Advanced Placement (AP) History exams are a series of challenging assessments offered by the College Board that cover various aspects of history. These exams are taken by high school students who seek college-level coursework and the opportunity to earn college credit. In this comparative analysis, we will explore the two most commonly taken AP History exams: AP United States History (APUSH) and AP World History: Modern (APWH), highlighting their key differences and similarities.

AP United States History (APUSH)

Content Focus:

APUSH primarily focuses on the history of the United States from the pre-Columbian era to the present day. It covers political, social, economic, and cultural developments within the United States, emphasizing key events, figures, and periods in American history.

Exam Format:

- Multiple-Choice Questions: Approximately 55 multiple-choice questions assess students' knowledge of historical facts, events, and concepts.

- Short Answer Questions: Four short answer questions require students to analyze historical documents, make historical arguments, and use evidence to support their responses.

- Document-Based Question (DBQ): Students analyze primary and secondary sources and craft an argumentative essay in response to a specific historical question.

- Long Essay Question (LEQ): Students choose one of two prompts and write an essay that examines a historical development or theme over a specified time period.

- Historical Thinking Skills: The APUSH exam emphasizes historical thinking skills, including analysis, interpretation, causation, and synthesis.

Scoring:

- The exam is scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest score.

- The multiple-choice section accounts for 40% of the total score.

- The short answer questions, DBQ, and LEQ each contribute 20% to the total score.

AP World History: Modern (APWH)

Content Focus:

APWH covers the history of the world from approximately 1200 CE to the present day. It explores global historical developments, interactions among societies, and key themes such as trade, cultural diffusion, and political change.

Exam Format:

- Multiple-Choice Questions: Around 55 multiple-choice questions assess students' knowledge of world history, including specific regions and periods.

- Short Answer Questions: Three sets of short answer questions require students to analyze primary and secondary sources, make comparisons between historical developments, and craft responses that demonstrate historical thinking skills.

- Document-Based Question (DBQ): Similar to APUSH, students analyze primary and secondary sources and write an argumentative essay in response to a specific historical question.

- Long Essay Question (LEQ): Students choose one of two prompts and write an essay that examines a specific historical development or theme.

- Historical Thinking Skills: APWH also emphasizes historical thinking skills, including comparison, contextualization, continuity and change over time, and causation.

Scoring:

- The APWH exam is scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest score.

- The multiple-choice section accounts for 40% of the total score.

- The short answer questions, DBQ, and LEQ each contribute 20% to the total score.

Comparative Analysis

Now, let's compare these two AP History exams:

1. Content Focus:

- APUSH focuses exclusively on United States history, while APWH covers global history. This difference in scope is significant, as APWH examines interactions between various world regions and civilizations.

2. Time Period:

- APUSH covers American history from pre-Columbian times to the present. APWH starts its coverage from around 1200 CE and extends to the present day. APWH's broader time frame includes earlier historical periods.

3. Exam Format:

- Both exams share similar formats, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, a DBQ, and an LEQ. They also emphasize historical thinking skills, making them rigorous assessments.

4. Scoring:

- Both exams are scored on the same scale (1 to 5), and the scoring breakdown for their respective sections is identical.

5. Emphasis on Regions:

- APUSH primarily focuses on the United States and its history, while APWH emphasizes the interconnectedness of world regions. APWH students must analyze interactions between different parts of the world.

6. Periodization:

- APUSH uses specific historical periods (e.g., Colonial America, the Civil War era) as the basis for curriculum and testing. APWH employs a more thematic approach and covers broader time periods.

Conclusion

In summary, APUSH and APWH are both challenging AP History exams that assess students' knowledge of history and their ability to think critically about historical events and themes. The key differences lie in their content focus, time periods, and the scope of their coverage. APUSH is dedicated to American history, while APWH offers a global perspective on history from 1200 CE to the present. Your choice between the two exams may depend on your interest in American history or your desire to explore world history on a broader scale. Regardless of your choice, thorough preparation and strong historical thinking skills are essential for success on these exams.