The AP U.S. History (APUSH) exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long
. It consists of two main sections:
- Section I: Multiple Choice and Short Answer
- Part A: 55 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 55 minutes (40% of exam score)
- Part B: Short answer questions, including 3-4 questions based on historical sources, completed in about 40 minutes
- Section II: Free Response
- Document-Based Question (DBQ): 1 question with a 15-minute reading period plus 45 minutes to write (total 60 minutes, 25% of exam score)
- Long Essay Question (LEQ): Choose 1 of 3 prompts and write an essay in 40 minutes (15% of exam score)
The exam tests historical reasoning, analysis of sources, and essay writing skills based on your knowledge of U.S. history
. In summary:
- Total time: 3 hours 15 minutes
- Multiple-choice: 55 minutes
- Short answer: ~40 minutes
- DBQ: 60 minutes (including 15-minute reading)
- Long essay: 40 minutes
