The examination for U.S. history is scheduled in early May by the ETS/College Board. The exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes in length; covers key concepts (9 periods), history themes (7), and historical thinking skills (9); and consists of two sections.
The most up-to-date information regarding the exam is provided on a regular basis during the term.
Period 1 = ~5%
Periods 2-5 = ~45%
Periods 6-8 = ~45%
Period 9 = ~5%
Questions to Answer: 55
Range: Periods 1-9
Minutes: 55
% of Final Composite Score: 40%
Not necessarily exact order
Options
Questions to Answer: 3
Question 1: required - Analyzing Secondary Source/s [Textual Stimulus]
Question 2: required - Causation OR Comparison with Primary Source [Stimulus]
Question 3 OR Question 4: required to select one - Causation OR Comparison [different skill from SAQ 2] with NO STIMULUS
Range:
Question 1: Periods 3-8
Question 2: Periods 3-8
Question 3 option: Periods 1-5 OR Question 4 option: Periods 6-9
Minutes: 40
% of Final Composite Score: 20%
No option
Questions to Answer: 1
Range: Periods 3-8
Minutes: Recommendation: 15 minutes document analysis and planning + 45 minutes for writing
% of Final Composite Score: 25%
Options
Questions: 1
Range: 3 options, same Historical Thinking Skill / Theme, required to select one
Question 2: Periods 1-3
Question 3: Periods 4-6
Question 4: Periods 7-9
Minutes: Recommendation: 5 minutes for planning + 35 minutes for writing
% of Final Composite Score: 15 %
Questions to Answer: 55
Range: Periods 1-9
Minutes: 55
% of Final Composite Score: 40%
Can only move forward
No printing option
Not necessarily the exact order
Questions to Answer: 3
Question 1: required - Analyzing Primary Source [Stimulus]
Question 2: required -Map Source [Stimulus]
Question 3: required - Analyzing Primary Source Image [Stimulus]
Range:
Question 1: Periods 1-9
Question 2: Periods 3-8
Question 3: Periods 1-9
Minutes: 40
% of Final Composite Score: 20%
No printing option
No option
Questions to Answer: 1
Range: Periods 3-8
Minutes: Recommendation: 15 minutes document analysis and planning + 45 minutes for writing
% of Final Composite Score: 25%
No printing options
No options
Questions to Answer: 2
Question 5: required - Analyzing data set [table, graph, chart]
Question 6: required - Analyzing Secondary Source [Textual Stimulus, may be similar to paper SAQ #1 OR extended excerpts]
Range: 3 options, same Historical Thinking Skill / Theme, required to select one
Question 5: Periods 3-8
Question 6 Periods 3-8
Minutes: Recommendation: 20 minutes each
% of Final Composite Score: 15 %