam so that you can learn the major ideas and feel ready for test day. We'll also go over some key strategies you can use to help you prepare effectively. TheAP World History test is challenging- just 8.5% of test takers got a 5 in 2017. But if you study correctlythroughout the year, you could be one of the few students who aces this test. Below are six tips to follow in order to be well prepared for the AP World History exam. Read through each one, apply them to your testprep, and you'll bewell on your way to maximizing your AP score! Why You Should Study for the AP World History Test Is it really that important to study for the AP World History test? The quick answer to this question is absolutely. But why? Let's start by taking a look at the kinds of scores students usually get on the exam. The following chart shows what percentage of test takers received each possible AP score (1-5) on the AP World History test in 2017: AP Score Percentage of Test Takers Who Received Score 5 8.5% 4 19.9% 3 26.7% 2 29.6% 1 15.4% Source: The College Board As you can see, roughly 55% of test takers scored a 2 or 3, a little less than 30% scored a 4 or 5,and just 15% scored a 1. Sincemost test takers scored a 3 or lower on this test, it's safe to say that a lot of AP World History students are not scoring as highly as they could be on this test. While a 3 is not a bad AP score by any means, some colleges such as Stanfordrequire at least a 4in order to get credit for the exam. If the schools you're applying to want a 4 or higher, putting in ample study time for the test is a definite must. In addition, if you're applying to highly selective schools, a 5 on the AP World History test (or any AP test, really) could act as a tipping point in your favor during the admissions process. Finally, getting a low score on this test- i.e., a 1 or 2- might make colleges doubt your test-taking abilities or question your potential to succeed at their school. You don't want this to happen! Want to get better grades and test scores? We can help. PrepScholar Tutors is the world's best tutoring service. We combine world-class expert tutors with our proprietary teaching techniques. Our students have gotten A's on thousands of classes, perfect 5's on AP tests, and ludicrously high SAT Subject Test scores. Whether you need help with science, math, English, social science, or more, we've got you covered. Get better grades today with PrepScholar Tutors. What's on the AP World History Exam? Before we give you our six expert study tips for AP World History, let's briefly go over the structure and content of the test. The AP World History exam consists oftwo sections: Section I and Section II.Each section, then, also consists of two parts: Part A and Part B.Here is what you'll encounter on each part of each section: Section/Part Total Time Question Type # of Questions Scoring Section I, Part A 55 mins Multiple choice 55 Worth 40% total score Section I, Part B 40 mins Short answer 3 Worth 20% total score Section II, Part A 60 mins Document based 1 Worth 25% total score Section II, Part B 40 mins Long essay 1 Worth 15% total score Source: The College Board And here is an overview of the types of tasks you'll be asked to perform: Analyze historical texts as well as historians' opinions and interpretations of history Assess historical documents and make an argument to support your assessment Write an essay concerning an issue in world history Now that you understand exactly how the AP World History test is set up, let's take a look at our six expert study tips for it. We don't keep our best secrets to ourselves. How to Study for AP World History: 6 Key Tips Below are our top tips to help you get a top score on the AP World History test. Tip 1: Don't Try to Memorize Everything If you start your AP World History class with the expectation of memorizing the entirety of human history, think again. Although AP World History tests a wide span of time, you aren’t expected to learn every tiny detail along the way. Rather, this class focuses on teaching major patterns, key cultural and political developments, and significant technological developments throughout history. AP World History is organized into the following six time periods: Technological and Environmental Transformations (to c. 600 BCE) Organization and Reorganization of Human Societies (c. 600 BCE to c. 600 CE) Regional and Interregional Interactions (c. 600 CE to c. 1450) Global Interactions (c. 1450 to c. 1750) Industrialization and Global Integration (c. 1750 to c. 1900) Accelerating Global Change and Realignments (c. 1900 to the present) Within each period, you should know the major world powers and forces driving economic development, politics, and social change (including technology). However,you don’t have to have every detailmemorized in order to do well on the test. Instead, focus on understanding big patterns and developments, and be able to explain them with a few key examples. For instance, you don’t necessarily need to know that in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue; you also don't need to know the details of his voyages or the particulars of his brutality. However,you should be able to explain why the European colonization of the Americas happened, as well as the economic effects it had on Europe, Africa, and the Americas, and how colonization affected the lives of people on all three continents. Knowing a few concrete examples is essential to succeeding on the short-answer section. The short-answer questions which will typically present you with some information (e.g., a chart, primary source, etc.) and thenask you to provide several specific examples or reasons for a broader theme or historical movement that relates to the information provided. You'll have flexibility in what specific examples you choose, just so long as they are relevant. The short-answer section is four questions long and worth 20% of your total test score (so each question is worth 5%). You'll have 50 minutes within section 1 to complete it. Concrete examplescan also bolster your essays and improve your ability to break down multiple-choice questions on the topic.However, focus first on understanding the big picture before you try to memorize the nitty-gritty details. If you’re coming from AP US History, this advice might seem odd. But unlike US History, which is more fine-grained, the AP World History exam writers do not expect you to know everything, as they test a much larger topic. AP US History is essentially a test of 400 years of history in one location, so it’s fair to expect students to know many proper names and dates. But for World History,that same level of detail isn’t expected; this test takes place over thousands of years all around the world. Instead, you should focus on understanding the general patterns ofimportant topics through history. This won't only save you time but will also keep you sane as your textbook hurls literally hundreds of names, places, and dates at you throughout the year. Speaking of your textbook ... Tip 2: Keep Up With Your Reading! When it comes to AP World History, you can't sleep through the class all year, skim a prep book in April, and then expect to get a perfect 5 on the test. You're learning all of human history, after all! Trying to cram for this test late in the game is both stressful and inefficient because of the sheer volume of material you have to cover. And all that reading would hurt your eyes. Instead, keep up with your reading and do well in your World History class to ensure you're building a strong foundation of knowledge throughout the year. This way, when it hits spring, you can focus on preparing for the exam itself and the topics it’s likely to test, as opposed to frantically trying to learn all of human history in just two months. If your teacher isn’t already requiring you to do something like this, be sure to keep notes of your readings throughout the school year. This could be in the form of outlines, summaries, or anything else that's useful to you. Taking notes will help you process the readings and remember them better. Your notes will also be an invaluable study tool in the spring. Finally, check the website of whatever textbook your class uses. Many textbook websites have extra features, such as pre-made chapter outlines and summaries. These can be excellent study resources for you throughout the year. Tip 3: Read a Prep Book (or Two) in the Spring Even if you keep up with AP World History throughout the year, you’re probably going to be a bit hazy on topics you learned in September when you start studying for the test in March or April. This is why we recommend getting a prep book, which will provide a much broaderoverview of world history, focusing especially on topics tested on the exam. If you’ve been learning well throughout the school year, reading a prep bookwill trigger your background knowledge and help you review. Think of your prep book as your second, much quicker pass through world history. And in case you’re wondering- no, the prep book alone will not fill you in on the necessary depth of knowledge for the entire test. You can't replace reading your textbook throughout the year with reading a prep book in the spring. The AP World History multiple-choice section especially can ask some pretty specific questions, and you'd definitely have blind spots if all you did is read a prep book and not an actual textbook. Furthermore, you wouldn't be able to explain examples in your essay in as much detail if you've only read a few paragraphs about major historical events. Tip 4: Get Ready to Move at 1 M.P.Q. (Minute per Question) To prepare for the AP World History exam, knowing the material is just half the battle. You also need to know how to use your time effectively,especially on the multiple-choice section. The multiple-choice section (Section 1, part A) asks 55 questions in 55 minutes,and is worth 40% of your total score. This gives you just one minuteper question, so you'll have to move fast. And to be ready for this quickpace, practice is key. Taking the AP World History exam without practicing first would be like jumping into a NASCARrace without a driver's license. To practice pacing yourself, it’s crucial that you get a prep book containing practice tests. Even if you've read your textbook diligently, taken notes, and reviewed the material, it's really important to practice actual multiple-choice sections so you can get used to the timing of the test. Althoughthere are a few two-part questions on AP World History,most are stand-alone questions. As a result,you can move from question to question fairly quickly, and even skip and return to tough questions (as long as you keep an eye on the time!). There might be some images, maps, charts, and passages to work through as well, so some questions will likely take longer than others. Your teacher should be giving you multiple-choice quizzes or teststhroughout the year to help you prepare for the test. If your teacher isn't doing this, it will, unfortunately, be up to you to find multiple-choice practice questionsfrom prep books and online resources. See our complete list of AP World History practice tests here. You need to create your own multiple-choice strategy as you study, such as using the process of elimination, being ready to read and analyze pictures and charts, and being constantly aware of your time. I recommend wearing a watch when you practice so you can keep an eye on how long you spend on each question. In short, make sure you practice AP World History multiple-choice questions so that when you sit down to take the exam, you'll feel confident and ready to move fast. Want to get better grades and test scores? We can help. PrepScholar Tutors is the world's best tutoring service. We combine world-class expert tutors with our proprietary teaching techniques. Our students have gotten A's on thousands of classes, perfect 5's on AP tests, and ludicrously high SAT Subject Test scores. Whether you need help with science, math, English, social science, or more, we've got you covered. Get better grades today with PrepScholar Tutors. Tip 5: Practice Speed-Writing for the Free-Response Section The AP World History exam has two essay questions that, together, account for 40% of your total score. You'll get 55 minutes for the Document-Based Question (DBQ), including a 10-minute reading period. The DBQ is worth 25% of your exam grade. You'll then get 35 minutes for the Long Essay, which is worth 15% of your score. For each essay, you need to be able to brainstorm quickly and write an essay that answers the prompt, is well organized, and has a cogent thesis. A thesis is a one-sentence summary of your main argument. For the sake of AP essays, it's best to put your thesis at the end of the introductory paragraph so the grader can find it quickly. When organizing your essay, have each paragraph explain one part of the argument, with a topic sentence (basically, a mini thesis) at the beginning of each paragraph that explains exactly what you're going to say. For the DBQ, you'll need to bring all or most the provided documents into your argument in addition to your background knowledge of the period being tested. For example, in a DBQ about the effects of Spanish Influenza during World War I, you needed to demonstrate your knowledge of WWI as well as your ability to use the documents effectively in your argument. See our complete guide to writing a DBQ here. For the Long Essay, it’s up to you to provide specific historical examples and show your broad understanding of historical trends. (Again, this is why doing your reading is so important, since you'll have to provide and explain your own historical examples!) Throughout the year, your teacher should be having you do writing assignments, including in-class essays, to teach you how to write good essays quickly. Since you'll be writing youressays by hand for the test, you should ideally be writing your practice essays by hand as well. If you struggle with writing by hand fast, you can build up your writing fluency (your ability to quickly translate thoughts to words) by writing additional practice essayson your own. If you need to work on writing fluency, it's best to practice with easier writing topics.First, find a journal prompt to write about (this website has hundreds). Next, set a timer. Between 10 and 15 minutes is best. Finally, write as much (and as fast) as you can about the prompt, without making any big mistakes in spelling or grammar. When time's up, count how many words you wrote. If you do this a few times a week, you'll build up your writing speed, and your word counts will continue to grow. Once you've built up this skill, it will be much easier to tackle the AP World History free response section. You can also practice on your own using old AP World History free-response questions.However, note that the test was revised for 2016-17, so old questions will have old instructions. In fact, there actuallyused to be three essays on the AP World History test- in addition to the DBQ, there was a "Change Over Time" essay and a "Comparison" essay. Now, there's just one long essay. Be sure to compare older questions with the most up-to-date examples from the most current AP Course and Exam Description. Tip 6: Take Practice Exams and Set a Target Score In the spring, aim totake at least one full practice exam- ideally in late March or early April- once you’ve learned most of the World History material. By a full practice exam, we mean the entire AP World History test. Time yourself and take it in one sitting, with a 15-minute break between the multiple-choice/short-answer section and the essays. Why should you do this? It will give you a chance to experience what it’s like to take a full AP World History exam before you sit for the real thing. This helps you build stamina and perfect your timing. All the practice in the world won't help you if you run out of steam on your last essay question and can barely think. Also, set a target score for each section: multiple choice and free response.Good news: you don’t need to be aiming for 100% on the multiple-choice section and a 9/9 on every essay in order to secure a 5 (the highest possible score). Far from it, actually! The truth is that a high multiple-choice score (50/55) with average short-answer and free-response scores (say, 8/12 on short answer, 5/7 on the DBQ, and 4/6 on the long essay) can get you a score of 5. Likewise, an average multiple-choice score (35/55) with high short-answer and free-response scores (say, 11/12 on short answer, 6/7 on the DBQ, and 5/6 on the long essay) can also net you a 5. Setrealistic score targets based on your personal strengths.For example, a really good writing student might go the average multiple choice/strong essay route, while a strong test taker might go the other way around. You could also be somewhere in-between. In addition, don't be intimidated if your target score is a lot higher than your current scores. The whole point of practicing is to eventually meet your target! Once you have a target score, practice, practice, practice! Use old exams, the practice exams in (high-quality) prep books, and thefree-response questions linked above. You can even ask your teacher for old AP World History tests and essay questions. The more you practice before the test, the more likely you are to meet- or exceed!- your score goal. Bottom Line: How to Prep for the AP World History Test Although AP World History is a challenging test, if you follow the advice in this AP World History study guide and preparecorrectlythroughout the year, you can definitely pass, or even be one of the few students who gets a 5! Just make sure to keep up with your reading, use a prep book in the spring, and practice a lot for the multiple-choice and the free-response sections. With clear target scores for each section and plenty of practice under your belt, you'll have the strongest chance of getting a 5 on test day! What’s Next? How many AP classes should you take in total? Find out here. How hard is AP World History compared with other AP tests? We’ve rounded up a list of the hardest and easiest AP tests, as well as the average scores for every exam. For more tips on doing well in all of your classes, from AP to IB to honors, read this expert guide to getting a perfect 4.0, written by PrepScholar founder Allen Cheng. Even if you're not going for perfection, you'll learn all the skills you need to work hard, work smart, and get better grades. Also studying for the SAT/ACT? In a hurry? Learn how to cram for the ACT or SAT. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: