How Hard Is AP World History? Students’ Reviews

AP World History is a popular course for high school students looking to challenge themselves and potentially earn college credit. However, due to the vast amount of material to cover, including history from ancient civilizations to modern times, this AP class is often surrounded by whispers about its difficulty.

But is AP World History hard in reality? Should you memorize facts and dates by heart? Let’s see what students say about the exam and what it takes to pass it well. Keep reading! 

Is AP World History All About Knowing Facts? 

Any test requires knowing numerous facts. When it comes to AP, many students believe all you have to know is major world historical events and other vital information wrapped in facts. However, this is not entirely true. You must show critical thinking skills, not just fruits of good memorization. Analyzing historical trends, making connections between events across time and regions, and constructing strong arguments in essays are all crucial skills. 

You have to understand the why and how behind everything. Why did empires rise and fall? How did trade routes influence cultural exchange? Moreover, these critical thinking skills are necessary not just for the AP exam but also for success in college and beyond.

Source: Reddit

Other students confirm it: you need to study well in class and learn patterns rather than mere facts. The ability to see the bigger picture is often more rewarding than knowing what happens and when. If you are able to identify patterns, you’ll be closer to what is a perfect score for you. 

Source: Reddit

AP World History assesses your understanding of the key themes of each time period. If you can do that, questions will seem more straightforward and predictable to you. 

Source: Reddit

Teachers’ Influence: A Big Power

Students also highlight the significant role of a good teacher. A passionate and engaging instructor can make a world of difference in navigating the challenging content. Here’s an example of how teachers help students develop critical thinking skills through group reading and discussions. It is just a good example of how a teacher can affect students positively. 

Source: Reddit

Is AP World History hard? It depends. Many students who worked with a good AP teacher said that it wasn’t that complicated. Many admit that the whole AP course can be really enjoyable, and once it is like that, you will be curious and motivated enough to learn more. Besides, it won’t feel like a chore.  

Source: Reddit

Source: Reddit

Conversely, a less-than-stellar teacher can make the journey through history feel like a trek through a dense jungle. The hardest part of the AP World History class is so much material you have to go through. This is why you have to apply time management skills, be diligent, and keep a proper pace throughout the class. 

What If You Fail the AP World History Exam? 

If you’re stressing about the AP World History exam, don’t worry – you’ve got options. You can retake it as many times as you need until you reach the score you want. The exam takes place every May, so you’ve got a chance to give it another shot. And here’s some good news: failing the AP World History exam won’t affect your high school GPA. Your grades are usually based on your coursework and other exams leading up to the AP test, not the AP exam itself.

However, failing the AP World History exam might affect your plans for earning college credit. Most colleges won’t recognize a score lower than 3 for credit. But here’s the silver lining: you’re in control of where your AP scores go. If you’re not happy with a low score, you don’t have to send it to colleges. And if you retake the exam and do better, you can cancel the lower score and send the higher one instead.

When Should You Take the AP World History Exam? 

This is another important question. Since you can retake the exam, when should you take it after all? Typically, most students tackle AP World History during their sophomore year in high school. Many follow a pattern starting with AP Human Geography or AP US History. Why? Starting with these subjects helps you get a feel for AP courses. Then, you move on to the more in-depth AP World History, which involves a lot of reading and writing.  

But remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Your school might have its own requirements, like taking certain courses before AP World History. So, consider what works best for you and review your school’s guidelines before deciding when to take the AP World History exam.

Tips for Getting a Better AP Exam Score

So, you’ve decided to embark on the AP World History modern exam? Here are some simple but often overlooked survival tips from students who have successfully navigated the course:

1. Find a study group. Sharing the workload and discussing concepts can make learning more effective and enjoyable.   
2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you’re struggling with a concept, reach out to your teacher or a classmate. You can also ask your current history teacher what they think about the World History class at your school. You might even talk to your guidance counselor about your options since they should have a good understanding of how you might fare in the course based on their experiences with other students.
3. Practice, practice, practice. There are plenty of practice essays as well as multiple-choice and free response questions available online and in prep books. Remember to review what a document-based question looks like. They don’t really test your knowledge of history but rather check your reasoning abilities. It is a bit like practicing words in context for the SAT. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll feel on the exam day. Consider taking other AP classes to gain relevant knowledge. 
4. Find a way to make it interesting. Are you fascinated by a particular historical period? Research it in more depth; it won’t be hard if you have a genuine interest in it. Do you enjoy watching historical documentaries? Watch a few to supplement your learning. It may take you much further from basic preparation, which might not be necessary for the AP World History exam. But it will definitely be of great use later on in college and life.
5. Develop interpretation skills. As you already understand, you need to analyze more than do anything else. Here are some of the major things you should be able to do on your AP World History exam:
   • Identify and explain historical developments and processes; 
   • Analyze primary and secondary sources, including arguments presented in them; 
   • Analyze the context of historical events, developments, or processes; 
   • Analyze patterns and connections between and among historical developments and processes using historical reasoning processes (comparison, causation, continuity, and change);
   • Develop an argument.

Learning Tips From the Students

Just like listening to students who took the SAT, it’s crucial to get insights from AP World History test-takers. Many students share their study tips. 

Source: Quora

You can take some of these approaches or combine them with those listed above:

• Teach others. It helps you learn since you’ll understand and remember things better.
• Make different kinds of tests for what you’re learning. Include questions for memorization, applying knowledge, and solving problems.
• Summarize what you learned after each class. Review your notes regularly, especially before exams. Make flashcards for things you’re not sure about or can’t remember.
• Use visualization. If you struggle to remember things, try visualizing them in pictures or diagrams.
• Leverage charts and outlines. Use charts for comparison and make outlines for organizing thoughts, particularly when writing essays with provided topics or hints from the teacher.
• Memorize major time periods and entities. Understanding the major empires, governments, dynasties, etc., that existed during each period is crucial for success in the AP World History exam, including both the multiple-choice and essay sections. To understand each period better, you will most likely have to find a proper review book.
• Consider working with a tutor. Getting professional and tailored help can be a great addition to your preparation process. You can work with a tutor for the whole prep time or just for a couple of sessions. Either way, it is worth trying.

What else do students say? Managing your time well and using good resources are really important for success. Try to stick to a schedule and spend enough time on each chapter (at least 3-4 hours). Practice tests, giving yourself a bit less time than you’ll have on the actual test day. Start preparing early because there’s a lot of content to cover. 

Also, check out the Course and Exam Description on the College Board website for all the main details you need to know. Review books are super helpful as well, so make sure you check them out. There’s no magic trick: just study and try to understand why things happened. If you’re short on time, watch videos instead of reading the review books. In fact, prep videos are still worth watching, even if you’ve read the books.

Source: Reddit

Remember, you can always be creative, develop your writing skills, or find your own learning style. If you keep studying in related classes, like AP Euro (AP European History), AP United States History, and others, you will be able to spot connections between different events more easily. 

What Do the Numbers Say?

So far, we learned a lot about the nature of the exam. Now, you have a clear picture of what you need to do, what affects the results, and how you can prepare. But what if we look at the recent statistics? How many students did well on the test? Let’s see the score distribution for the AP World History exam:

• 5 (15.3%): This is a very good score, indicating a strong understanding and analysis of the material.
• 4 (21.9%): This is a solid score, demonstrating good knowledge and application of historical concepts.
• 3 (27.4%): This is an average score, suggesting a decent grasp of the major themes and events.
• 2 (22.3%): The score indicates some understanding, but there’s room for improvement in specific areas.
• 1 (13%): This is the lowest score, suggesting significant challenges with the material.

What are the key takeaways from these numbers? 

• High chance of passing the exam. A score of 3 is generally considered passing for AP exams. And the good news is that over 64.7% of students scored a 3 or higher. This suggests that with good preparation, most students have a shot at success. 
• Room for improvement. Even among those who passed, a significant portion scored a 3 (27.4%). Thus, many students could potentially improve their scores by focusing on fixing their weaknesses. Keep that in mind when you review your own studies. Sometimes, overcoming your weaknesses can be extremely rewarding. 
• Distribution around the average. The score distribution shows a bell curve shape, with most scores clustering around the average (3) and fewer scores at the extremes (1s and 5s).

Does it tell us anything about the AP world history difficulty? Well, it surely tells a lot. The data shows us that passing the exam (scoring a 3 or higher) is achievable for most students with good preparation. 

If you want one verdict based on these numbers, it would be the following: with a significant portion of students (over 64%) scoring a 3 or higher, the exam suggests a moderate level of difficulty. However, aiming for a higher score will require dedication and focused study. Sounds boring? Probably. But that’s what it is.

Conclusion 

AP World History is a challenging but rewarding course. With dedication, effective study habits, and the right support system, you can make it a success. While AP classes are a sign of academic rigor and can be a great added advantage during your admissions, don’t stress too much! Your high school career is all about learning as much as you can and developing the essential skills for your future. So, take your time, study world history, and stay positive!