How long is the AP World History exam?
The AP World History: Modern exam takes 3 hours and 15 minutes. It has 55 multiple-choice questions in 55 minutes, 3 short-answer questions in 40 minutes, then a free-response section of 1 hour 40 minutes with one document-based question and one long essay. The exam is fully digital in the Bluebook app. In 2027 it is scheduled for Thursday, May 6.
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In more detail
Section I has two parts. The 55 multiple-choice questions come in sets of usually 3 to 4 questions on the same source, such as a text, an image, a chart or a map, and they are worth 40% of your score. That is one minute per question. Then come 3 short-answer questions in 40 minutes, worth 20%. All three are required: one uses a secondary source, one a primary source and one a non-text source.
Section II is the free-response part, 1 hour 40 minutes for 40% of your score. The document-based question has a recommended 60 minutes, including a 15-minute reading period, and gives you seven documents to build an argument from. It is worth 25%. The long essay has 40 minutes and is worth 15%. Its prompt covers about half of the course's time periods, so you can argue with the content you know best.
The source-based questions cover developments between 1200 and 2001. Because the exam is digital, your answers are submitted automatically when time runs out. Plan for extra time on test day for check-in and setup.
AP World History: Modern exam format
| Section | Questions | Time | Share of score |
|---|---|---|---|
| IA: Multiple choice | 55 | 55 min | 40% |
| IB: Short answer | 3 | 40 min | 20% |
| II: Document-based question | 1 | 60 min (incl. 15 min reading) | 25% |
| II: Long essay | 1 | 40 min | 15% |
| Total | 60 | 3 h 15 min | 100% |
Step by step
- 1
Take one full practice exam in one sitting so you know how 3 hours and 15 minutes feels.
- 2
In multiple choice, keep to about one minute per question and flag hard ones to revisit.
- 3
Give each short-answer question about 13 minutes and answer every part in a sentence or two.
- 4
Use the full 15-minute reading period of the DBQ to group the seven documents and plan your thesis.
- 5
Keep the long essay to 40 minutes: a clear thesis, two or three body paragraphs with specific evidence, and a short conclusion.
- 6
Practice writing in the Bluebook app beforehand, since every answer is typed.
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Sources
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More questions
How many questions are on the AP World History exam?
60 in total: 55 multiple-choice questions, 3 short-answer questions, one document-based question and one long essay.
How long is the AP World History DBQ?
The recommended time is 60 minutes, including a 15-minute reading period. You get seven documents and build an argument from them and your own knowledge. The DBQ is worth 25% of your score.
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