Test Taking Strategies

Period Date Range Percent of Question

1: Technological and Environmental Transformations

c. 8000 BCE-c. 600 BCE 5% (~3-4 questions)

2: Organization and Reorganization of Human Societies

c. 600 BCE-c. 600 CE 15% (~11 questions)

3: Regional and Trans-regional Interactions

c. 600 CE-c. 1450 CE 20% (~14 questions)

4: Global Interactions c. 1450 -1750 20% (~14 questions)

5: Industrialization and Global Integration

c. 1750-1900 20% (~14 questions)

6. Accelerating Global Change and Realignments

c. 1900-present 20% (~14 questions)

What do they want from me?

• Can you make connections between different societies over different periods of time?– The exam is all about comparisons across time and

place-getting the big picture and making connections.

– To show what you know about world history, keep the big picture perspective in mind as you study and answer multiple-choice questions or construct essays.

The Multiple Choice Questions

• You will get 55 minutes to answer 70 questions

• That’s roughly 45 seconds per question• There is no longer a “guessing penalty” on the

test, students are assessed on the total number of correct questions. – It is really important to fill in all the bubbles before

time is up!

Don’t freak out!

• Even if you were to eliminate just one wrong answer for each question on the entire multiple-choice section, random odds say you would get ¼ of the questions correct (about 17 questions) and you can do better than that!

• If you miss 15-20 questions, you’ve done fantastic! Even if you miss half of the multiple-choice questions you still have a good chance of earning a 3 if you do ok on the essays.

How is MC scored?

• The number of questions you answered correctly is multiplied by .8571 and this number accounts for half of your composite score (ex. 45 correct x .8571 = 38.5695)

• The composite scale is 0-120 and roughly 48 composite points get you to the bottom of the 3 range

Evaluating MC Questions

• What you won’t find on the test are “recall questions” like “The Tang Empire was in…”

• They will require higher level thinking like “What did the early Mesopotamian and Indus civilizations have in common?”

• To do well on MC, there are 4 easy steps you should follow for every question!

4 Easy Steps to MC Questions

1. Read the question and put it in your own words– Identify the when, who, and what

2. Answer in your own words – Don’t even look at the answer choices yet

3. Process of Elimination – Remember that 3 of the 4 answers will always be

wrong– Read answer choices as “wrong until proven

right”– You can use what you know to eliminate wrong

choices-read each answer choice with a critical eye looking for what makes it wrong

4. Guess and Go– Knowing just some of the information can be

enough to get you a smart guess – Do not dwell on any questions, you have to be

willing to take your best guess and move on to the next question

– If you have absolutely no idea what is being asked, do not know the subject matter, or can’t eliminate any answers then skip it and come back

Let’s Practice

1. During the Cold War era, the United States and the Soviet Union were reluctant to become involved in direct military conflict mainly because of…

• Go through steps 1 and 2 then lets look at the answer choices

1. During the Cold War era, the United States and the Soviet Union were reluctant to become involved in direct military conflict because of

a) Pressure from many of the nonaligned nationsb) The role of the United Nations as peacekeeperc) Increased tensions in the Middle Eastd) The potential for global nuclear destruction

Special MC Questions

• Sometimes you will be given a chart, visual or quotation to answer a question- DO NOT SKIP THESE!!

• These are gift questions: all you have to do is read the content and answer a question-the answer is there in front of you! – Ex. Many times the key to solving a quotation

comes from only one or two words in the quote

Essays

• Once you complete the multiple-choice part of the test, you’ll get a short (~10 minute) break

• Then comes the essay portion: you will be given a ten minute reading period prior to the start of the essay writing section and then 2 hours to write 3 essays

• It’s recommended that you spend ~50 minutes on the DBQ (so use the 10 to set up DBQ), ~40 on CCOT, ~40 on C&C

• You can do them in any order and look back at any time so start with what you feel most comfortable with

Essays

• Readers are looking for specific criteria in your essay so be sure to develop a thesis that uses the question, includes key phrases from the question and sets up the structure of your argument

• DO NOT JUST RE-WORD THE QUESTION!!!• Remember: your essay must be based on

historical fact as opposed to your opinion

How are the essays scored?• Each question is out of 9 and multiplied by 2.2222

– Ex. DBQ: 7 x 2.2222= 15.5554CCOT: 7 x 2.2222=15.5554C&C: 7 x 2.2222=15.5554

Total: 46.6662

– Add that to our example MC section score: 38.5695+46.6662=85.2 which is a 5 on the test

– That is missing 25 MC questions and getting 7’s on the essays

Composite Score Range AP Score

77-120 5

64-76 4

48-63 3

34-47 2

0-33 1

AP Score Conversion Chart World History

Basic Rules for Essay Writing• Essays should be 4-6 paragraphs long (with your thesis as the first)• Use transitional words and trigger words to highlight important

points – Ex. But, however, although, alternatively, likewise

• Write neatly• If you don’t know how to spell a word-choose a different word

(although readers are not supposed to grade for spelling it can cast a shadow on your essay)

• Watch your time• Think before you write!!!

– Make notes, create an outline. The more work you do before you write, the neater and more organized your essay will be!

DBQ Rubric-Basic Core

1. Has acceptable thesis (at beginning) (1 pt.)2. Addresses all documents (1 pt.)3. Supports thesis with appropriate evidence (1 or 2

pts.)4. Analyzes POV in at least 2 docs (1 pt.)5. Groups docs in three ways (1 pt.)6. Identifies and explains the need for one type of

additional document (1 pt.)**If you earn all 7 basic core points, you can earn up to 2 additional points in expanded core

CCOT Rubric-Basic Core

1. Has acceptable thesis (at beginning)(1 pt.)2. Addresses all parts of the question (1 or 2 pts.)3. Uses appropriate historical evidence (1 or 2

pts.)4. Uses relevant World Historical Context (1 pt.)5. Analysis (1 pt.)-think “because”**If you earn all 7 basic core points, you can earn up to 2 additional points in expanded core

C&C Rubric-Basic Core

1. Has acceptable thesis (at beginning)(1 pt.)2. Addresses all parts of the question (1 or 2 pts.)3. Substantiates thesis with evidence (1 or 2 pts.)4. Offers Direct Relevant Comparison (1 pt.)5. Analysis (1 pt.)-think “because”**If you earn all 7 basic core points, you can earn up to 2 additional points in expanded core