AP European History


Advanced Placement European History, 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 between 1300-1450 CE to the present, focusing on religious, social, economic, and political themes.

The exam

The AP exam for European History is divided into two sections, comprising 55 multiple-choice questions, three short-answer questions, and two essay responses and one Document Based Question ). The multiple-choice and short-answer sections are to be completed in 55 minutes and 40 minutes respectively. The essay section is to be completed in 100 minutes. The DBQ is graded out of 7 points and the LEQ is graded out of 6 points. This new structure went into effect beginning Fall 2017.
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. 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. In recent years and present, the multiple choice portion is Stimulus Based, meaning the students are given an excerpt of a speech or writing, photograph, or painting, to analyze and answer questions and/or give presentations on the given info.
Test PartTest SectionTime AllottedQuestionsWeight
Part AMultiple Choice55 minutes55 questions40%
Part AShort Answer Questions 40 minutes3 questions20%
Part BDocument Based Question 60 minutes 1 question25%
Part BLong Essay Question 40 minutes1 question15%

Free Response Sections

The Free Response sections of the test offer some choice.
AP European History Test Grade Distribution:
Final Score20072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
511.1%9.2%13.9%12.7%10.6%10.5%10.4%8.6%10.3%7.9%9.5%11.8%11.7%13.7%
418.9%17.2%19.2%18.4%18.7%19.2%18.8%16.9%17.4%16.2%18.8%20%20.6%20.1%
335.9%34.9%33.9%34.5%35.5%36.0%34.8%34.1%35.6%29.5%28.5%25.6%26.1%25.5%
211.2%12.1%11.3%11.2%11.6%10.8%11.0%11.7%10.6%34.2%31.4%30.4%29.4%29.2%
122.9%26.6%21.7%23.2%23.6%23.5%25.0%28.7%26.1%12.2%11.8%12.2%12.2%11.5
Mean Score2.842.702.922.862.812.832.782.652.752.732.822.892.90
Number of Students97,042100,648101,359102,629107,392108,854109,878110,297107,267109,031105,347 101,740