Overview of APUSH, AP Euro, and AP World History
Think like a historian - that’s the challenge presented to any student taking AP United States History (APUSH), AP European History (AP Euro), and AP World History: Modern (AP World). Many students often ask which course is harder or which AP history class they should take. Understanding the key differences between these three courses can help you choose the best fit for your interests and academic goals.
The obvious difference between APUSH, AP Euro, and AP World is the focus of the content. AP US History has a narrower focus: investigating the events and movements within the United States from its origins to the present. In contrast, AP Euro takes a broader look at the history of Europe as a whole, starting with the Renaissance. AP World covers an even larger range of material, looking across cultures, revolutions, and civilizations globally spanning from 1200 CE to the present.
AP History Exam Format
The APUSH, AP Euro, and AP World exams share a similar structure designed to evaluate historical reasoning, source analysis, and argumentation.
For the optional AP exam in the Spring, APUSH, AP Euro, and AP World exams all share the same format, which is as follows:
Section 1
- Part A / Multiple Choice: 55 Questions in 55 minutes. [40% of score]
- APUSH, AP Euro, and AP World multiple choice questions are typically stimulus-based (which means the questions have a corresponding quotation, map, table, or image).
- Part B / Short Answer Questions: 3 Questions in 40 minutes. [20% of score]
- The third SAQ gives you the choice between 2 prompts from different time periods.
Section 2
- Part A / Document-Based Question: 1 Question integrating multiple primary sources in 60 minutes (15 minute reading period included). [25% of score]
- Part B / Long Essay Question: 1 Question in 40 minutes. [15% of score]
- The LEQ gives you the choice between 3 prompts from different time periods.
The Statistics
While these statistics provide a useful historical snapshot of AP exam performance, students should also review the latest AP score distributions released by the College Board each year.
APUSH
- In 2019, 496,573 students took the APUSH course exam.
- The mean score was a 2.71, with 53.7% of test takers passing with a score of 3 or above. (2019)
- 11.8% scored a 5! (2019)
- In 2020, during the unprecedented online FRQ AP exam, the passing rate rose to 58.8%, and 13% of test takers scored a 5.
AP Euro
- In 2019, 100,655 students took the AP Euro course exam.
- The mean score was a 2.90, with 58.1% of test takers passing with a score of 3 or above. (2019)
- 11.7% scored a 5! (2019)
- In 2020, during the unprecedented online FRQ AP exam, the passing rate rose to 59.3%, and 13.7% of test takers scored a 5.
AP World
- In 2019, 313,317 students took the AP World course exam.
- The mean score was a 2.75, with 55.3% of test takers passing with a score of 3 or above. (2019)
- 8.6% scored a 5! (2019)
- In 2020, during the unprecedented online FRQ AP exam, the passing rate rose to 60.2%, and 9.2% of test takers scored a 5.
*All statistics are sourced from College Board 2019 & 2020 score distributions.
Additional Course Facts
- At many high schools, students have the opportunity to take at least two of these three AP history courses. Typically, sophomores are given the chance to take either AP Euro or AP World, depending on their school’s offerings, while APUSH is offered students’ junior year.
- While memorization of names, movements, and key dates is beneficial in any of these history courses, students cannot rely solely on memorization to ace these exams and will develop analysis, synthesis, and critical thinking skills.
- Some colleges will accept a passing AP score as college credit, which can decrease college costs.
- Students preparing for these courses often benefit from learning how to analyze historical passages and primary sources effectively, a skill that can dramatically improve exam performance.
Which AP History Course Should You Take?
If you are lucky enough to attend a high school that offers all three AP history courses, then when deciding between AP Euro and AP World history, consider which civilizations and time periods interest you the most. Additionally, when deciding whether to take AP or regular history, take into account the level of time and effort you’ll be able to commit to the course. APUSH, AP Euro, and AP World will challenge you and usually require a large amount of reading and writing (mostly timed). If you are up for the challenge, these classes can also be greatly rewarding and inform the way you view not just history but also the present moment.
Note: Additional courses delve into history as well and can complement these three AP history courses.
FAQs
Is APUSH harder than AP Euro or AP World?
APUSH is often considered challenging because of the large amount of content covering U.S. history. However, difficulty varies depending on your interest in the subject and your reading and writing skills.
Which AP history class is easiest?
There is no universally easiest AP history course. Some students find AP Euro easier due to its focused timeline, while others prefer AP World because of its broader global themes.
Can you take more than one AP history course?
Yes. Many students take AP Euro or AP World during sophomore year and APUSH during junior year depending on their school’s curriculum.
Do colleges give credit for AP history exams?
Many colleges offer credit for scores of 3, 4, or 5, but policies vary by institution.
Which AP history course should I take first?
Most schools recommend AP World or AP Euro history first, followed by APUSH in junior year.