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2024 APUSH Exam Guide

14 min read•june 18, 2024

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Your Guide to the 2024 AP US History Exam

We know that studying for your AP exams can be stressful, but Fiveable has your back! We created a study plan to help you crush your AP US History exam. This guide will continue to update with information about the 2024 exams, as well as helpful resources to help you do your best on test day. Unlock Cram Mode for access to our cram events—students who have successfully passed their AP exams will answer your questions and guide your last-minute studying LIVE! And don't miss out on unlimited access to our database of thousands of practice questions.

Format of the 2024 AP US History Exam

Going into test day, this is the exam format to expect:

  • Multiple Choice Section (40% of your score)
    • 55 questions in 55 minutes
  • Short Answer Section (20% of your score)
    • 3 questions in 40 minutes
  • Free-Response Section (40% of your score)
    • 2 questions in 1 hour and 40 minutes
      • Document-Based Question (25% of your score)
        • 1 DBQ with the recommended 60 minutes to complete
      • Long Essay (15% of your score)
        • 1 LEQ with the recommended 40 minutes to complete

Scoring Rubric for the 2024 AP US History exam

Multiple Choice: Earn a point for each correct answer. There is no penalty for incorrect answers.

Short Answer Question: 1 point is received for each correct piece of information. There are three parts labeled A-C and 1 point for each part, totaling a maximum of 3 points for each short answer question.

Document-Based Question:

Thesis = 1pt

Contextualization = 1 pt

Evidence = 3 pts

  • 2 pts for evidence in documents
  • 1 pt for evidence beyond documents

Analysis and Reasoning = 2 pts

  • 1 pt for sourcing
  • 1 pt for complexity

Long Essay Question:

Thesis = 1pt

Contextualization = 1 pt

Evidence = 2 pts

Analysis and Reasoning = 2 pts

📖DBQ, LEQ, & SAQ Rubrics Points Explained

Check out our study plan below to find resources and tools to prepare for your AP US History exam.

When is the 2024 AP US History Exam and How Do I Take It?

**The exam will be in-person and on paper at your school on Friday, May 10, 2024, at 8:00 AM your local time. **

You will have 3 hours and 15 minutes to take the exam. 

How Should I Prepare for the APUSH Exam?

  • First, download the AP United States History Cheatsheet PDF - a single sheet that covers everything you need to know at a high level. Take note of your strengths and weaknesses!
  • We've put together the study plan found below to help you study between now and May. This will cover all of the units and essay types to prepare you for your exam. Pay special attention to the units that you need the most improvement in.
  • Study, practice, and review for test day with other students during our live cram sessions via Cram Mode. Cram live streams will teach, review, and practice important topics from AP courses, college admission tests, and college admission topics. These streams are hosted by experienced students who know what you need to succeed.

Pre-Work: Set Up Your Study Environment

Before you begin studying, take some time to get organized.

🖥 Create a study space.

Make sure you have a designated place at home to study. Somewhere you can keep all of your materials, where you can focus on learning, and where you are comfortable. Spend some time prepping the space with everything you need and you can even let others in the family know that this is your study space. 

📚 Organize your study materials.

Get your notebook, textbook, prep books, or whatever other physical materials you have. Also, create a space for you to keep track of review. Start a new section in your notebook to take notes or start a Google Doc to keep track of your notes. Get yourself set up!

📅 Plan designated times for studying.

The hardest part about studying from home is sticking to a routine. Decide on one hour every day that you can dedicate to studying. This can be any time of the day, whatever works best for you. Set a timer on your phone for that time and really try to stick to it. The routine will help you stay on track.

🏆 Decide on an accountability plan.

How will you hold yourself accountable to this study plan? You may or may not have a teacher or rules set up to help you stay on track, so you need to set some for yourself. First, set your goal. This could be studying for x number of hours or getting through a unit. Then, create a reward for yourself. If you reach your goal, then x. This will help stay focused!

AP US History 2024 Study Plan

🌽 Unit 1: Period 1, 1491-1607

Big takeaways:

Unit 1 introduces the Americas as a place of interaction. It first discusses the diversity of Native Americans prior to contact with Europeans (symbolized by 1491, the year before Columbus). Then, the unit pivots into interactions between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans as well as between rival European powers. It ends in 1607 with the founding of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America. 

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🦃 Unit 2: Period 2, 1607-1754

Big takeaways:

Unit 2 dives more into the European colonization of the Americas. This involves comparing European countries to each other and then mostly focusing on the English who settled much of what would later become the United States of America. The rise of African slavery and continued interactions and conflict with Native Americans also plays an important role. 

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🇺🇸 Unit 3: Period 3, 1754-1800

Big takeaways:

Unit 3 sees the creation of the United States as a country out of thirteen British North American colonies. The unit then covers the early Republic, focusing on the creation of the Constitution, the first federal government, and the administrations of Washington & Adams.

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🚂 Unit 4: Period 4, 1800-1848

Big takeaways:

Unit 4 is when the United States begins to grow into its own identity as a country. It includes massive expansions of democracy through Jefferson & Jackson, the economic and social upheaval of the Market Revolution and Second Great Awakening, and also sees continued migration westward.

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💣 Unit 5: Period 5, 1844-1877

Big takeaways:

Unit 5 is all about the Civil War: the road to the Civil War, the war itself, and its aftermath called Reconstruction. Westward expansion and migration/immigration continue to be a big deal during this time period, and conflicts over slavery and rights for African Americans dominate the political discussions. 

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💰 Unit 6: Period 6, 1865-1898

Big takeaways:

Unit 6 overlaps with Period 5, but it begins after the Civil War and is not as focused on Reconstruction. Its main focus is the Second Industrial Revolution, sometimes called the Gilded Age in the United States, and on the Western United States.

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🌎 Unit 7: Period 7, 1890-1945

Big takeaways:

Unit 7 is a massive unit, so you need to keep an eye on both domestic and foreign policy. Foreign policy becomes a big deal thanks to US involvement in several wars, including the two World Wars. Domestically, the Progressive Era tries to tackle the problems of the Gilded Age, plus there is the massive up and down of the “Roaring” 1920s and then the Great Depression and New Deal of the 1930s. 

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🥶 UNIT 8: Period 8, 1945-1980

Big takeaways:

Unit 8 focuses on the effects of the World Wars, including the Cold War and the Red Scare. This unit also dives into the social movements that happened at this time, namely the Civil Rights Movement, and addresses how this was a period of social transition within the United States, changing the course of future generations. 

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📲 UNIT 9: Period 9, 1980-Present

Big takeaways:

Unit 9 is the final unit of AP US History, and it covers Reagan and the rise of conservative politics, the end of the Cold War in 1991, as well as the changes in the economy, society, and emigration and migration throughout this period. This unit also contextualizes the challenges faced in the modern-day due to the growth of technology and other aspects of the 21st century.

Definitely do this:

📚 Read these study guides:

🎥 Watch these videos:  

📰 Check out these Fiveable study guides:

If you have more time or want to dig deeper:

📰 Check out these articles: 

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About Us
About FiveableBlogCareersCode of ConductTerms of UsePrivacy PolicyCCPA Privacy Policy
Resources
Cram ModeFiveable LibraryStudy RoomsCollege HubStudy PlansHelp CenterMerch Shop
Student Wellness
Wellness GuidesJoon Care ResourcesCrisis Text LineInternational Hotlines

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