Advanced Placement World History (also known as AP World History, WHAP, AP World, or APWH) is a college-level course offered through the College Board's Advanced Placement Program designed to help students develop greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts and interactions between different types of Human societies. This understanding is advanced through a combination of selective factual knowledge and appropriate analytical skills. The chronological time frame is from 8000 BCE to the present. The course is divided into five units consisting of the following time periods and big picture ideas:
Unit 1 - 8000 BCE to 600 CE - River Valley civilizations, Classical civilizations: Roman, Han and Gupta empires
Unit 2 - 600 CE to 1450 CE - Rise and spread of Islam, Christianity, Nomadic Kingdoms, Indian and Chinese diplomacy
Unit 3 - 1450 CE to 1750 CE - Columbian and hemispheric exchange, gunpowder empires
Unit 4 - 1750 CE to 1914 CE - Imperialism, colonialism, and industrialization
Unit 5 - 1914 CE to present - World War I, World War II, Cold War, de-colonization, and globalization
The first section of the AP World History exam consists of 70 multiple choice questions with a 55 minute time limit.
| Technological and Environmental Transformations | to c. 600 B.C.E. | 5% |
| Organization and Reorganization of Human Societies | c. 600 B.C.E. - c. 600 C.E. | 15% |
| Regional and Transregional Interactions | c. 600 - c. 1450 C.E. | 20% |
| Global Interactions | c. 1450 - c. 1750 C.E | 20% |
| Industrialization and Global Integration | c. 1750 - c. 1914 C.E. | 20% |
| Accelerating Global Change and Realignments | c. 1914-Present | 20% |
The Multiple Choice section is weighted as 50% of one's total score.
Note: While previously the exam deducted 1/4 of a point for every incorrect answer, starting from 2011 on, there will be no penalty for incorrect answers. It is to one's advantage to attempt every question possible within the time limit.
The second section, the free-response section, consists of 3 essays which may be answered in any order. However, it is recommended that students answer the DBQ first to get it out of the way as it requires little to no prior knowledge of historical background.
Document-based question (DBQ)
Continuity & Change Over Time question (CCOT)
Comparative and Contrast question (COMP)
This section begins with a mandatory 10 minute reading period, during which students are instructed to read the DBQ, (including the documents) CCOT, and Comparative questions. It is vitally important to take careful notes and plan one's essays during these 10 minutes. After the reading period, students are given 120 minutes to write all 3 essays, though they may continue to take notes before starting to write their essays; notes taken during the reading period may be used. Each essay is out of 7 points (a detailed rubric can be found in the AP World History course description), but students can earn up to two points of extra credit after receiving 7 points by going above and beyond what is expected. Therefore, students can receive a maximum of 27 points on these essays. Students are encouraged to pace themselves.
Grade Distribution
AP World History Test Grade Distribution:
| 5 | 11.2% | 8.9% | 11.1% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 4 | 16.9% | 16.1% | 16.0% | 15.5% | 16.0% |
| 3 | 26.1% | 23.4% | 23.4% | 23.8% | 23.1% |
| 2 | 24.3% | 25.7% | 24.6% | 24.2% | 25.7% |
| 1 | 21.5% | 25.8% | 24.9% | 26.7% | 25.8% |
In 2007, 101,975 students took the exam, with a mean score of 2.72, and a standard deviation of 1.28. In 2009, 143,426 students took the exam, with a mean score of 2.64, and a deviation of 1.31. In 2010, 167,789 students took the exam, with a mean score of 2.57, and a standard deviation of 1.29. It is interesting to note that this test had one of the lowest average means for all AP exams in the year 2010, partially due to the test being one of the first APs a prospective student takes.