Introduction
Many students make preventable mistakes on the AP US History exam that cost them points. By learning about these common errors, you can avoid them and improve your score. This guide identifies the top mistakes students make and provides strategies to prevent them.
MCQ Section Mistakes
Mistake 1: Misreading Questions
Many students rush through MCQ questions and misread what's being asked. This is especially problematic for EXCEPT questions.
Prevention: Read each question carefully. Circle key words like "EXCEPT," "MOST," or "LEAST." Take your time to understand what's being asked before looking at answers.
Mistake 2: Selecting the First Correct-Looking Answer
Students often select the first answer that seems correct without reading all options. The correct answer might be further down.
Prevention: Always read all four answer choices before selecting one. Compare them carefully to find the BEST answer.
Mistake 3: Spending Too Much Time on One Question
With 55 questions in 55 minutes, spending 3-4 minutes on one question wastes valuable time.
Prevention: If you're unsure after 1-1.5 minutes, mark it and move on. You can return later if time permits. Educated guesses are better than leaving questions blank.
Mistake 4: Changing Correct Answers
Students often second-guess themselves and change correct answers to incorrect ones.
Prevention: Trust your first instinct unless you're certain it's wrong. Research shows that first instincts are usually correct.
Mistake 5: Leaving Questions Blank
Some students leave questions blank rather than guessing. Since there's no penalty for wrong answers, this is a missed opportunity.
Prevention: Always guess if you're unsure. You have a 25% chance of being correct, and that's better than zero.
Essay Section Mistakes
Mistake 6: Weak or Missing Thesis
Many students write essays without a clear, specific thesis statement. This is one of the most common essay mistakes.
Prevention: Develop a clear, arguable thesis that directly answers the prompt. Your thesis should be specific and preview your argument.
Mistake 7: Summarizing Instead of Analyzing
Students often summarize historical events without analyzing their significance or explaining what they reveal.
Prevention: Go beyond just stating facts. Explain what the evidence means, why it matters, and how it supports your argument.
Mistake 8: Using Too Few Documents (DBQ)
DBQ essays should reference at least 6 of the 7-10 provided documents. Using only 2-3 documents significantly limits your score.
Prevention: Plan to use at least 6 documents. Analyze each one and explain how it supports your argument.
Mistake 9: Ignoring Source Information (DBQ)
The source (author, date, purpose) provides important context for analyzing documents. Ignoring this information misses a key analytical opportunity.
Prevention: For each document, identify the source and explain how the source information affects the document's reliability or perspective.
Mistake 10: Unsupported Claims
Students make claims without providing evidence to support them. This weakens arguments significantly.
Prevention: Every major claim should be supported with specific evidence. Include dates, names, events, and quotations.
Content Knowledge Mistakes
Mistake 11: Confusing Similar Events or Time Periods
Students sometimes confuse similar events (e.g., different wars or reform movements) or mix up details from different time periods.
Prevention: Create comparison charts for similar events. Study timelines to understand chronological order. Use mnemonics to remember key details.
Mistake 12: Memorizing Facts Without Understanding Connections
Some students memorize isolated facts without understanding how they connect to broader historical themes and patterns.
Prevention: Study historical themes and understand how events relate to them. Ask yourself: "Why does this matter?" and "How does this connect to other events?"
Mistake 13: Overlooking Primary Source Context
Students sometimes fail to consider the context in which primary sources were created, leading to misinterpretation.
Prevention: Always consider who created the source, when it was created, and why. This context affects how you interpret the source.
Time Management Mistakes
Mistake 14: Poor Time Allocation
Students sometimes spend too much time on lower-value sections and rush through higher-value sections.
Prevention: Remember that MCQ is 40%, DBQ is 25%, LEQ is 15%, and SAQ is 20% of your score. Allocate time accordingly.
Mistake 15: Not Leaving Time for Review
Students sometimes use all their time writing and don't leave time to review their work for errors.
Prevention: Plan to leave 5-10 minutes at the end of each section to review your work for spelling, grammar, and logical errors.
Test-Taking Mistakes
Mistake 16: Not Following Directions
Some students don't read or follow the exam instructions carefully, leading to mistakes or disqualification.
Prevention: Read all instructions carefully. Listen to the proctor's instructions. Ask for clarification if you're unsure.
Mistake 17: Letting Anxiety Affect Performance
Test anxiety can impair thinking and lead to careless mistakes.
Prevention: Use stress management techniques like deep breathing. Remember that some difficulty is normal. Focus on doing your best, not on perfection.
Mistake 18: Comparing Yourself to Other Test-Takers
Comparing your performance to others during the exam can increase anxiety and distract you.
Prevention: Focus on your own exam. Don't worry about how others are doing. Everyone works at their own pace.
How to Avoid These Mistakes
1. Practice Regularly
Take full-length practice tests under timed conditions. This helps you identify your mistakes and develop strategies to avoid them.
2. Review Your Mistakes
After each practice test, review every mistake. Understand why you got it wrong and how to avoid that mistake in the future.
3. Get Feedback
Have teachers or peers review your essays. Their feedback can help you identify patterns in your mistakes.
4. Study High-Scoring Samples
Study sample essays that received high scores. Analyze what makes them effective.
5. Create a Mistake Log
Keep a log of your common mistakes. Review it regularly to ensure you're not repeating them.
Conclusion
By being aware of these common mistakes and taking steps to avoid them, you can significantly improve your AP US History exam score. Focus on practicing regularly, reviewing your mistakes, and learning from them. Remember, the goal is not perfection but continuous improvement. Use our APUSH calculator to track your progress and monitor your improvement over time.