How do I practice for AP World History SAQs and DBQs?

Effective practice for free-response questions (FRQs) requires mastering specific rubrics and historical reasoning skills like causation and comparison. For SAQs: Use the A.C.E. method (Answer, Cite, Explain) to provide concise, evidence-based responses in complete sentences. For DBQs: Utilize the 15-minute reading period to categorize at least six of the seven provided documents into thematic groups that support your thesis. Practice Guides: You can access our dedicated strategies in the AP World History Tips and our Comprehensive Exam Guide to see full rubric breakdowns and example responses. Improving your accuracy on the stimulus-based multiple-choice questions (MCQs) will also help you on SAQs and DBQs, as you’ll have a bank of specific dates, facts, and timelines memorized to include as evidence.

What is the 2026 Digital AP World History exam format?

The 2026 AP World History: Modern exam is a fully digital assessment administered through the College Board’s Bluebook app. The exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long and consists of two sections: Section I: Part A includes 55 stimulus-based multiple-choice questions (MCQs) to be completed in 55 minutes, accounting for 40% of the total score. Part B consists of 3 short-answer questions (SAQs) in 40 minutes (20% of the score). Section II: This section includes one Document-Based Question (DBQ) with 60 minutes of writing time and one Long Essay Question (LEQ) with 40 minutes of writing time, together making up the remaining 40% of the exam score.

Master AP World stimulus-based MCQs with AI

Acely’s extensive question bank for the AP World History multiple choice section gives students the targeted practice to get a 5 on test day.

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AI Tutor with hints & explanations

Get in-depth explanations for every practice question and ask the our AI tutor for hints if you get stuck. The multiple-choice section is worth 40% of your exam score, so mastering these questions can get you closer to that 5.

Track your progress before test day

Track your AP World History performance as you study, making sure you’re ready for test day. See which units you should focus your studying on, from the global tapestry to globalization.

Aiming for a 5? Track your accuracy to make sure you hit at least 75%!

Preparing for the 2026 digital AP World exam

The 2026 AP World History exam is fully digital. To score a 5, students must excel at stimulus-based multiple-choice questions (MCQs) that use primary sources, maps, and data. Acely’s AI-powered practice specifically drills the three Historical Reasoning Processes required for the digital test:

Causation: Identifying long-term and immediate causes of global events like the Industrial Revolution.
Comparison: Highlighting similarities and differences between empires, such as the Ottomans and the Mughals.
Continuity and Change Over Time (CCOT): Tracking shifts in global trade and gender roles from 1200 to the present.

Master AP World History multiple-choice questions for every unit

AP World History has nine units, covering global conflict to resolutions. Our platform offers specific practice questions for each unit to build confidence for test day.

Unit 1: The Global Tapestry

Analyze state-building in Afro-Eurasia and the Americas (c. 1200–c. 1450). Master the rise of the Abbasid Caliphate, the Song Dynasty, and the influence of Dar al-Islam.

Unit 2: Networks of Exchange

Explore connectivity through the Silk Roads, Indian Ocean trade, and Trans-Saharan routes. Practice questions on the Mongol Empire and the cultural effects of increased interregional trade.

Unit 3: Land-Based Empires

Study the expansion and administration of the Manchu, Mughal, Ottoman, and Safavid empires (c. 1450–c. 1750). Compare how rulers used religion and military power to maintain control.

Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections

Tackle the Columbian Exchange, the rise of maritime empires, and the social impact of mercantilism. Analyze the technological innovations that led to European global expansion.

Unit 5: Revolutions

Master the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, and the political shifts following the American and French Revolutions (c. 1750–c. 1900).

Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization

Evaluate imperialism, Social Darwinism, and the global economic shifts driven by state expansion. Understand the motives behind the "Scramble for Africa" and Asian state responses.

Unit 7: Global Conflict

Practice stimulus-based analysis of World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. Study the causes and effects of mass atrocities after 1900.

Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization

Analyze the global struggle between capitalism and communism. Explore decolonization movements and the creation of newly independent states in Asia and Africa.

Unit 9: Globalization

Focus on the causes and effects of modern connectivity, from technological advances to environmental challenges and the growth of globalized culture.

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Deep dive into AP World period essentials

While practicing our stimulus-based MCQs, supplement your review with our curated era guides. Mastering these turning points is essential for earning the contextualization and evidence points on the 2026 digital exam:

The Age of Reason: Master the intellectual shift of the The Enlightenment (Unit 5) to understand the foundations of modern democracy and revolution.
Expert Success Strategies: Succeed in the course with our AP World History Tips, focusing on mastering CCOT & comparison, historical reasoning and effective study habits to use on stimulus-based MCQs.
Course Difficulty & Data: Read How Hard is AP World History? to gain insights from student reviews and data on exam pass rates.
Student FAQ: Get quick answers to common questions about the curriculum and requirements in our AP World History FAQ.
Final Prep Guide: Read our Comprehensive AP World History Exam Guide for a full breakdown of the 2026 Bluebook app digital format.

AP World History: Enlightenment Crash Course

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FAQs

Get more insights on Acely's AP World History content.

Yes. All of our materials are up to date with the AP World History: Modern framework, which focuses exclusively on historical developments from c. 1200 CE to the present. Our practice questions cover all nine units, beginning with “The Global Tapestry” (1200–1450) and extending through modern “Globalization”. This ensures you aren’t wasting time on pre-1200 CE content, such as the Paleolithic or Classical Eras, which are no longer tested on the AP World History exam.

Effective practice for free-response questions (FRQs) requires mastering specific rubrics and historical reasoning skills like causation and comparison.

For SAQs: Use the A.C.E. method (Answer, Cite, Explain) to provide concise, evidence-based responses in complete sentences.
For DBQs: Utilize the 15-minute reading period to categorize at least six of the seven provided documents into thematic groups that support your thesis.
Practice Guides: You can access our dedicated strategies in the AP World History Tips and our Comprehensive Exam Guide to see full rubric breakdowns and example responses.

Improving your accuracy on the stimulus-based multiple-choice questions (MCQs) will also help you on SAQs and DBQs, as you’ll have a bank of specific dates, facts, and timelines memorized to include as evidence.

The 2026 AP World History: Modern exam is a fully digital assessment administered through the College Board’s Bluebook app. The exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long and consists of two sections:

Section I: Part A includes 55 stimulus-based multiple-choice questions (MCQs) to be completed in 55 minutes, accounting for 40% of the total score. Part B consists of 3 short-answer questions (SAQs) in 40 minutes (20% of the score).
Section II: This section includes one Document-Based Question (DBQ) with 60 minutes of writing time and one Long Essay Question (LEQ) with 40 minutes of writing time, together making up the remaining 40% of the exam score.