The exam has two sections: Multiple Choice & Short Answer (95 minutes) and Free Response (100 minutes). The multiple choice section includes document-based stimulus, and the free response requires a Document-Based Question (DBQ), Long Essay Question (LEQ), and one short-answer response from a choice of two.

Timing is one of the biggest challenges for students. You'll need roughly 1-2 minutes per multiple choice question, 5-7 minutes per short answer, and 40+ minutes for the DBQ. Many students spend too long on the essay planning and run out of time for the conclusion. Personalized tutoring can help you develop a pacing strategy that works for your speed and practice timed sections regularly so the routine feels automatic on test day.

Document analysis trips up many students because it's not just about reading—you need to identify the document's source, date, intended audience, and perspective, then connect it to broader historical themes. Students often either skim the documents or get bogged down in every detail without making the historical connection.

The skill improves with targeted practice. Work through documents with a focus on asking: Who created this and why? When was it made, and what was happening historically? What perspective or bias might it reflect? How does it fit the historical theme I'm discussing? A tutor can review your document analysis in essays and short answers, showing you which details matter and which are distractions—this feedback loop is what transforms surface-level reading into confident analysis.

The AP exam itself is organized thematically—identity, work/exchange, migration, conflict, etc.—rather than chronologically. While you need to know the timeline, the exam rewards students who can connect events across different eras to illustrate larger patterns. For example, questions about labor movements might pull from the Industrial Revolution, the Gilded Age, and the Civil Rights era all at once.

Most tutors recommend learning the timeline first for foundational understanding, then reorganizing your notes and practice around themes. This hybrid approach helps you see both the sequence of events and the big-picture patterns that essays and short answers ask you to explain. Spending time on thematic review closer to test day is especially effective because it mirrors how the exam actually tests you.

The biggest mistakes are writing a list of facts rather than a cohesive argument, failing to cite specific evidence from documents or historical knowledge, and running out of time for a strong conclusion. Many students also choose safe, obvious theses instead of taking a clearer analytical stance—the exam rewards nuance and specific examples over general observations.

Another frequent issue is not tailoring the essay to the specific prompt. A question about the causes of a war isn't the same as a question about its consequences, and students sometimes write what they prepared instead of what's being asked. Working with a tutor who can review your drafts, give feedback on thesis clarity and evidence selection, and help you practice under timed conditions is the fastest way to strengthen your writing. Even a few sessions focused on essay structure and revision can significantly improve your score.

Ideally, you've been learning the content all year in your AP course. If you're starting review 6-8 weeks before the exam, plan for 5-8 hours per week of focused studying—this includes reading/note review, practice essays, timed multiple choice sections, and working through full-length practice exams. If you're starting closer to the exam date, you'll need to be more strategic and intensive.

Quality beats quantity. It's better to spend 2 hours doing timed practice exams and reviewing mistakes than 4 hours passively re-reading notes. Many students benefit most from working with a tutor in the final 4-6 weeks, when you're doing full-length practice tests and need targeted feedback on where you're losing points. This focused guidance helps you avoid last-minute cramming and builds the confidence and strategies you need on test day.

A tutor can help you in several key ways: identifying which time periods and themes are your weakest areas, reviewing and strengthening your essay writing with detailed feedback, teaching test-taking strategies specific to AP exam question formats, and helping you build a focused study plan that doesn't waste time on material you already know well.

Varsity Tutors connects students in Denver with expert history tutors who can work at your pace, whether you need foundational content review or polish on advanced essay skills. Many students find that even 2-4 sessions focused on practice essays, DBQ strategy, and timing help them gain confidence and avoid the last-minute panic that hurts scores. Get matched with a tutor who can help you turn your effort into points.