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AP US History Exam

The AP ® U.S. History exam, also known as APUSH, is a college-level exam administered every year in May upon the completion of an Advanced Placement U.S. History course taken at your high school. If you score high enough, you could earn college credit!

Check out our AP U.S. History Guide for the essential info you need about the exam:

  • AP U.S. History Exam Overview
  • AP U.S. History Sections & Question Types
  • AP U.S. History Scoring
  • How to Prepare

What's on the AP U.S. History Exam?

The College Board requires your AP teacher to cover certain topics in the AP U.S. History course. As you complete your APUSH review, make sure you are familiar with the following topics:

  • Period 1 (1491–1607) : Native American Societies Before European Contact; European Exploration in the Americas; Columbian Exchange, Spanish Exploration, and Conquest; Labor, Slavery, and Caste in the Spanish Colonial System; Cultural Interactions Between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans
  • Period 2 (1607–1754) : European Colonization; The Regions of British Colonies; Transatlantic Trade; Interactions Between American Indians and Europeans; Slavery in the British Colonies; Colonial Society and Culture
  • Period 3 (1754–1800) : The Seven Years’ War (The French and Indian War); Taxation Without Representation; Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution; The American Revolution; The Influence of Revolutionary Ideals; The Articles of Confederation; The Constitutional Convention and Debates over Ratification; The Constitution; Shaping a New Republic; Developing an American Identity; Movement in the Early Republic
  • Period 4 (1800–1848) : The Rise of Political Parties and the Era of Jefferson; Politics and Regional Interests; America on the World Stage; Market Revolution: Industrialization; Market Revolution: Society and Culture; Expanding Democracy; Jackson and Federal Power; The Development of an American Culture; The Second Great Awakening; An Age of Reform; African Americans in the Early Republic; The Society of the South in the Early Republic
  • Period 5 (1844–1877) : Manifest Destiny; The Mexican–American War; The Compromise of 1850; Sectional Conflict: Regional Differences; Failure of Compromise; Election of 1860 and Secession; Military Conflict in the Civil War; Government Policies During the Civil War; Reconstruction; Failure of Reconstruction
  • Period 6 (1865–1898) : Westward Expansion: Economic Development; Westward Expansion: Social and Cultural Development; The “New South”; Technological Innovation; The Rise of Industrial Capitalism; Labor in the Gilded Age; Immigration and Migration in the Gilded Age; Responses to Immigration in the Gilded Age; Development of the Middle Class; Reform in the Gilded Age; Controversies over the Role of Government in the Gilded Age; Politics in the Gilded Age
  • Period 7 (1890–1945) : Imperialism: Debates; The Spanish–American War; The Progressives; World War I: Military and Diplomacy; World War I: Home Front; 1920s: Innovations in Communication and Technology; 1920s: Cultural and Political Controversies; The Great Depression; The New Deal; Interwar Foreign Policy; World War II: Mobilization; World War II: Military; Postwar Diplomacy
  • Period 8 (1945–1980) : The Cold War from 1945 to 1980; The Red Scare; Economy after 1945; Culture after 1945; Early Steps in the Civil Rights Movement (1940s and 1950s); America as a World Power; The Vietnam War; The Great Society; The African American Civil Rights Movement (1960s); The Civil Rights Movement Expands; Youth Culture of the 1960s; The Environment and Natural Resources from 1968 to 1980; Society in Transition
  • Period 9 (1980–Present): Reagan and Conservatism; The End of the Cold War; A Changing Economy; Migration and Immigration in the 1990s and 2000s; Challenges of the 21 st Century

Read More: Review for the exam with our AP U.S. History Crash Courses

Sections & Question Types

The APUSH exam takes 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete and is comprised of two sections: a multiple-choice/short answer section and a a free response section. There are two parts to each section.

APUSH Multiple Choice Questions

Questions are grouped into sets of three or four questions and based on a primary source, secondary source, or historical issue. Each set of questions is based on a different piece of source material. This section will test your ability to analyze and engage with the source materials while recalling what you already know about U.S. history.

APUSH Short Answer Questions

The three questions in this section will be tied to a primary source, historical argument, data or maps, or general propositions of U.S. history. Students are required to answer the first and second questions and then answer either the third or the fourth question. You are not required to develop and support a thesis statement, but you must describe examples of historical evidence relevant to the source or question.

APUSH Document-Based Question (DBQ)

The DBQ question requires you to answer a question based on seven primary source documents and your knowledge of the subject and time period. All the documents will pertain to a single subject. Students should develop an argument about the question and use the documents to support this argument.

APUSH Long Essay Question

For the long essay question, you’ll be given a choice of three essay options on the same theme, and you must choose one. You must develop and defend a relevant thesis, but there won’t be any documents on which you must base your response. Instead, you’ll need to draw upon your own knowledge of topics you learned in your AP U.S. History class.

For a comprehensive content review, check out our book,  AP U.S. History Prep

What’s a good AP U.S. History Score?

AP scores are reported from 1 to 5. Colleges are generally looking for a 4 or 5 on the AP U.S. History exam, but some may grant credit for a 3. Here’s how students scored on the May 2020 test:

Source: College Board

How can I prepare?

AP classes are great, but for many students they’re not enough! For a thorough review of AP U.S. History content and strategy, pick the  AP prep option  that works best for your goals and learning style. 

  • AP Exams  

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Advanced Placement (AP)

feature_apushistoryreview.jpg

It's hard to know where to start with your AP US History review. It's one of the tougher APs based on the thinking skills it requires and the amount of content it covers. You can't just read over your notes and expect to get a high score on the final exam in May.

In this guide, we give you a basic outline of what's on the AP US History exam, provide study tips, and lay out a step-by-step prep plan that you can customize to your needs .

What's the Format of the AP US History Exam?

First off, you should know the basics of what you're dealing with on this test. The total length of the AP US History exam is three hours and 15 minutes , so it's on the longer side compared to other AP tests. Format-wise, it has two sections , which are each further divided into two parts (A and B).

Here's a brief layout of the timing and significance of each major part of the AP US History exam:

Section 1: Multiple Choice and Short Answer

Section 1 of the AP US History test consists of a multiple-choice portion (Part A) and a short-answer portion (Part B). The section is one hour and 35 minutes long and counts for 60% of your final AP score.

On Part A, you'll have 55 minutes to answer 55 multiple-choice questions; this gives you a pace of about a minute per question . This part counts for 40% of your score , making it one of the most important portions of the APUSH exam.

Each question comes with four possible answer choices (labeled A-D). Questions typically come in sets of three to four and are accompanied by a source, such as a historical text, a graph, or a map.

On Part B, you'll have 40 minutes to answer three short-answer questions, giving you around 13 minutes per question . The portion is worth 20% of your overall score .

Although you'll see four questions on this part, you only need to respond to three in total (you will have to choose between prompts 3 and 4). Here's what to expect with each question:

  • Prompt 1: Focuses on the years 1754-1980 and comes with one to two secondary sources
  • Prompt 2: Focuses on the years 1754-1980 and comes with one primary source
  • Prompt 3 (choose one) : Focuses on the years 1491-1877 and comes with no source
  • Prompt 4 (choose one) : Focuses on the years 1865-2001 and comes with no source

Section 2: Free Response (Document-Based Question and Long Essay)

Section 2 of the AP US History exam is the free-response section, meaning you will have to write out your answers in an essay format . Part A is the Document-Based Question, or DBQ, and Part B is the Long Essay. Altogether, this section is one hour and 40 minutes long and counts for 40% of your AP score.

On Part A, you must answer one DBQ by writing an essay that synthesizes at least six of the seven historical documents you've been given. You'll have a total of 60 minutes for this part: 15 minutes to read through the documents and 45 minutes to write your response. It counts for 25% of your AP score .

On Part B, you'll have 40 minutes to write a Long Essay in response to one of three prompts (you choose which prompt you want to answer). This section counts for 15% of your final score . Each essay prompt focuses on a different time period in American history:

  • Essay Prompt 1: 1491-1800
  • Essay Prompt 2: 1800-1898
  • Essay Prompt 3: 1890-2001

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What Do Questions Look Like on the AP US History Exam?

In this section, I'll give a brief overview of each type of question you can expect to see on the AP US History exam. It's important to understand the different formats and point distributions before diving into your review of the course content. Doing this allows you to tailor your AP US History review to the actual requirements of the test!

Multiple-Choice Sample Question

Multiple choice questions always ask you to apply your knowledge of US History in the context of a historical document. These documents could include images or pieces of writing, and three to four questions are asked about each one.

Here's an example of a multiple-choice question from the 2017-18 APUSH Exam Description :

body_apushmc1.png

The passage here mentions that Whitefield came over to the British colonies from Ireland and became an immensely popular itinerant preacher . This suggests that religious culture was shaped by choice C ("trans-Atlantic exchanges").

Although some of the other choices aren't completely invalid if you just looked at the question without the excerpt, the evidence provided therein leads us directly to choice C . This question shows how important it is to read very carefully on the AP US History test!

Short-Answer Sample Question

In addition to 55 multiple-choice questions, you'll get three short-answer questions on the first part of the AP US History test . These are multi-part questions that can be answered in just a few sentences. They usually rely on written excerpts or other types of historical documents, just as the multiple-choice questions do.

While APUSH short-answer questions won't ask you to do much writing, they do test your ability to understand what's going on in the source material and how it ties into your knowledge of US history.

Here's an example of a short-answer question from the 2019-20 AP Course and Exam Description :

As you can see, this short-answer question comes with two secondary sources. You must answer all three parts (A, B, and C) correctly to earn full credit for this question.

Below are sample responses that would get full points (taken from the official scoring guidelines ).

(A) Sample Answers

  • Peiss argues that pursuits of entertainment in dance halls by working class women created new, legitimate social spaces for women, however Enstand argues that working women's participation in labor politics gave them a new voice and place in the public sphere.
  • Peiss links the growth of women in public social life to a commercial culture that provided opportunities for women to enter the public sphere while Enstand argues that women became political actors who demanded a public voice.

(B) Sample Answers

  • Like the dance halls, department stores and amusement parks became aspects of the commercial culture that represented new opportunities for women to enjoy public places as legitimate participants.
  • The concept of the New Woman became a cultural phenomenon, as the older idea of separate spheres diminished. The idea of the New Woman supported a more public role for women in the early 1900s.
  • The growth of cities and urban America gave young women more opportunities to leave rural America and participate in the developments described by Peiss.
  • New technologies such as electric lighting made possible new public spaces for personal freedom for women.

(C) Sample Answers

  • Women's participation in the suffrage movement, settlement house work, temperance organizing, and the Progressive movement all contributed to modern attitudes about women and increased their roles in the public sphere.
  • The ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution gave women the vote and a voice in politics.
  • Women were the main participants in the New York shirtwaist strike of 1909. During this strike women made public demands like those described by Enstad.
  • Women organized or participated in labor unions such as the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) which is an example of their growing voice in the public sphere.
  • Working-class women had key public roles in the successful Lawrence (Massachusetts) textile strike of 1912, this demonstrates that women became active political voices through labor movements.

body_old_historical_document

Sample Document-Based Question

The Document-Based Question might be the most intimidating part of the AP US History exam. It's worth 25% of your score and requires the synthesis of a bunch of information presented in different formats to create a coherent argument. These are the directions you'll see on the test, along with a sample prompt and document (from the 2019-20 Course and Exam Description ):

body_ap_us_history_dbq

You can earn up to 7 raw points on your DBQ response. Here's how those points are doled out, according to the scoring guidelines :

If you want more help with this tricky question, check out these resources for more DBQ examples to use in your AP US History review.

Long Essay Sample Question

You'll get to choose from among three prompts for the Long Essay. Here's a sample question (with instructions) from the 2019-20 Course Description :

body_ap_us_history_long_essay_sample_question

You can earn up to 6 points , which are awarded as follows, per the official scoring guidelines :

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What Does the AP US History Exam Cover?

AP US History is divided into nine units, or time periods , each of which makes up a designated percentage of the course material and instructional time. Here's how much of the exam each unit takes up:

Source: 2019-20 AP US History Course and Exam Description

These time periods are connected by eight overarching themes. I'll list these themes followed by their descriptions as written in the 2019-20 Course Description . After you learn the who, what, and where of historical events, you should be able to connect them to one (or more likely several) of these broader concepts.

Theme 1: American and National Identity

Focuses on how and why definitions of American and national identity and values have developed among the diverse and changing population of North America as well as on related topics, such as citizenship, constitutionalism, foreign policy, assimilation, and American exceptionalism.

Theme 2: Work, Exchange, and Technology

Focuses on the factors behind the development of systems of economic exchange, particularly the role of technology, economic markets, and government.

Theme 3: Geography and the Environment

Focuses on the role of geography and both the natural and human-made environments in the social and political developments in what would become the United States.

Theme 4: Migration and Settlement

Focuses on why and how the various people who moved to and within the United States both adapted to and transformed their new social and physical environments.

Theme 5: Politics and Power

Focuses on how different social and political groups have influenced society and government in the United States as well as how political beliefs and institutions have changed over time.

Theme 6: America in the World

Focuses on the interactions between nations that affected North American history in the colonial period and on the influence of the United States on world affairs.

Theme 7: American and Regional Culture

Focuses on the how and why national, regional, and group cultures developed and changed as well as how culture has shaped government policy and the economy.

Theme 8: Social Structures

Focuses on how and why systems of social organization develop and change as well as the impact that these systems have on the broader society.

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AP US History Review: 3 Essential Study Tips

Before I lay out the template for your AP US History study plan, here are a few tips to keep in mind as you go along. By adopting the right strategies, your AP scores will improve much more quickly!

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#1: Connect Facts to Major Themes

Studying history just means committing a bunch of names and dates to memory, right? Wrong!

Questions on the AP US History exam (and if you have a good teacher, most of your smaller tests in class), will ask you to combine general historical knowledge with an understanding of larger trends . The facts and approximate dates are relevant, but only to the extent that they can provide insight into your analysis of historical patterns and themes.

If you study the facts in isolation, you'll be lost on the test , especially when you get to the free-response questions. As you prepare for the exam, take note of the major themes and think about how you might weave them into a discussion of the era as a whole.

#2: Practice Analyzing Historical Writings and Documents

Almost every question on the AP US History exam will ask you to read a historical document or analyze a politically charged image. It's important that you're able to interpret these sources both quickly and accurately. Look in your textbook or online for examples of historical texts and practice analyzing the authors' claims.

Which of the themes of the course are relevant? What else was happening at the time that might have influenced the writing or illustration? Is the individual addressing a certain audience, and is their point of view biased? Asking yourself these types of questions will help prepare you for the way you're required to think about historical documents on the final exam.

#3: Write Essay Outlines

You should be a pro at writing essay outlines well before you take the AP US History test. If you can write a strong outline that uses evidence correctly and relates the supporting points back to the thesis, that's more than half the battle.

The College Board website offers a bunch of old free-response questions that students can use for free for review purposes.

Practice writing a thesis-driven outline in five to 10 minutes for each essay question. If you have time, you should also practice writing out the final draft while staying within the time constraints of the real AP test.

body_writingessayoutlines.jpg

How to Study for AP US History: 6-Step Guide

In this section, I'll lay out the standard structure of an effective AP US History review plan . The most important takeaway from this study plan is that you need to understand all your mistakes on practice tests so that you can avoid these same issues on the real APUSH exam.

Step 1: Take a Full-Length Practice Test

Time: 3.5 hours

The first step in the study process is to take a full practice test for AP US History so you can see how well you perform before doing any prep . Make sure that you adhere to the time constraints on the real exam so you can figure out whether you need to work on your pacing (especially on the free-response section).

You should also circle any questions for which you aren't 100% sure of the answer so that you can revisit them later, even if you happen to guess them correctly.

Step 2: Score Your Practice Test Test and Set a Goal

Time: 1 hour

After you finish your US History practice test, calculate your score to see how much you need to improve before test day . This can be a little tough for AP US History because the scoring for free-response questions is less clear-cut; however, you should be able to determine a rough estimate of how many points you would get on each free-response question by referring to the official scoring guidelines .

You can use this online calculator to find your AP score (on the 1-5 scale) after you tally up all your raw points. Don't forget that points are not subtracted for incorrect multiple-choice answers .

Once you figure out where you currently fall in the AP score range , you can work on creating a study plan based on how much you hope to improve . Set realistic goals for yourself considering how much time you have before the test and how many hours of studying you can fit into your schedule.

I think that everyone who takes an AP class is capable of earning a 5—a perfect AP score —with enough studying. But if you're in the 2 range and you only have a couple of weeks before the test, a reasonable goal could be to earn a passing score (3+) . If you have a couple of months , you might aim even higher.

If you start off in the 4 range, you should be able to boost your score up to a 5 within a month or so. Of course, this all depends on how many hours of studying you can afford to put into this one exam. Ideally, each time you go through the steps of this AP US History study process, your score will improve by anywhere from a half to a whole AP point.

If you're already on the lower end of the 5 range, you might only need to go through the rest of this study process once to get yourself up to speed. On the other hand, if you're in the 3 range and aiming for a 5, you should plan to repeat these steps multiple times to reach your goals.

Step 3: Analyze Your Mistakes

The third step is to analyze your mistakes on your practice test. What information did you forget? Which eras or aspects of US History confused you the most? Figure out which topics were most challenging for you by cataloging your mistakes and making a list of all the areas with which you struggled. Once you have this list of problem areas, you can execute a more focused, efficient review of the concepts that need the most work.

Don't ignore the free-response section during this process. If you had trouble formulating a coherent argument related to a particular course theme, you should use some of your prep time to work on gaining a deeper understanding of that concept.

Step 4: Fix Gaps in Your Content Knowledge

Time: 2 hours

When you finish analyzing your mistakes, you can go into your APUSH notes or review book and revisit any content that was an issue for you on the practice test . It's important to solidify your background knowledge before practicing analysis skills so that you can have a strong basis for your arguments and opinions.

This stage is also when a review book might come in handy. All the content is organized much more clearly than it might be in your worn-out notebook. You can check out this list of the best review books for AP US History if you want more advice on which one to get.

Step 5: Practice Relevant Questions

After gaining the necessary background knowledge in US history, you can start answering some questions to prepare for your next full practice test. This step should alert you to any skill areas that you still need to practice or content that you didn't fully memorize in your first content review. Try to find questions that require some analysis in addition to factual recall so you can test both your background knowledge and your mastery of higher-level thought processes.

In our expert AP US History study guide , I include a list of online resources you can use for practice questions. These will be helpful for this stage of the process because you're addressing specific time periods or themes that gave you trouble on the first test.

Most online resources have mini quizzes that pertain to different units in the course , so you can pick and choose which types of questions you want to practice. This is also when you can practice writing the essay outlines mentioned in the tips section above.

Step 6: Take and Score a Second Practice Test

Once you're satisfied that you have a better understanding of everything you missed on the first AP US History practice test, take another practice test to see how far you've come.

If you see significant improvement, you might be able to stop here. Of course, that depends on what your goals are and what your score was like on your first practice test. You can always repeat these steps to improve even more!

If your scores haven't improved, look back at how you conducted the process and make sure that you weren't "studying" by simply skimming over information without really understanding or absorbing it.

You should also only study in an environment where you can focus without any interruptions or distractions. Sometimes this might mean abandoning group study sessions for independent work!

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Recap: Getting the Most Out of Your AP US History Review

Although AP US History is a notoriously challenging class , reviewing the material before the big test doesn't have to be traumatic. Most questions will ask you to analyze historical documents and record your insights. This AP test is less about knowing every single little thing that's happened in American history and more about understanding the eight course themes and how they're intertwined with the progression of events.

Here are three tips to keep in mind as you study for AP US History:

  • Connect facts to major themes
  • Practice analyzing historical documents
  • Write essay outlines

Your AP US History review plan should (roughly) follow these six steps:

#1: Take a full-length (and timed!) practice test #2: Score your practice test and set a goal #3: Analyze your mistakes #4: Fix gaps in your content knowledge #5: Practice relevant questions #6: Take and score a second practice test

You can repeat the steps as many times as necessary to achieve your score goal. Use official and high-quality APUSH practice tests to keep checking in with yourself as you review to ensure that you're making steady improvements!

What's Next?

Looking for more APUSH prep guides? We go over how to write a DBQ , where to find AP US History practice tests , and which AP US History notes are the best to use .

Still trying to plan out the rest of your class schedule for next year? Our guide will help you decide which AP classes to take based on your goals .

What will you get out of a high AP score? Take a look at this guide to learn how AP credit works in college .

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:

Get eBook: 5 Tips for 160+ Points

Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.

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Guide to the AP® U.S. History Exam

Why take ap ® u.s. history.

When faced with the choice of whether or not to take AP ® U.S. History, the benefits often outweigh the costs for most students.

Many colleges require students to fulfill a history or social science course before they can graduate. However, if you take the AP ® U.S. History Exam and attain a high score while you are in high school, you may be able to qualify for credit toward that requirement and not have to take another history exam in college.

A more recent argument for taking AP ® Exams, is that more colleges are going test-optional . This means that SAT ® and ACT ® scores are potentially holding less weight when it comes to college applications, and a good AP ® score could help tip the scale in your favor when it comes to college admissions.

Besides creating the opportunity to earn college credit for the work you do, APUSH courses also develop crucial skills, challenge you academically, and help round out your knowledge in ways you wouldn’t otherwise be able to. In addition to that, preparing for and taking the AP ® U.S. History Exam provides excellent practice for college-level exams you may take in the future. Still unsure? This article goes into more detail about the benefits of taking AP ® U.S. History .

How to sign up for the AP ® U.S. History Exam

To register for the APUSH exam, you need to contact your school’s AP ® coordinator, who can help facilitate your courses and exams.

Bear in mind you’ll likely need to complete requirements to be eligible to enroll in an AP ® course. In order to register for the AP ® U.S. History Exam, you have to join your class section online, on College Board’s My AP portal. Some schools will automatically register you for the exam if you’re enrolled in an AP ® U.S. History class, but others won’t and you will have to register online through the portal. If you are unsure whether or not you are registered for the AP® U.S. History Exam, check wIth your AP ® Coordinator.

There is also a deadline for exam registration, so make sure you register through your AP ® Coordinator by then to avoid paying any late fees. The deadline to register for exams is in the fall, but specific deadlines may vary by the school—be sure to check with your teacher or AP ® Coordinator.

How much does the AP ® Exam cost?

Each AP ® Exam costs a total of $96—if you’re in the mainland United States and its territories and commonwealths, Canada, or a U.S. Department of Defense Dependents School.

If you’re outside of those areas, the AP ® Exam will cost $126 per exam.

The College Board has a financial aid program that offers a $34 fee reduction in the exam. Read more about exam fees here .

You cannot use the My AP ® portal to pay fees – they will be collected by your AP ® coordinator.

When you take into account the cost of a college course versus the cost of the exam, though, you’ll see that the AP ® Exam is actually a bargain. With a passing score, you may be able to earn college credit and save hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

When can I take the AP ® U.S. History Exam?

The AP ® U.S. History Exam date in 2022 is Friday, May 6th. You can find more information about dates and late-testing schedules for the 2022 AP ® U.S. History Exam Exam in our 2022 AP ® Exam Dates article.

What’s on the AP ® U.S. History Exam?

The AP ® U.S. History Exam will cover students’ knowledge of history in America from pre-Columbian times to the present day.To begin, let’s break down the topics that the AP ® U.S. History Exam will cover.

The course and exam focus on SEVEN broad themes of U.S. history. Let’s take a look at each theme now and give a brief overview of what to expect from them—and what you should be studying:

American and National Identity . The fundamental concepts of American democracy, the Constitution, and liberty. You are expected to demonstrate a grasp of these ideas and how they’ve evolved since the American Revolution.

Politics and Power . The history of American government and party systems. You should be able to discuss the various political parties throughout U.S. history as well as the government’s impact on social institutions.

Work, Exchange, and Technology. The way labor and economic forces have impacted the American market. You should understand the history of America’s economic landscape as well as how new technological developments have influenced it.

Culture and Society. How the role of religion, arts, and culture have impacted American society. You should be able to outline how different cultural groups have evolved and impacted within American history.

Migration and Settlement . The history of colonialism and immigration in America. You should be able to analyze the causes of external and internal migration, as well as detail how migration has impacted American history.

Geography and the Environment . The way the environment has impacted American communities. You should be able to detail how geographic and environmental factors affected human settlement of the country.

America in the World. The way America impacts other nations. You should be able to illustrate the impact U.S. military and diplomatic efforts have had on the world at large.

Some AP ® teachers might opt out of teaching via the “thematic” format and instead teach American history chronologically. The years are then broken down like this:

1607–1754 (Colonialism)

1754–1800 (The Revolutionary War)

1800–1848 (Early America)

1844–1877 (The Civil War and Reconstruction)

1865–1898 (The Gilded Age)

1890–1945 (The Great Depression and World Wars)

1945–1980 (The Cold War)

1980–Present (Modern Times)

What is the test format for the AP ® U.S. History Exam?

The test format for the Advanced Placement ® U.S. History Exam is somewhat complicated. There are two sections, each of which contains two distinct parts.

Put it all together, it looks like this:

Each section of the test is unique. To help you fully understand what to expect when you go into the AP ® U.S. History Exam, let’s take a closer look at what’s involved each step of the way.

You have 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete the exam. The structure of the test itself is made up of a 95-minute section of multiple-choice and short-answer questions, and a 100-minute writing section where you will answer two essay prompts.

This is a nice, readable table of the scoring percentage for each section:

Both sections are scored differently. For example, the multiple-choice section is scored by a computer. It also doesn’t deduct scores for incorrect or blank answers on the exam. That means you should never leave any multiple-choice questions blank ! The raw score for this section comes from the total number of questions you answer correctly.

The free-response section, on the other hand, is more complicated because someone (a real human) actually has to read your answer to determine your score by assigning individual points. It is important to study real AP® U.S. History exams from previous years and also to study the specific strategies you need to earn each point on the free-response essays. This section is scored during the AP® Reading—an annual convention in June, during which thousands of college professors and AP® teachers nationwide gather to help judge and score AP® essays.

What is a DBQ?

If you’ve come across the term ‘DBQ’, but don’t know what it means, don’t worry-the world of AP® tends to come with quite a few of its own acronyms . AP® U.S. History, for example, is often referred to as ‘APUSH’, for short.

DBQ simply stands for Document-Based Question. This is the first of the two essay questions you will have to answer in Section II of your AP ® U.S. History Exam.

For the DBQ, you will have one hour, including 15 minutes of reading time, to analyze a set of historical documents (usually 6 or 7), which you should use to help you answer the essay prompt.

The documents provided could either be in text or image format. Past examples of DBQ documents include, but are not limited to:

  • Constitutional texts
  • Diary excerpts
  • Political cartoons
  • Speech transcripts

You will be expected to use information from as many of the documents as you can to answer the question to the best of your ability.

How is the AP ® U.S. History Exam Scored?

The AP ® Exam’s scoring system is on a scale of one to five—with five being the best and one being the worst.

Here’s a good table that breaks down the score you could get and what it means.

When it comes to AP ® U.S. History, you’ll want to aim for a score of 3 or higher. Most colleges will give you college credit if you score within that range.

It varies from college to college though. So, if you want to know the score that a specific college will accept in exchange for credit, you’ll need to check with the college’s registrar’s office to find out information about AP ® credit for the AP ® U.S. History Exam. Often, you can find this information on the school’s website. You can also check out the College Board’s search tool for AP® credit policies .

NOTE: Colleges sometimes change their requirements for awarding college credit or offering placement out of required courses. So always check in with the college to make sure you have the most relevant and recent information.

Bottom line: You’re going to want to score as high as you possibly can. Sure your dream school only requires a 3—but you should always be aiming for the highest possible score regardless.

When you get that credit, you will effectively be walking into college with part of the requirements already completed. It means you could skip a history requirement and take whatever class you wanted to. Or, you could even save money on college tuition by spending less time getting credits. Either way, getting that college credit before college is a great way to set yourself up for the next four years. Read more about how AP ® exams helped Marco Learning’s tutors earn college credits.

What can I bring to the AP ® U.S. History Exam?

Below is a list of all the things you can bring with you into the exam room. Note: It’s possible that not all of the items will apply to you (e.g., the Student Accommodations Letter).

  • Two No. 2 pencils with erasers. These will be used on the multiple-choice portion of the exam.
  • Two black or dark blue ink pens. These will be used for the free-response questions. Be sure to bring black or dark blue ink pens only. Leave your gold glitter pens at home.
  • A watch. This is a simple analog or digital watch with no internet access or alarms. Don’t even try to bring your smart watch in the room.
  • The AP ® Student Pack. This is given to you just before you take your exam and contains a label that you need to place on your exam. Follow the labeling instructions carefully.
  • Government- or school-issued ID. If you don’t attend the school where you’re taking the AP ® S. History Exam, you must also bring a government- or school-issued ID.
  • College Board SSD Student Accommodation Letter. If you require accommodations beyond the regular exam, you’ll receive a letter that verifies this (e.g., you need a braille or large-type exam).
  • Remember, you won’t have to bring all these things—but it’s in your best interest to be as prepared as you can for the exam.

Take a look at our Test Day Checklist to make sure you are 100% prepared to take your AP ® U.S. History Exam when the time comes!

How do I study for AP ® U.S. History?

Here are the best study tips for APUSH:

#1: Connect the themes

One thing that the AP® U.S. History course wants you to do is be able to connect historical events to the broader themes covered in the course. Not only that, but you need to be able to show that you know how the themes impact each other. That means connecting the broad themes together and showcasing how they relate to one another using specific examples.

#2: Take practice tests

There’s a saying, “Don’t shoot your first free throw in the NBA.” You also don’t want to take your first AP® U.S. History Exam on test day. To that end, take as many practice tests as you can before the big day. Take note of the areas you performed the weakest in and dedicate extra study time to those areas. Only by practicing over and over again can you expect to be better at any skill—including test-taking. If you don’t have much experience taking practice tests, check out John Moscatiello’s Step-by-Step Guide to taking a practice test like a pro .

#3: Write as much as you can

The free-response section of the AP ® U.S. History Exam is the most difficult part of the entire test. To prepare, you should be writing and practicing for the document-based question (DBQ) and long-essay question (LEQ) in the weeks leading up to the exam. College Board’s website has a page dedicated to past exam questions . Read them and start to craft essays around them. You can have your AP ® teacher read them and provide feedback as to which areas you can improve.

#4: Find resources that work

When it comes to studying for your exam, there is no “one size fits all”. Just because your older sister studied best with flashcards doesn’t necessarily mean that flashcards are right for you. We encourage you to take some time to figure out what study methods you are most comfortable with; it could be a mixture of everything!

We know it can be overwhelming starting from scratch. If you feel stuck, we suggest downloading our free AP® U.S. History study guide as a jumping off point and going from there.

If you’re looking for live video reviews before the AP ® Exams, we will host live AP ® review sessions on our YouTube channel . As well as live sessions, you can review content for the AP ® U.S. History Exam here:  APUSH Content Review .

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Advanced Placement

The Complete Guide to AP US History Exam [Updated for AP 2024 Exam]

Written by Apoorvaa Agarwal

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  • ​​ The AP US History course is organized into 9 units : The Pre-Contact Era, European Colonization and Early National Development, the Early Republic and Antebellum America, the Civil War and Reconstruction, the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, the Early 20th Century, the Great Depression and World War II, the Cold War and Post-War America and the 21st Century.
  • The AP US History exam is divided into two sections: Section I Part A multiple-choice (55 questions, 55 minutes), section I Part B (3 questions, 40 minutes), and Section II free-response (3 essays, 1 hour 40 minutes).
  • The mean score for the AP US History exam in 2022 was 2.57 out of 5. This is slightly lower than the mean score for all AP subjects in 2022, which was 2.92.
  • The pass rate of the AP US History Exam for 2022 was 48.2% . This is slightly lower than the pass rate for AP overall, which was 60.2%.
  • With AP US History, some majors that you could choose include history, political science, law, business, and education . Some of the career pathways that you could pursue include historian, lawyer, politician, business leader, and educator.

AP US History is one of the most popular AP courses offered by the College Board. In 2022, over 456,520 students took the AP US History exam.

In this AP US History Guide, we will discuss the format of the AP US History exam, the topics covered, and effective ways to study for the exam. We will also provide some resources that can help you prepare for the exam. So, let’s get started!

Looking for expert AP tutors to help you prepare for the AP exams? Explore Wiingy’s Online AP tutoring services to learn from our top experts.

What is on the AP US History exam?

The AP US History exam covers a wide range of topics related to the history of the United States, from the pre-Columbian era to the present day. These topics include the nature of history, the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Progressive Era, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and the 9/11 attacks. 

The exam also covers the following topics also political development, social change, economic growth, cultural diversity, and environmental change.

The AP USHistory Exam format includes two sections as below:

Now let’s understand everything about the AP US History exam like duration, structure, score distribution, etc.

How long is the AP US History exam?

The AP US History Exam is 3 hours 15 minutes long and is divided into two sections. Section one is further divided into two parts: Part A is multiple choice questions and Part B is short answers.

  • Section I Part A  consists of 55 multiple-choice questions and is 55 minutes long.
  • Section I Part B consists of 3 short answer questions and is 40 minutes long.
  • The second section is a free-response section with 2 questions and is 1 hour 40 minutes long.

The AP US History Exam will test your understanding of the historical concepts covered in the course units, as well as your ability to analyze primary and secondary sources, historical arguments, and more.

How many questions does the AP US History exam have?

The AP US History exam has 60 questions in total divided into 2 major sections. Section I Part A has 55 multiple-choice questions, section II Part B has 3 short answer questions, and section II has 2 free-response questions.

Topics for AP US History Review

For additional course resources such as classroom resources, formulae and equation sheets and lab manuals refer to the College Board AP US History course page .

How is the AP US History exam scored?

The AP US History exam is scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest score and 1 being the lowest. The exam is divided into two sections: Section I and Section II.

Section I is 1 hour and 35 minutes long and consists of 55 multiple-choice questions and 3 short-answer questions. Each multiple-choice question is worth 1 raw point , for a total of 55 raw points possible in this section. There is no penalty for incorrect answers, so you should always answer every question, even if you have to guess.

The three short-answer questions are worth 3 points each, for a total of 9 raw points possible in this section. The short-answer questions are scored holistically, meaning that your score will be based on the overall quality of your answers, not just the number of correct facts you provide.

Section II is 1 hour and 40 minutes long and consists of 2 free response questions. The free-response section is worth 13 raw points- Question 1 is worth 7 raw points and Question 2 is worth 6 raw points. On the free response questions, points are taken off for errors only if they detract from the quality of the argument being made . Grammatical and other technical errors aren’t a big deal as long as they don’t inhibit the grader’s ability to understand what your answer is saying.

Your final score on the AP US History exam is a combination of your raw scores on Section I and Section II. The raw scores are first scaled to a 1 to 5 scale, and then your final score is determined. The scaling process is designed to ensure that students who take the exam in different years are evaluated fairly.

A score of 3 or higher on the AP US History exam is generally considered to be a good score. This means that you have demonstrated a solid understanding of the material and are likely to be successful in college-level U.S. history courses.

When is the AP US History exam in 2024?

The AP US History exam for 2024 will be held on Friday, May 10 2024 08:00 am local time. The 2024 AP Exams will be held over two weeks in May: May 6–10 and May 13–17. 

For the most recent information on exam dates and registration deadlines, students can check with their institution or the College Board website .

How to prepare for the AP US History exam?

Here are some tips on how to prepare for the AP US History exam:

  • Pay attention to the timelines in your textbook. These can be a great way to visualize the major events in American history.
  • Learn the different periods of American history. This is an important part of AP US History, and it will come up on the exam.
  • Be familiar with the major themes of American history. This is another important topic in AP US History, and it will also come up on the exam.
  • Be able to analyze primary sources. The AP US History exam will include questions that require you to analyze primary sources, such as historical documents, maps, and photographs.
  • Use outside sources. The AP US History exam allows you to use outside sources to support your essays. This can be a great way to add depth and complexity to your arguments.
  • Be able to write clear and concise essays. Your essays should be well-organized and well-supported by evidence.

How can Wiingy help with AP US History exam prep?

In 2022, only 10.6% of the 456,620 students who took the AP US History exam scored a 5. While 3 is considered the unofficial passing rate, most elite universities, such as Harvard or Princeton, offer AP credit only if you score 5 or higher. 

Getting a 5 is possible if you have the right support in your high school, but that’s rarely the case.

Here at Wiingy, we work with vetted AP US History tutors with demonstrated expertise and experience in helping students score a 5 on AP exams . 

Unlike tutor marketplaces, every Wiingy tutor is screened individually and undergoes a comprehensive assessment. Less than 3% of applicants are selected to become tutors on Wiingy’s platform, ensuring tutors are highly qualified and experienced in teaching AP courses.

Our tutors will work with you 1-on-1 to master the content and skills you need to succeed. Experienced tutors can provide you with curriculum-specific guides and practice questions and familiarize you with the exam format to help you ace the test.

We know that sometimes you don’t want to pay for private tutoring because it is too expensive. It’s common to see tutoring costs between $100 to $150 per hour. Wiingy’s rates are very affordable, starting from just $28 per hour , much lower than the average AP tutoring offered by other platforms.

One more advantage of studying with us is that we don’t require you to sign up for any packages or yearly subscriptions . You can sign up for as little as a single lesson and add more lessons as per your requirements.

While we try to match you with the perfect tutor as per your needs, we know that sometimes even the best tutors might not be the right fit for you. That’s why we offer you the Perfect Match Guarantee , which means that if you are not satisfied with your tutor for any reason, you can request a free replacement at any time . 

Sign up with Wiingy AP US History Tutoring today and achieve your goal of scoring a 5 on your AP Test !

Why take AP US History?

Here are some of the benefits of taking the AP US History exam:

  • College credit : Depending on your score and the policies of the college you plan to attend, a high score on the AP US History exam can earn you college credit. This can save you time and money on tuition costs, as you may be able to skip introductory US history courses in college. You can major in History, Political Science, Law, Government, International Relations, or Public Policy.
  • Advanced Placement : In addition to college credit, a high score on the AP US History exam can also earn you advanced placement in higher-level US history courses in college. This can give you a head start and allow you to take more advanced courses earlier in your college career.
  • Career prospects: Taking the AP US History exam and earning a high score demonstrates to colleges and future employers that you have mastered college-level US history concepts and skills. This can be an impressive addition to your college application or resume if you are looking to make your career as a Historian, Political Scientist, Lawyer, Government Official, Journalist, or Educator.
  • Interest in US history : Finally, taking the AP US History exam can be a way to pursue your interest in US history and deepen your understanding of the American past. By exploring advanced US history concepts and practicing critical thinking skills, you can gain a greater appreciation for the complexity and diversity of American society.

Students who are interested in majoring in history, political science, law, government, international relations, or public policy will find the skills learned in AP US History to be essential. Additionally, the skills learned in this course can be applied to a wide range of careers, such as teaching, consulting, and research.

The AP US History exam is divided into two sections: multiple-choice (55 questions, 1 hour and 35 minutes) and free-response (2 questions, 1 hour and 40 minutes).

The mean score for the AP US History exam in 2022 was 2.57 out of 5 , which is slightly lower than the mean score for all AP subjects in 2022 (2.92). The passing rate for AP US History in 2022 was 48.2% , which is slightly higher than the pass rate for AP overall (60.2%).

The AP US History exam is challenging, but it is also rewarding. By learning about the history of the US and applying your critical thinking skills, you can gain a deeper understanding of the American past and how it has shaped the present.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

How hard is the ap us history exam.

The AP US History exam is considered to be a moderately difficult exam. The pass rate for the exam in 2022 was 48.2%, which is slightly lower than the average pass rate for all AP exams. The exam covers a wide range of material, from the pre-contact era to the 21st century, and requires students to have a strong understanding of historical concepts and analytical skills.

How many credits do you get for AP U.S. History?

The number of credits you earn for AP U.S. History varies depending on the school and your exam score. Generally speaking, colleges give credit for a score of 4 or 5, although some colleges offer credit for a score of 3 as well. Students typically receive 3-6 credits, but this, too, can vary.

On top of that, schools sometimes offer different credits based on exam scores. At the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, for instance, students who receive a score of 3 can earn three credits for one history course. However, test-takers who score 4 or 5 can receive six transfer credits that count for two history courses.

What is the difference between AP World History and AP US History?

AP World History is an AP course that covers world history from 1200 CE to the present day. It is a broad course that covers a wide range of historical topics, including the rise and fall of civilizations, the development of major religions, and the impact of technology on society. AP US History is an AP course that covers the history of the US from the pre-contact era to the present day. It is a more specific course that focuses on the history of the United States, including the American Revolution, the Civil War, and the Civil Rights Movement. The main difference between AP World History and AP US History is the scope of the material covered. AP World History is a more general course that covers a wide range of historical topics, while AP US History is a more specific course that focuses on the history of the United States.

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BREAKING: Donald  Trump posts $175 million bond in New York civil fraud case

Homes of Sean 'Diddy' Combs searched by federal officials, sources say

LOS ANGELES — Sean "Diddy" Combs is a subject of a federal investigation amid a wave of lawsuits that have been filed against the rap music mogul since November , a source familiar with the matter told NBC News on Monday.

Three women and a man have been interviewed by federal officials in Manhattan in relation to allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and the solicitation and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms, the source said. Interviews with three other subjects are also scheduled, the source said.

Four law enforcement sources told NBC News that federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations on Monday executed search warrants at Los Angeles and Miami properties belonging to Combs. The sources said the warrant is out of the Southern District of New York.

police investigate sean puff diddy combs

HSI confirmed in a statement that it "executed law enforcement actions" in New York as part of an ongoing investigation, along with teams in Los Angeles and Miami.

Homeland Security officials seized phones from Combs in Miami before he was scheduled to depart for a trip to the Bahamas, according to three law enforcement sources familiar with the warrant. Combs was in the Miami area when authorities executed the searches, sources said. It is not clear if Combs made the trip as planned.

Representatives for Combs, 54, did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment Monday.

Sean "Diddy" Combs

Series of allegations, lawsuits

News of a federal investigation comes after public scrutiny of Combs’ behavior after his former romantic partner, Cassie, accused him of physically and sexually abusing her for years. She made the allegations in a lawsuit filed late last year in New York under the New York Adult Survivors Act, which offered a one-year window for adult victims of sexual assault to come forward with civil claims regardless of the statute of limitations. 

Cassie, whose full name is Casandra Ventura, settled with Combs on Nov. 17, the day after the suit was filed on terms that have not been disclosed. 

Since then, three other women have come forward with lawsuits in the Southern District of New York alleging that they were sexually assaulted by Combs . Two of the women said they were teenagers at the time of the alleged assaults. 

Douglas Wigdor, who represents Ventura and a Jane Doe who filed suit, said in a statement that the searches and investigation were hopefully the beginning of a process that “will hold Mr. Combs responsible for his depraved conduct.” 

“We will always support law enforcement when it seeks to prosecute those that have violated the law,” Wigdor said.  

An attorney for Joi Dickerson-Neal, one of Combs' accusers, declined to comment to NBC News.

Combs has denied each of the sexual assault allegations, calling them “sickening.” 

A producer who worked for Combs between September 2022 and November 2023 filed a lawsuit in February alleging that Combs sexually harassed, drugged and threatened him for more than a year. The former employee, Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, also alleged that he had video and audio evidence of Combs, his staff and others “engaging in serious illegal activity.”

Jones' attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, also represents Combs' accuser Liza Gardner. Blackburn said Monday that the federal investigation will not "prevent nor delay my clients’ pending and forthcoming actions for justice and resolution from the Combs RICO Enterprise.”

Shawn Holley, an attorney for Combs, previously denied Jones’ allegations and said that Combs’ team has “overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies.” 

One person who said he frequents the Los Angeles neighborhood where a search happened expressed shock.

Ryan Mendelsohn, 20, who used to live in the area and still regularly visits a nearby friend, told reporters he would see parties at the home and women outside. Other homes had parties, too, but that home had people there and women outside until 6 a.m., which was not usual, he said.

“I drive by a lot, and I see that — a lot of girls, maybe five or six girls outside, some leaving, some not, some going in,” adding he also saw Black Chevy Suburban SUVs there.

“I never thought anything of it,” said Mendelsohn, who said he did not know Combs lived there until Monday’s news coverage. “But now, it’s crazy.”

Weapons charge

Combs has had a number of legal issues in the past , but has rarely faced criminal charges. 

In 1999, Combs pleaded guilty to assaulting a record executive and was ordered to one day of anger management. That same year, Combs was accused of criminal possession of a weapon after a shooting at a New York nightclub. 

Witnesses told law enforcement that they saw Combs with a firearm at the club and that rapper Shyne, real name Moses Barrow fired into the crowd. Combs was pulled over by police in a vehicle with then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, and a gun was found in the car. Combs was acquitted of weapons and bribery charges, and Shyne was found guilty of the club shooting at trial. 

Since Ventura's suit and others have come forward accusing Combs of assault, the music mogul has been the center of scrutiny. He stepped down from his position as chairman of media network Revolt and Hulu pulled back from a planned reality series centered on his family. 

Diana Dasrath and Andrew Blankstein reported from Los Angeles, and Doha Madani and Jonathan Dienst from New York.

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Diana Dasrath is entertainment producer and senior reporter for NBC News covering all platforms.

Doha Madani is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. Pronouns: she/her.

Andrew Blankstein is an investigative reporter for NBC News. He covers the Western U.S., specializing in crime, courts and homeland security. 

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Jonathan Dienst is chief justice contributor for NBC News and chief investigative reporter for WNBC-TV in New York.

WTOP News

Today in History: April 1, first pro baseball, hockey strikes begin, 20 years apart

The Associated Press

April 1, 2024, 12:00 AM

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Today in History

Today is Monday, April 1, the 92nd day of 2024. There are 274 days left in the year. This is April Fool’s Day.

Today’s Highlights in History:

On April 1, 1972, the first Major League Baseball players’ strike began; it lasted 12 days. Twenty years later, on April 1, 1992, the National Hockey League Players’ Association went on its first-ever strike, which lasted 10 days.

On this date:

In 1865, during the Civil War, Union forces routed Confederate soldiers in the Battle of Five Forks in Virginia.

In 1891, the Wrigley Co. was founded in Chicago by William Wrigley, Jr.

In 1924, Adolf Hitler was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich. (Hitler was released in December 1924; during his time behind bars, he wrote his autobiographical screed, “Mein Kampf.”)

In 1945, American forces launched the amphibious invasion of Okinawa during World War II. (U.S. forces succeeded in capturing the Japanese island on June 22.)

In 1970, President Richard M. Nixon signed a measure banning cigarette advertising on radio and television, to take effect after Jan. 1, 1971.

In 1975, with Khmer Rouge guerrillas closing in, Cambodian President Lon Nol resigned and fled into exile, spending the rest of his life in the United States.

In 1976, Apple Computer was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne.

In 1977, the U.S. Senate followed the example of the House of Representatives by adopting, 86-9, a stringent code of ethics requiring full financial disclosure and limits on outside income.

In 2003, American troops entered a hospital in Nasiriyah (nah-sih-REE’-uh), Iraq, and rescued Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch, who had been held prisoner since her unit was ambushed on March 23.

In 2011, Afghans angry over the burning of a Quran at a small Florida church stormed a U.N. compound in northern Afghanistan, killing seven foreigners, including four Nepalese guards.

In 2013, Taylor Swift was named entertainer of the year for the second year in a row at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

In 2016, world leaders ended a nuclear security summit in Washington by declaring progress in safeguarding nuclear materials sought by terrorists and wayward nations, even as President Barack Obama acknowledged the task was far from finished.

In 2017, Bob Dylan received his Nobel Literature diploma and medal during a small gathering in Stockholm, where he was performing a concert.

In 2018, writer and producer Steven Bochco, known for creating the groundbreaking TV police drama “Hill Street Blues,” died after a battle with cancer; he was 74.

In 2020, resisting calls to issue a national stay-at-home order, President Donald Trump said he wanted to give governors “flexibility” to respond to the coronavirus. Under growing pressure, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis joined his counterparts in more than 30 states in issuing a stay-at-home order.

In 2022, talks to stop the fighting in Ukraine resumed, as another attempt to rescue civilians from the shattered and encircled city of Mariupol was thrown into jeopardy and Russia accused the Ukrainians of a cross-border helicopter attack on a fuel depot.

In 2023, storms that dropped dozens of tornadoes killed more than 30 people in small towns and big cities across the South and Midwest.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Don Hastings is 90. Actor Ali MacGraw is 85. R&B singer Rudolph Isley is 85. Reggae singer Jimmy Cliff is 76. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is 74. Rock musician Billy Currie (Ultravox) is 74. Actor Annette O’Toole is 72. Movie director Barry Sonnenfeld is 71. Singer Susan Boyle is 63. Actor Jose Zuniga is 62. Country singer Woody Lee is 56. Actor Jessica Collins is 53. Rapper-actor Method Man is 53. Movie directors Albert and Allen Hughes are 52. Political commentator Rachel Maddow is 51. Former tennis player Magdalena Maleeva is 49. Actor David Oyelowo is 48. Actor JJ Feild is 46. Singer Bijou Phillips is 44. Actor Sam Huntington is 42. Comedian-actor Taran Killam is 42. Actor Matt Lanter is 41. Actor Josh Zuckerman is 39. Country singer Hillary Scott (Lady A) is 38. Rock drummer Arejay Hale (Halestorm) is 37. Actor Asa Butterfield is 27. Actor Tyler Wladis is 14.

Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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    AP U.S. History Exam Format for 2024. The duration of the AP US History exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes, and it is administered both in paper-and-pencil and digital formats. Each section of the AP U.S. History exam consists of two parts. The table below shows the duration of each section and part, as well as the number of questions and their types:

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    Homes of Sean 'Diddy' Combs searched by federal officials, sources say. A source said the music mogul is a subject of a federal investigation after allegations involving sex trafficking, sexual ...

  18. Today in History: April 1, first pro baseball, hockey strikes ...

    Today is Monday, April 1, the 92nd day of 2024. There are 274 days left in the year. This is April Fool's Day. On April 1, 1972, the first Major League Baseball players' strike began; it ...