Advanced Placement European History (commonly known as AP Modern European History, AP Euro, AP Eurhist, AP European, EHAP or APEH), is a course and examination offered by the College Board through the Advanced Placement Program. This course is for high school students who are interested in a first year university level course in European history. The course surveys European history from the year 1450 to the present, focusing on religious, social, economic, and political themes. In the United States, the course is usually taken in sophomore year of high school.
The AP exam for European History is divided into two sections, comprising 55 multiple-choice questions (with four answer choices), 4 short-answer questions, and 2 essay responses (one thematic Long Essay Question (LEQ) and one Document Based Question (DBQ)). The multiple-choice and short-answer sections are to be completed in 55 minutes and 50 minutes respectively. The essay section is to be completed in 90 minutes (including the mandated 15-minute reading period). The DBQ is graded out of 7 points and the LEQ is graded out of 6 points. This structure is new for 2016.
The exam grade is weighted evenly between the multiple-choice and free-response sections. The DBQ is weighted at 25 percent while the FRQ/LEQ is weighted at 15 percent. The Short Answer is weighted 20 percent. So, to recap: - Multiple Choice: 40 percent - Short Answer: 20 percent - Document Based Question: 25 percent - Long Essay Question: 15 percent
Approximately half of the multiple-choice questions cover the period from 1450 to the French Revolution and Napoleonic era, and half cover the period from the French Revolution and Napoleonic era to the present, evenly divided between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. About one-third of the questions focus on cultural and intellectual themes, one-third on political and diplomatic themes, and one-third on social and economic themes. Many questions draw on knowledge of more than one chronological period or theme. Although this is the general trend based on past AP Exams, it is not mandated that the exam follow this format.