LEARN THE STORY · BUILD THE ARGUMENT
AP U.S. History
Study Hub
Explore American history from 1491 to the present with detailed notes, flashcards and practice quizzes for all nine APUSH units.
2027 exam: 7 May · Session 1Registration deadlines
ONE COURSE · NINE CONNECTED PERIODS
Study APUSH by unit
Choose your period, then open notes, flashcards or a quiz.
UNIT 01 · PERIOD 1
1491–1607
Native Societies & Atlantic Encounters
Compare diverse Native societies, European exploration and early colonization, the Columbian Exchange and changing Atlantic relationships.
MCQ weighting: 4%–6%
UNIT 02 · PERIOD 2
1607–1754
Colonial America & Settlement
Explore colonial regions, Native diplomacy and resistance, Atlantic trade, slavery, religious movements and emerging colonial identities.
MCQ weighting: 6%–8%
UNIT 03 · PERIOD 3
1754–1800
Revolution & the New Nation
Connect imperial conflict and independence to the Articles of Confederation, Constitution, federalism and the early republic.
MCQ weighting: 10%–17%
UNIT 04 · PERIOD 4
1800–1848
Expansion, Democracy & Reform
Study Jeffersonian politics, the Market Revolution, expanding suffrage, Indian removal, reform movements and the growth of slavery.
MCQ weighting: 10%–17%
UNIT 05 · PERIOD 5
1844–1877
Civil War & Reconstruction
Trace territorial expansion, sectional conflict, the Civil War, emancipation, Reconstruction and struggles over citizenship and rights.
MCQ weighting: 10%–17%
UNIT 06 · PERIOD 6
1865–1898
Industrialization & the Gilded Age
Examine industrial capitalism, labor, immigration, urbanization, western expansion, Native resistance and political responses to inequality.
MCQ weighting: 10%–17%
UNIT 07 · PERIOD 7
1890–1945
Progressivism & the World Wars
Link overseas expansion, Progressive reform, cultural change, the Great Depression and New Deal to both world wars.
MCQ weighting: 10%–17%
UNIT 08 · PERIOD 8
1945–1980
Cold War & Social Change
Connect Cold War diplomacy and conflict with civil rights, postwar prosperity, social movements, political realignment and economic challenges.
MCQ weighting: 10%–17%
UNIT 09 · PERIOD 9
1980–Present
Modern America & Globalization
Explore conservatism, the end of the Cold War, globalization, technological change, migration and debates over America’s changing role.
MCQ weighting: 4%–6%
Date ranges overlap because historical developments cross unit boundaries. Weightings refer to the multiple-choice section; prepare across the full course.
TURN CONTENT INTO UNDERSTANDING
Read. Recall. Explain.
- Read the notesBuild a timeline and connect developments to their wider context.
- Recall with flashcardsExplain key terms and why an event, idea or movement matters.
- Apply with a quizReview answer explanations, then practise a sourced argument in writing.
CHECK YOUR PRACTICE PERFORMANCE
AP U.S. History score calculator
Explore an estimated AP score from your multiple-choice, short-answer, DBQ and LEQ practice results.
The calculator includes 2027 exam-format guidance and transparent planning boundaries. Estimates are not official scores; actual score conversions depend on the exam form.CURRENT FOR THE MAY 2027 EXAM
AP U.S. History exam date & format
REGULAR EXAM · WEEK 1
Session 1 · Fully digital in Bluebook
3 hours 15 minutes of testing: Section I, 95 minutes; Section II, 100 minutes.
UAE: Session 1 starts at 11 a.m. local time under the 2027 UTC+4 schedule. Times differ internationally; confirm your school’s start and reporting times.
Late testing: Tuesday, 18 May 2027, Session 2, when arranged by your AP coordinator.
| Section | Questions | Minutes | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| I A · Multiple choice | 55 | 55 | 40% |
| I B · Short answer | 3 required | 40 | 20% |
| II · DBQ | 1 · 7 documents | 60 recommended* | 25% |
| II · Long essay | 1 required | 40 recommended | 15% |
*DBQ timing includes a 15-minute reading period. The two essays share a 100-minute section.
Answer all three source-based SAQs. The LEQ is one required broad prompt with choice within the task. Course content, skills and free-response rubrics stay the same.
What should I practise for each question type?
- MCQ: Interpret texts, images, maps and data, often in source-based sets.
- SAQ: Question 1 uses secondary text, Question 2 primary text, and Question 3 a non-text source. Answer each part directly with evidence.
- DBQ: Build an argument from seven documents, relevant outside knowledge and source analysis. The assessed period is 1754–1980.
- LEQ: Support a defensible thesis with specific evidence and reasoning. The broad task allows a focused argument within its time span.
2026–27 SCHOOL YEAR
Important registration deadlines for 2027
Register through your school or authorized test center. These are College Board coordinator deadlines; your student registration and payment dates may be earlier.
Next key ordering date: 13 November 2026. Confirm that your coordinator has ordered your exam, even if you have already joined your class in My AP.
SETUP · COMPLETED
Coordinator access codes
School coordinators received their ordering access codes. Students use the class join code provided by their teacher or coordinator.
PREFERRED · PASSED
Preferred ordering date
College Board’s preferred school ordering deadline has passed; the final fall deadline below is still ahead.
FINAL FALL ORDERING
11:59 p.m. ET
Final school orders for full-year, fall-semester and exam-only sections. Your school may require student registration and payment earlier.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Submit through your SSD coordinator
Deadline for accommodations requests and supporting documentation, when required.
SPRING ORDERS & CHANGES
11:59 p.m. ET
Spring course orders and fall order changes are due. Late fees can apply; eligible spring-start courses and transfer students have exceptions.
REGULAR EXAM
Session 1
AP U.S. History exam day. Confirm your assigned center, local start time, reporting instructions and approved device in advance.
College Board lists score release for July 2027; a specific release day is not listed in the current timeline. Before May, complete the digital-readiness steps supplied by your school and check its permitted materials and arrival instructions.
Dates verified against College Board guidance on . All ordering cutoffs above use Eastern Time (ET).
PLAN WITH YOUR AP COORDINATOR
APUSH exam fees for 2026–27
$99
On-time base fee at schools in the U.S., U.S. territories, Canada and all DoWEA schools.
$129
On-time base fee at schools elsewhere. Authorized international test-center fees may vary.
$40 late-order fee
Additional fee for qualifying orders placed 14 November 2026–12 March 2027. Spring-start courses and transfers have exceptions.
College Board offers a $37 reduction for eligible students. Confirm eligibility and the final local charge with your coordinator; your school or test center sets its payment deadline.
UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR SCORE CAN MEAN
College credit & placement
Many institutions offer credit, advanced placement or both for qualifying AP scores. Each institution sets its own APUSH score requirement and course equivalency; there is no universal award of semester hours.
| AP score | Recommendation | Credit and placement considerations |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Extremely well qualified | May qualify for credit, placement or both; institution policy determines the award. |
| 4 | Very well qualified | Often meets a qualifying-score threshold; confirm the required score for your program. |
| 3 | Qualified | Accepted for credit or placement at many institutions; policies differ. |
| 2 | Possibly qualified | Usually does not earn credit; consult the institution’s policy. |
| 1 | No recommendation | Generally does not earn credit; the institution makes the final decision. |
Before applying: Check the current policy for your target college, major and entry year, including minimum score, credit hours, placement rules and whether credit counts toward graduation requirements.
CONTENT, SKILLS & STUDY EXPECTATIONS
Important APUSH course information
Course level & preparation
APUSH is equivalent to a two-semester introductory college U.S. history course. There are no recommended prerequisites; sustained reading, careful source analysis and clear writing are useful preparation.
Earlier history coursework can help, but it is not a formal prerequisite. College credit hours depend on the receiving institution.
Six historical thinking skills
- Explain historical developments and processes
- Analyze source authorship, purpose, audience and situation
- Evaluate claims and supporting evidence in sources
- Place developments in historical context
- Make connections using comparison, causation, and continuity and change
- Build and support a historical argument
Comparison, causation, and continuity and change are the three historical reasoning processes used to make connections.
Eight themes across the course
- American and national identity
- Work, exchange, and technology
- Geography and the environment
- Migration and settlement
- Politics and power
- America in the world
- American and regional culture
- Social structures
Source analysis & writing
Study primary and secondary documents, images, maps and quantitative evidence. Practise short answers, document-based arguments and long essays using relevant historical examples.
A realistic study routine
Schedule regular reading, retrieval practice and writing alongside your class. A plan of 4–6 hours outside class each week can be a starting estimate, adjusted to your assignments and learning needs—not a fixed course requirement.
Latest published score distribution
College Board’s 2026 table reports 74% scoring 3 or above in AP U.S. History: 14% scored 5, 37% scored 4 and 23% scored 3. These rounded cohort results are context, not a prediction of your score.
QUICK ANSWERS
APUSH study FAQs
What is included in this APUSH study guide?
All nine AP U.S. History units have study notes, interactive flashcards and practice quizzes. The hub also brings together the exam format, registration dates, course skills, credit guidance and score calculator.
How should I use notes, flashcards and quizzes together?
Read a unit’s notes to build context, recall key ideas with flashcards, then take its quiz and review the explanations. Revisit missed concepts and practise explaining causes, comparisons and changes using specific evidence.
When is the 2027 APUSH exam?
The regular AP U.S. History exam is Friday, 7 May 2027, Session 1. Start times vary by location. Confirm the local time and reporting instructions with your AP coordinator.
What changed in the 2027 APUSH exam?
All three short-answer questions are required and include sources. The long essay is one required broad prompt with choice within the task, rather than three separate prompt options. Course content, skills and free-response scoring rubrics remain unchanged.
How do I register for the 2027 APUSH exam?
Arrange registration through your school or authorized test center. The final school ordering deadline for full-year, fall and exam-only sections is 13 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Student deadlines may be earlier; joining a class in My AP does not replace confirming your exam order.
Are NUM8ERS quizzes official AP exam papers?
No. These are independent practice resources. Use the explanations to build understanding, and include source analysis, short-answer writing and essays in your exam preparation.
Does an APUSH score guarantee college credit?
No. Each college decides its score requirements, course equivalencies, credit hours and placement rules. Check the policy for your institution and intended degree program before making a credit plan.