What Is on the Ap Screening Test to Get Into the Ap European History Class
Looking for the best list of AP® European History tips? Look no further.
Excelling on the AP® European History examination can be a challenge, just knowing how to report for AP® Euro can assistance. With simply 11.7% of test takers scoring a 5 and another 20.6% scoring a four in 2019, AP® European History represents one of the most difficult Advanced Placement exams to score high on. In AP® European History, you will evaluate primary and secondary sources, write specific historical claims and support them with advisable evidence, and contextualize historical events within their appropriate time flow.
While the test may sound daunting, you've already taken an fantabulous first stride towards success by visiting our website. We're here to help you ace the AP® European History exam. Below, nosotros've provided a comprehensive list of suggestions for how to study for AP® European History. You lot'll find a variety of AP® European History resources and tips as well as clear AP® European History DBQ examples, practices, and more than.
Overall How To Study for AP® European History: xi Tips for 4s and 5s
1. Make studying part of your daily routine.
The old maxim goes that, "Those who do not larn history are doomed to repeat it" only it'south besides true that, "Those who endeavour to larn five centuries of European History in i nighttime earlier the test are doomed to fail it." But seriously, not starting to study until the day or even a few days before this exam is a recipe for disaster. Rather than leaving all of your studying until the last minute, make short study sessions a part of your daily routine.
If you don't believe u.s.a., believe the cognitive scientists who research how to study. According to Dr. Yana Weinstein , cramming for tests really takes longer and results in less learning than simply spending a few minutes each day reviewing what you lot learned.
2. Just re-reading your notes and textbooks is bad studying.
Once you've made studying function of your daily routine, it'due south of import to consider how you are studying. Some methods are more than effective than others, and you desire to spend your time doing what works best. One strategy not to employ: re-reading your notes and textbook.
Why non? Studies show that re-reading your notes actually ends up taking a lot of time and producing less durable learning than other study methods. Mark McDaniel, co-writer of Make It Stick , showed that students who re-read their textbook had "absolutely no comeback in learning over those who merely read it once." So unless yous only happen to enjoy reading history textbooks (we practise, information technology's cool), attempt out some more than effective forms of studying like using flashcards, creating charts that prove connections between events, and journaling near what you have learned in class.
3. Think exterior of the fact.
The fashion middle schools teach history set loftier school students for failure when information technology comes to tackling challenging history courses. Rather than memorize facts from your volume like you've washed since middle school, create a framework and general understanding of the core themes from your reading. Believe it or not, knowing the type of breadstuff that XYZ leader liked is not important.
A lot of history books get excessively in depth in regards to the nitty gritty. Larn to selectively read the important bits of data and practice summarizing the key points of your reading by outlining 3-five key takeaways in your notes on your readings. If you cannot connect the dots, so you lot will but craft essays with random "name drops" and "engagement drops"; as a result, your AP® score volition reverberate your disability to create a cohesive argument.
iv. Try out the SQ3R method.
This is a popular studying technique that can be applied for more than than just AP® European History. Francis Robinson originally created it in a 1946 book chosen Effective Study . SQ3R stands for Survey, Question, Read, Recall, and Review. You tin can read more nigh the SQ3R method hither.
5. Connect, connect, connect:
In case we oasis't mentioned it enough, AP® European History is all about connecting the dots. Whether you're just doing your nightly reading or reviewing for your exam, it's helpful and essential that you recognize how events and people in history are interrelated. History is the report of how people interact with one another.
One technique to make certain you are connecting the dots is to write key events or terms on flashcards; and then at the terminate of your reading or review session, categorize your flashcards into v-seven different categories. You may end upwards doing this by time period, by a significant overarching event, etc.
A good way to retrieve near this is y'all have v-7 drawers, and a bunch of random things lying around in your room. Each affair represents some result or of import person in history and you want to fit all the things into i drawer in lodge to make your room make clean again. If the clean room analogy doesn't work for you, try to think of a way to go in the categorizing mindset yourself and allow us know about it!
6. Create a cheat sail:
While unfortunately you won't be able to use your crook sail on the actual examination, yous can use a cheat sheet to help simplify your reviewing procedure as the AP® European History test gets closer. Create a cheat sheet that is flexible and can exist added on to—and then every bit the year progresses and you do more and more readings, add to your cheat canvass. Before you know it, y'all'll have a handy and hopefully concise reference guide that you lot tin can turn to in those last few weeks before the test.
Hither are a few examples of what crook sheets might look like in your history class. Notice that each sheet includes non merely key terms and dates but as well describes the historical context.
7. Supplement your studies with a review book.
Review books are one of the most of import tools for surviving AP® European History. These books are oft broken into chapters with summaries and review questions at the terminate. They also include practical suggestions on how to study for AP® Euro. Typically, they include several AP® European History DBQ examples and at least one full AP® European History practice test. Nosotros highly suggest investing in and heavily using one of several highly rated review books .
8. Exam, study, test.
In a course that covers several centuries of history like AP® European History, there are going to be some topics that you understand meliorate than others. That'due south totally normal, and it shouldn't scare you. Just i central for surviving AP® European History is to spend the time that yous are studying on the topics that you are least familiar with. Nosotros suggest the exam, do, study workflow.
First, take a brusque test between five and 10 questions on a specific topic. Albert offers high-quality practise questions broken down by topic. Then, review your score. If y'all did really well, that means you lot understand the topic and probably don't demand to spend much more time reviewing information technology.
However, if you struggle, you should spend more time studying that topic and and so test yourself at the end to ensure understanding.
9. Hank'south History Hour:
Going forth the lines of alternative means to larn AP® European History, yous can also learn a great bargain from Hank's History Hour, which is a podcast on dissimilar topics in history. This is a swell way to actually go to sleep since you lot can listen to the podcast while you dose off. Did you know when yous go to slumber you recall what you heard terminal the best when you wake upward?
ten. Supplement your learning with video lectures:
While YouTube can be a distractor at times; it tin can also be nifty to learn things on the wing! Crash Grade has some bully videos here pertaining to AP® European History. Use them to affirm what y'all know nearly certain time periods and to bolster what you already know; then, exercise again.
eleven. Create flashcards along the way:
After you lot accept gotten a multiple choice question incorrect, create a flashcard with the fundamental term and the definition of that term. Think about potential mnemonics or heuristics you can use to assistance yourself call up the term more easily. One way is to think virtually an outrageous paradigm and to associate that image with the term related to AP® European History.
One of the best ways to apply flashcards is through the timeline game. Commencement, create or find a list of the most important dates to remember for the AP® European History Test. Here'due south one student who already created a Quizlet with over 60 important dates.
Adjacent, create a flashcard with the event on one side and the date on the other. Afterwards, get together with one to three report partners and treat your flashcards like a deck of cards. Deal v cards to each histrion with the date side down. Employ the remainder of the index cards as a draw pile. Accept the top card from the describe pile and put information technology downward in the center of your table and read the event and the data on that card. This carte du jour is the start outcome in your timeline.
Adjacent, each player goes around one by i, calculation to the timeline. All you have to do is to say whether the event on your card happened before, after or between the events that are already on the timeline. If you get it right, you will place your menu on the timeline in the appropriate slot. If you are incorrect, you lot will too place your menu on the timeline only you also draw a new carte. The first person to get rid of all their cards wins. See this link for further directions.
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AP® European History Multiple Choice Review Tips: 9 Tips
ane. Pay attention to SOAPSTone.
The best way to quickly understand primary source documents is by paying attention to who is writing, to whom they are writing, and when they are writing. This process is oft referred to as contextualization, and SOAPSTone is a very handy way of breaking the thinking into smaller bites.
Let's take a expect at i practice trouble from Albert's AP® European History review resource.
We chose this massive clamper of text for a reason: you tin apace understand what the speaker is arguing by understanding who the speaker is as well equally the historical context of the document. Doing so requires only the source line.
An astute pupil will quickly note that this document was produced by the Pope in the year 1515, but around the beginning of the Reformation. The source line identifies the major topic as "on printing books" and using your historical cognition about the Reformation, you can make a very solid prediction that the Church will be highly suspicious near the distribution of printed materials. Past reading those last xi words, you lot've set yourself up to meliorate understand the rest of the document.
2. Read the title, cardinal, and axes for all charts.
The AP® European History exam volition non merely require you to read text merely also to interpret charts. It may seem obvious, but you must read the central on these charts in club to accurately interpret their pregnant.
The question above is really quite challenging on its own: most students won't remember the year that Brazil dropped the gilded standard every bit a means of estimating their wealth. And yet, students who read the key volition notice that that the upside down triangle "marks [the] point at which [the] land left [the] Gold Standard".
Furthermore, the Ten-axis clearly represents years. From there, the answer is obvious. The purpose of this question is not to test your understanding of Brazil's economical history but to make sure that you know how to read a chart, so make sure you use the championship and axes to your advantage.
3. Pay attention to the clock.
Many of our students have found the timing of this exam to exist extremely challenging. The AP® European History exam allots 55 minutes for 55 multiple-choice questions. The fast pace of the multiple-selection department does mean that you shouldn't spend likewise long on whatsoever unmarried question. 1 helpful strategy is to make your best guess and then to return to questions y'all are concerned nigh at the end if you take fourth dimension.
Another helpful strategy is to take several 55 question multiple-choice AP® European History do tests in advance. Albert has several full-length tests that you lot tin can employ to practise as well equally a whole host of other standards-aligned questions. When you lot accept these tests, set a 55-minute timer on your phone and stop when that time is up.
4. Endeavour to answer every question.
If you're crunched on time and still have several AP® European History multiple-option questions to answer, make a solid try at answering each and every one of them. With no guessing penalty, you literally have nada to lose.When it comes to the AP® European History test, all multiple-pick questions are weighted equally.
5. Use the Process of Emptying.
When it comes to tackling AP® European History questions, the procedure of elimination can come in handy if you can eliminate just i answer choice or even two, your odds of getting the question correct significantly better. Remember there is no guessing punishment so yous really have naught to lose.
6. Use your writing utensil.
As you work through the multiple-choice section of the AP® European history test, physically circle and underline sure aspects of answer choices that y'all know for fact are wrong. Get in this habit and so that when you lot go back to review your answer choices, you lot tin quickly see why y'all idea that particular reply choice was incorrect in the starting time place.
For instance, whenever y'all see "EXCEPT" on the examination, circle it. EXCEPT questions tin ofttimes throw students off so brand sure that you make it the addiction of physically circling every time yous encounter the word EXCEPT. This is a technique that you can utilize for more than than just the AP® European History test.
You should also put Ten's over the answer choices that you take eliminated while using the process of emptying. Doing and so will aid you to focus your attending on selecting the best possible answer selection. A word of warning: don't cross out the entire selection. We've seen students waste product several minutes trying to erase answers that they after realized might be correct.
Another helpful fashion to annotate multiple choice questions is by adding Lather® annotations to the source line of each certificate.
This strategy is an first-class way of reminding yourself to contextualize the document earlier deep reading. Doing SOAP® annotations merely takes a few seconds, but information technology will pay off in your multiple choice scores.
7. Use checkmarks.
If you lot feel confident almost your answer to a particular multiple-choice question, make a small checkmark adjacent to that question number. The reason why you want to exercise this is that when yous get back to review your answer choices, you'll exist able to speedily recognize which questions yous demand to spend more fourth dimension taking a second look at. Besides, making this checkmark gives yous momentum moving forward throughout the multiple-choice section. If you feel good about an reply, that petty bit of positive reinforcement will help keep y'all alert as you lot move through the multiple selection questions.
8. Take advantage of chronology.
Different other AP® History exams, no one AP® European History unit is weighted more heavily than another , and so we tin can't accurately predict what topics will surely show up on the test. Nevertheless, when it comes to answering the multiple-pick questions, the questions are actually grouped in sets of four-7 questions each.
Practice recognizing when yous're at the start and cease of a group. This will permit you lot to mentally recall about the different fourth dimension periods that are being tested while also staying alert throughout the duration of the test.
9. Do Using Albert.
If you want to get better at annihilation, yous have to practice. Nosotros think the highest-quality practice bachelor is through Albert.io. We offer tons of AP® European History practice exams, study modules, DBQ examples, and more than. All of our materials are carefully curated and are aligned to what volition actually evidence upwards on your test.
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AP® European History Free Response: xi Tips
1. Plow the prompt into a question.
1 of the most unfortunate mistakes that y'all tin make during the free response section is to reply to a question that was not asked. It is absolutely essential that you lot understand the prompt before you start writing, and 1 of the very all-time ways to do and then is to turn the prompt into a plain question that can be answered in one judgement.
For case, let'southward investigate the 2019 AP® European History DBQ prompt, which was to "Evaluate whether or not the Cosmic Church building in the 1600s was opposed to new ideas in scientific discipline." How could yous rewrite this?
Nosotros rewrote this prompt as the question: "In the 1600s, was the Catholic Church opposed to new ideas in science? If and then, how strong was their opposition?"
2. Write your thesis…twice.
One time you have re-written the question, answer it twice: in one case in the introduction and once in the conclusion. Don't use the exact same words. This test hack actually gives you lot a much stronger adventure of earning the point for writing a thesis in both your DBQ and your LEQ. The 2019 Chief Reader Written report notes that some responses have theses that are "more specific in the conclusion than in the introduction." This ways that students become the point for a thesis simply afterwards writing their entire essay.
Why do you lot think that is? We think information technology'due south considering many students gain an agreement of the prompt equally they write, and by the conclusion, they are finally ready to produce a point-worth version.
We should also point out that both the 2018 and 2019 Main Reader reports note that many " responses merely restated the prompt or did not indicate a line of reasoning." It'south important to really answer the question that yous wrote in stride i.
For example, the response "Some people wonder if the Catholic Church was actually opposed to scientific advancements in the 1600s, just others disagree" volition non score y'all a thesis point. Why? You haven't answered the question that you lot wrote! Have a side and be sure you back your response upwards with testify.
3. Know the rubric like the back of your manus.
This goes in hand with the last tip. By the time the test rolls around, make certain you know that AP® graders are looking for these key components: an answer to all parts of the question, a clear thesis, facts to back up the thesis presented, utilize of all documents, and inclusion of point of view/evaluation of document bias. Hither is an awesome and very readable rubric that should aid you to understand what exactly graders will exist looking for in your writing.
It's very difficult to get a perfect score on the AP® Euro DBQ. In 2019, the mean score on the AP® Euro was a iii.26 out of 7 possible points. The points that students miss most on the rubric are sourcing and complexity.
In lodge to get a ameliorate understanding of the rubric, nosotros highly recommend that you read through the 2019 AP® European History DBQ Scoring Guidelines . This document provides ample examples of student writing that earn points in all categories.
4. Read the whole certificate.
I of the more than common mistakes that students make each year on the DBQ is to chop-chop skim documents rather than reading them more closely. The 2019 Chief Reader Study noted that students " occasionally correctly analyzed one part but missed that the rest of the document contradicted that information."
We know that you lot might feel rushed on time, but you tin't show off your power to translate and analyze documents if you don't read them closely. Practise reading until the end of each document and check your understanding of that document by briefly summarizing it in writing before moving on.
5. Assess the author's perspective.
Every bit you work your mode through the documents and grouping them, go on a few clear questions in mind, "Why is the author writing this? What perspective is he or she coming from? What can I tell from his or her background?" Asking yourself these questions will assist you ensure function of your thesis and essay integrates bias and analysis of bias.
For example, Document seven of the 2019 AP® European History DBQ was a, "Critique of French thinker René Descartes past the Jesuits of Clermont College." An acceptable assessment of the author's perspective would note that the Jesuits see Descartses's model as undermining the Church's authority.
6. Group, group, group, and did we say group?
When you lot read and analyze documents, make sure to group your documents into at to the lowest degree iii groups in order to receive full credit. You should group based on the three respective central points you will be discussing in the trunk of your essay.
Simply to striking the nail in the coffin, hither are a few starting blocks for how to group documents. Call up about how the document works in relation to politics, economic science, imperialism, nationalism, humanitarianism, religion, club & culture, intellectual evolution & advancement. Pretty much every single document the CollegeBoard always created can fit into one of these buckets.
vii. Plan out your writing.
Writing a coherent essay is a hard job. In gild to do this successfully on the AP® European History examination yous want to make certain that you take spent a few minutes in the very beginning of the examination to properly plan out an outline for your essay. You may have heard this advice hundreds of times from teachers merely the reason why teachers give it is because information technology actually does help. Ultimately, if y'all become into your essay without a plan your essay volition read without a sense of period and continuation. I of the things y'all are assessed on is your ability to create a cohesive argument.
One specific tip for planning out your writing is to write downwards your groups and explicitly include them in your thesis statement. An splendid instance of this comes from Tom Richey's 2019 AP® Euro DBQ Sample Response.
Before writing, Mr. Richey splits the documents into three groups.
Simply subsequently brainstorming by grouping does he begin writing. As well find how the work he does earlier writing directly influences the organisation of his essay. For example, his thesis directly references all iii groupings.
"Although Cosmic leaders publicly condemned new ideas in science, some Catholic leaders were open to discussing these ideas in private and the intellectual Jesuits were often direct involved in experiments that confirmed new scientific discoveries."
By planning his essay before writing information technology, Mr. Richey set himself upwards for success on the DBQ. His thesis is almost a copy of the begin, and he has scored the thesis signal. Additionally, each grouping becomes the master topic for his body paragraphs. You should notice that each topic judgement again directly references one group.
- "Cosmic clergy were quick to publicly condemn discoveries that posed a threat to Catholic doctrine and traditional understandings of the Bible."
- "While the Church was quick to publicly condemn scientific discoveries that threatened its doctrines, there were clergy that were open up to discussing advances in science – especially in private."
- "Eventually, the goals of the Jesuit Social club to promote instruction would bring that club, and the Catholic Church every bit a whole, to embrace new ideas in science ."
Lastly, we should signal out that Mr. Richey knows exactly where to use each document in the DBQ because he pre-planned his essay through grouping.
8. Use the contents of the document to respond the question.
This may seem obvious to you, but simply summarizing the documents is not going to earn you lot points on the DBQ. Instead, you should explain how the document is helpful in answering the question you wrote in Step 1.
Y'all will recall our question from Footstep I: "In the 1600s, was the Catholic Church building opposed to new ideas in science? If so, how potent was their opposition?"
Now, imagine being given the post-obit document:
How would yous use this document in club to answer the question nosotros wrote?
Practise you call back the following is an example of analysis, or is it simply summary?
"In this document, Maria Celeste Galilei writes a letter of the alphabet to her father explaining that the Pope values the abilities of her begetter, Galileo."
If you said summary, you are correct. The sentence didn't explain how the document was useful in answering the question.
Practice you think the following is an example of analysis, or is it simply summary?
"Maria Celeste Galielei said, 'Sire written to you by that near distinguished Cardinal, now elevated to the exalted position of Pope, was indescribable, for his letters so clearly express the affection this great human being has for you, and also show how highly he values your abilities.'"
If you said summary, you are again correct. While this is a relevant quote, it's non existence used in any fashion to respond the question that nosotros wrote back in step ane.
Do you call up the following is an example of analysis, or is information technology merely summary?
"Maria Celeste Galilei'southward letter to her famous scientific male parent proves that some in the Church were open to the new ideas of scientific discipline because the Pope himself had expressed an adoration of Galileo."
If y'all said analysis, you are right. The last sentence clearly responds to the initial question and explains the relevance of the document.
ix. Connect between documents.
The difference betwixt scoring a perfect score on your essays and scoring an nearly perfect score can often come down to your ability to relate documents with ane another. As you outline your essay, you lot should recollect about at least ii opportunities where yous can connect one certificate to another.
So how do you lot connect a document?
Well one style would be writing something forth the lines of, "The fact that X person believes that XYZ is the root of XYZ may be due to the fact that he is Y ."
So in this example, weI may pull X person from document ane, just apply certificate 4 to support my Y of the reason why he thinks a certain style. When you connect documents, y'all demonstrate to the grader that you can clearly understand indicate of views and how dissimilar perspectives ascend. It too is a way to demonstrate your analytical abilities.
ten. Practice not blow off the DBQ.
If you lot are short on time, do non skimp on the DBQ. The DBQ is worth 25% of your course, whereas the long essay is worth xv%. To be clear, both of these pieces of writing are valuable, only the DBQ is worth more.
Even if you feel stressed about the multiple choice section or the short reply response section, we've seen kids salvage their final score by writing a really strong DBQ.
11. Read some examples of strong DBQs.
If yous're non sure where to begin on DBQs, we often suggest reading a few sample DBQs. Check out this amazing annotated DBQ sample from the 2020 AP® European test. You should exist able to read student writing and be able to explain why it did or did not achieve a point.
One helpful style to improve your agreement of the DBQ rubric is to read a sample of student writing, create a prediction for if it scores a point, and then to cross reference your prediction against the actual score.
The College Lath also freely offers sample responses here for many by exams. You lot can get a actually skilful feel for these essays merely by reading through a few samples.
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AP® European History Written report Tips from Teachers
1. Proceed referring back to the question.
While writing the essay portion, especially the DBQ, remember to keep referring back to the question and brand sure that y'all have not gone off on a tangent. When students driblet the brawl on an essay it is ordinarily considering they do non answer the question. Thanks for the tip from Ms. N at Southward High School in MI.
2. Review your vocab.
Complete the vocabulary at the beginning of each section of your preferred AP® European History prep book. If you lot do not know the pregnant of the terminology in a question you will non be able to answer the question correctly. Thanks for the tip from Ms. O at Northville High in MI.
Here'south a list of 35 Often Tested European History Terms & Concepts.
3. Do lots of point-of-view statements.
You don't want to suffer on your DBQ because you but had two acceptable POV'south. Do 4 or 5 or 6. And exist sure to say how reliable a source is ABOUT WHAT based on their background, audience or purpose. Cheers for the tip from Steve!
iv. Complete readings equally they are assigned.
Chunking textile is the best way to learn so to synthesize textile. Look at the primary sources and secondary sources to support textual readings. Remember in thematic terms. Cheers for the tip from Ms. J at Trinity High in PA.
If you don't know where you start with your textbook, check out this amazing blog post by The Learning Scientists.
5. Supplement your in-class learning with videos.
Tom Richey has put together a comprehensive YouTube playlist but for AP® European History students. Yous can check it out at here . He also has a great website you can bank check out here .
6. Provide context in your DBQ.
When trying to write a bespeak of view argument for the DBQ you must include three things: First, state who the author really is. 2d, what did he actually say. Third, why information technology said it.
Are you a instructor? Do yous have an awesome tip? Let us know!
Hopefully you've learned a ton from reading all 50+ of these AP® European History tips. Remember, AP® European History is one of the nigh challenging AP® exams to score high on, and so it'due south crucial you put in the work to go you there. Read actively and review constantly throughout the twelvemonth, so that you lot practice non feel an incredible burden of stress equally the AP® exam nears. Approach readings using SQ3R, connect the dots between documents, and understand how you are going to exist graded by AP® readers. You lot're going to exercise not bad! Skilful luck.
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Wrapping Things Upwardly: The Ultimate List of AP® European History History Tips
The AP® European History Test is one of the more challenging AP® tests, just you will practise very well on it if you lot apply the correct strategies and piece of work difficult. You must not only build your content knowledge but also hone your writing skills and ability to think historically.
To begin preparing, create a regular study routing and stick to information technology. Use the test, study, test practice method using our AP® European History practice exams and questions broken down by topic . Create study groups and quiz each other using flashcards and Quizlet. Play European History timeline. Consistently studying with diverse methods is an first-class approach to ensuring success on the AP® European History exam.
- The ane thing to remember nigh the AP® Euro Multiple-Choice Section : Read the source line closely before attempting to answer any question.
- The one thing to remember almost the AP® Euro Free-Response Section : The better you lot understand the rubrics, the easier it will be to craft a stiff essay.
- The cardinal takeaway from teacher tips : Practice. Practice. Practice. The pinnacle students in this course volition not only be productive in grade just will spend many hours outside of class making sure their skills are honed before test mean solar day.
If you've made information technology this far, well done. You're well on your way to success on the AP® European History exam. Work hard, apply the study tips that you just learned, and practise your very all-time on test day. Skilful luck!
Source: https://www.albert.io/blog/ap-european-history-tips/
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