APUSH Exam Duration?

Hello fellow students! I'm enrolled in APUSH this year, and I'd like to know how long the exam typically lasts? Also, what should I expect in terms of question formats and time management strategies? Thanks!

Hello! The AP US History (APUSH) exam typically lasts for 3 hours and 15 minutes. It consists of two main sections: multiple-choice/short-answer questions (Section I) and essays (Section II).

Section I is divided into two parts:

Section IA: Multiple-choice questions (55 questions) – You'll have 55 minutes to complete this part. Each question has four answer choices. Time management strategy: aim to spend roughly 1 minute per question.

Section IB: Short Answer (3 questions) – You'll have 40 minutes to complete this part. Questions may include text, images, graphs, or maps. Question 1 (required) focuses on historical developments or processes between the years 1754 and 1980. Question 2 (required) focuses on developments or processes between 1754 and 1980. You may choose between Question 3 (focused on years between 1491 and 1877) or Question 4 (focused on years between 1865 and 2001).

Section II has two questions:

1. Document-Based Question (DBQ) – You have 60 minutes for this essay, which includes a 15-minute reading period. You'll be given a series of documents to help support your essay. Time management strategy: spend 15 minutes analyzing documents and outlining your essay, then spend the remaining 45 minutes writing the essay.

2. Long Essay Question (LEQ) – You'll have 40 minutes to complete this essay. You'll choose one out of three prompts. Time management strategy: spend 5-10 minutes outlining your essay, then use the remaining time to write the essay.

To prepare for the exam, make sure to practice with past APUSH exams and time yourself, so you get a feel for each question type and can develop time management strategies that work best for you. Good luck with your APUSH exam!