AP exam guides

Free AP Exam Guides: DBQ, LEQ, SAQ and FRQ Explained

Plain-language guides to how the free-response sections of AP history, government, English, and calculus exams are scored, with weak and strong sample answers, time plans, and common mistakes. Each guide follows the same rubric the matching course uses for practice.

AP US History

• AP US History DBQ Rubric Explained: How the 7 Points Are Scored
  A plain-language guide to the AP US History DBQ rubric: what earns each of the 7 points, weak and strong examples, a time plan, and common mistakes.
• AP US History LEQ Rubric Explained: How the 6 Points Are Scored
  A plain-language guide to the AP US History long essay (LEQ) rubric: what earns each of the 6 points, weak and strong examples, a 40-minute plan, and common mistakes.
• AP US History SAQ Explained: How the Short-Answer Questions Are Scored
  A plain-language guide to the AP US History short-answer questions (SAQ): the question types, how identify, describe, and explain are scored, a sample answer, and common mistakes.

AP World History: Modern

• AP World History DBQ Rubric Explained: How the 7 Points Are Scored
  A plain-language guide to the AP World History: Modern DBQ rubric: what earns each of the 7 points, weak and strong examples, a time plan, and common mistakes.
• AP World History LEQ Rubric Explained: How the 6 Points Are Scored
  A plain-language guide to the AP World History: Modern long essay (LEQ) rubric: what earns each of the 6 points, weak and strong examples, a 40-minute plan, and common mistakes.
• AP World History SAQ Explained: How the Short-Answer Questions Are Scored
  A plain-language guide to the AP World History: Modern short-answer questions (SAQ): the question types, how identify, describe, and explain are scored, a sample answer, and common mistakes.

AP European History

• AP European History DBQ Rubric Explained: How the 7 Points Are Scored
  A plain-language guide to the AP European History DBQ rubric: what earns each of the 7 points, weak and strong examples, a time plan, and common mistakes.
• AP European History LEQ Rubric Explained: How the 6 Points Are Scored
  A plain-language guide to the AP European History long essay (LEQ) rubric: what earns each of the 6 points, weak and strong examples, a 40-minute plan, and common mistakes.
• AP European History SAQ Explained: How the Short-Answer Questions Are Scored
  A plain-language guide to the AP European History short-answer questions (SAQ): the question types, how identify, describe, and explain are scored, a sample answer, and common mistakes.

AP US Government and Politics

• AP US Government FRQ Guide: The Four Free-Response Questions Explained
  A plain-language guide to the four AP US Government free-response questions: concept application, quantitative analysis, SCOTUS comparison, and the argument essay, with points, timing, and strategy for each.
• AP Gov Concept Application FRQ Explained: How the 3 Points Are Scored
  A plain-language guide to the AP US Government concept application FRQ: how the three points are scored, a sample scenario with weak and strong answers, and common mistakes.
• AP Gov Quantitative Analysis FRQ Explained: How the 4 Points Are Scored
  A plain-language guide to the AP US Government quantitative analysis FRQ: how the four points are scored, a sample data table with weak and strong answers, and common mistakes.
• AP Gov SCOTUS Comparison FRQ Explained: How the 4 Points Are Scored
  A plain-language guide to the AP US Government SCOTUS comparison FRQ: how the four points are scored, how to study the required cases, a sample answer with Tinker v. Des Moines, and common mistakes.
• AP Gov Argument Essay Rubric Explained: How the 6 Points Are Scored
  A plain-language guide to the AP US Government argument essay rubric: what earns each of the 6 points, a sample prompt with Federalist No. 10 and Brutus No. 1, a 40-minute plan, and common mistakes.

AP English Language and Composition

• AP English Language FRQ Guide: The Three Essays and the 6-Point Rubric
  A plain-language guide to the three AP English Language free-response essays (synthesis, rhetorical analysis, argument): how the 6-point rubric works, the evidence and commentary ladder, and a 135-minute plan.
• AP English Language Synthesis Essay Explained: How to Use Sources to Earn 6 Points
  A plain-language guide to the AP English Language synthesis essay: how to use at least three sources, a sample prompt with weak and strong examples, and the mistakes that cost points.
• AP English Language Rhetorical Analysis Essay Explained: How the 6 Points Are Scored
  A plain-language guide to the AP English Language rhetorical analysis essay: how to move from naming devices to explaining their effect, with an example on the Gettysburg Address, and the common mistakes.
• AP English Language Argument Essay Explained: How to Earn the 6 Points
  A plain-language guide to the AP English Language argument essay: how to take a defensible position, choose specific evidence, and add commentary, with a sample prompt and common mistakes.

AP English Literature and Composition

• AP English Literature FRQ Guide: The Three Essays and the 6-Point Rubric
  A plain-language guide to the three AP English Literature free-response essays (poetry analysis, prose fiction analysis, literary argument): how the 6-point rubric works, the evidence and commentary ladder, and a 120-minute plan.
• AP English Literature Poetry Analysis Essay Explained: How to Earn the 6 Points
  A plain-language guide to the AP English Literature poetry analysis essay (Q1): how to write a thesis, comment on specific words, and use the poem's shift, with an example on Wordsworth's sonnet.
• AP English Literature Prose Analysis Essay Explained: How to Earn the 6 Points
  A plain-language guide to the AP English Literature prose fiction analysis essay (Q2): how to analyze narration, tone, and character, with an example on the opening of Pride and Prejudice.
• AP English Literature Literary Argument Essay Explained: How to Earn the 6 Points
  A plain-language guide to the AP English Literature literary argument essay (Q3): how to choose a work, recall specific evidence, and interpret the work as a whole, with an example on The Scarlet Letter.

AP Calculus AB and BC

• AP Calculus AB and BC FRQ Guide: How the Free-Response Questions Are Scored
  A plain-language guide to the AP Calculus AB and BC free-response questions: the format, what graders look for in justification, units, and rounding, and a worked example with a weak and a strong answer.
• How to Justify Answers on AP Calculus FRQs: Theorems, Tests, and Sign Charts
  A plain-language guide to justification on AP Calculus FRQs: what to write for the IVT, MVT, EVT, first and second derivative tests, and the candidates test, with a worked example.

AP Calculus BC

• AP Calculus BC Series FRQ Explained: Taylor Polynomials, Error Bounds, and Convergence
  A plain-language guide to the AP Calculus BC series free-response question: Taylor polynomials, interval of convergence, and error bounds, with worked examples and common mistakes.

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