APUSH Frameworks - or What You Must Know
Below you will find the compiled Frameworks - both the original frameworks I handed out in class and a second framework that has "fill in boxes" to list key terms and examples for each of the items on the framework outline.
Additional Information:
Starting in May of 2015, the AP US History Exam introduced a new format. The current test will be 3 hours and 15 minutes long and will include a 95-minute multiple choice/short answer section and a 100 minute free response section. Each section is divided into two parts.
Section I:
- Part A: Multiple Choice (55 questions; 55 Minutes; 40% of total exam score)
- Part B: Short-answer questions (3 questions (2 required and 1 chosen from a pair); 40 minutes; 20% of total exam score) The two required questions will both include a source to analyze including both primary and secondary sources.
Section II:
- Part A: Document-based question (1 question; 60 minutes including a 15 minute reading period; 25% of total exam score)
- Part B: Long essay question (1 question (chosen from three); 40 minutes; 15% of total exam score)
The new AP Exam is also described in the College Board's publication linked below (it is a large PDF file)
- AP US History Course and Exam Description (Effective 2019 version)
The previous version of the Course and Exam Description may also be helpful to students - especially the topic outline portion. The topic outline is the same as in the 2019 update but it is presented differently in the 2017 version therefore, I am providing a link to the old version below.
Each period of time will be covered on the AP Exam as indicated below:
| Period | Date Range | Approximate Percentage of |
| the AP Exam | ||
| 1 | 1491-1607 | 4-6% |
| 2 | 1607-1754 | 6-8% |
| 3 | 1754-1800 | 10-17% |
| 4 | 1800-1848 | 10-17% |
| 5 | 1844-1877 | 10-17% |
| 6 | 1865-1898 | 10-17% |
| 7 | 1890-1945 | 10-17% |
| 8 | 1945-1980 | 10-17% |
| 9 | 1980-present | 4-6% |
Below are some older AP frameworks that may still have some value. The newest versions that perfectly correlate to the current version of the exam are listed above but as these are in a different style, they may still be helpful for some students who do not like the organizational structure of the latest framework.