Free-response practice
US History free-response questions
Free-response questions (FRQs) are the part of the AP® United States History exam where you write your own answers. Here they're grouped the way the exam uses them. Write your answer, then score it yourself with the rubric and a model answer, or sign in for free AI scoring.
15 questions · 5 types
Short answer: secondary sources
You read two historians' interpretations and answer three short parts, usually describing how they differ and using evidence you know to support or challenge them.
On the exam: Short-answer question 1 of 3, required; the three short-answer questions share a 40-minute section worth 20% of the score. Plan on about 13 minutes for one.
Unit 3
Why the Constitution was written: Fiske and Beard
3 points · about 13 minutes
Units 5 and 6
Judging Reconstruction governments: Dunning and Du Bois
3 points · about 13 minutes
Unit 5
What caused the Civil War: Rhodes and the Beards
3 points · about 13 minutes
Short answer: primary source
You read a source written at the time and answer three short parts about its ideas, its historical situation and the developments around it.
On the exam: Short-answer question 2 of 3, required; the three short-answer questions share a 40-minute section worth 20% of the score. Plan on about 13 minutes for one.
Unit 1
Las Casas on Spanish conquest in the Caribbean
3 points · about 13 minutes
Unit 4
Andrew Jackson vetoes the Bank
3 points · about 13 minutes
Units 8 and 9
Reagan's first inaugural address
3 points · about 13 minutes
Short answer: non-text source
You analyze a chart, table, map or image and answer three short parts about what it shows and the history behind it. Here the source is a data table.
On the exam: Short-answer question 3 of 3, required; the three short-answer questions share a 40-minute section worth 20% of the score. Plan on about 13 minutes for one.
Unit 2
Black population in six British colonies, 1700 and 1750
3 points · about 13 minutes
Units 6 and 7
Immigrants by country of origin, 1880s and 1900s
3 points · about 13 minutes
Unit 8
Voter registration before and after the Voting Rights Act
3 points · about 13 minutes
Document-based question (DBQ)
You write an argument essay that answers a question using seven documents plus evidence you know. DBQ topics fall between 1754 and 1980.
On the exam: Section II, question 1 (required): 60 minutes recommended, including a 15-minute reading period; 25% of the score. Plan on about 60 minutes for one.
Unit 3
Why the colonies resisted Britain, 1763–1776
7 points · about 60 minutes
Units 6 and 7
How much did reformers fix industrial America? 1890–1920
7 points · about 60 minutes
Unit 8
The Cold War at home, 1945–1965
7 points · about 60 minutes
Long essay question (LEQ)
You write an argument essay from your own knowledge on one broad prompt that covers about half of the course's time periods, choosing which developments to focus on.
On the exam: Section II, question 2 (required, no choice): 40 minutes recommended; 15% of the score. Plan on about 40 minutes for one.
Units 1, 2 and 3
American Indians and European colonization, 1491–1800
6 points · about 40 minutes
Units 4, 5 and 6
Transportation and communication, 1800–1898
6 points · about 40 minutes
Units 7, 8 and 9
The goals of U.S. foreign policy, 1898–2001
6 points · about 40 minutes