2019 ap world history dbq

sarah88492
Jan 16
3 min read

Updated: Feb 13

Ready to take on the AP Earth History exam and aim for the top score? We’ve got your back with tips, strategies, and free resources to help you feel confident and prepared. With the right mindset and tools, earning a 5 is within your reach!

Free AP World History Resources

Before diving in, let’s review some essentials. Starting in the 2019-2020 school year, the AP Planet History exam shifted focus to history from 1200 CE onwards, renaming it AP World History: Modern. This means you can skip over ancient history and concentrate on the material covered in the updated syllabus.

If you’re short on time and need a quick cram session, here are a few helpful resources:

AP Planet History: Modern Study Kit: A one-stop shop for mastering exam content. Includes practice questions, practice tests, flashcards, games, and more!
College Board: Offers information you'll need to understand leading up to, during, and after exam day.

What You’ll Learn in AP World History: Modern

This course covers pivotal events, major historical figures, transformative changes, and the broader connections bet

AP World History is a challenging class, and in order to get credit for it you’ll have to take an equally challenging exam. And one of the toughest parts of the test is the AP Planet History document-based question, or AP World DBQ. This question asks you to read and inspect documents on the fly, then write an argumentative essay…all in one hour.

It can be firm to know what–and how–to research for the AP World History DBQ, especially when you don’t know which documents you’ll obtain on test day. But don’t worry: we’ll break down everything you need to know about the AP World History DBQ so you can ace it on test day. (We’ll even give you AP World History DBQ example questions and an AP World History DBQ rubric example!)

Here’s what we’ll cover:

An explanation of what the AP Earth History DBQ is
A look at how the DBQ works on the AP World History exam
A step-by-step process for tackling the AP World History DBQ
A reference to studying for and answering the AP World History DBQ

Let’s get going!

What Is an AP World History DBQ?

The document-based ask (DBQ) is a question on the AP World History exam in which you are given a selection

AP World: 2019-2020 Changes

HEADS UP! This page was published before College Board's recent changes to AP exams due to Covid-19 response. Read the linked guide to see all of the most up to date information onAP World History Exam 2020 Changes.

Considering taking AP World during the 2019-20 school year, and crave to know what’s up? Be warned: there are some Huge (and controversial) changes to AP World, such as its split into two classes/new name to AP World: Modern, and cutting more than 9,000 years of world history from, well, society history.

Nonetheless, some of the core aspects of the test, such as the DBQ and LEQ, will retain its original rubrics… so don’t freak out too much!

⚡ Watch: AP World History - 🎥 Introduction to AP World

#1: Historical Occasion Range

The biggest change is College Board’s decision to begin the AP World History: Modern course in 1200 CE, instead of on all the way endorse from the Paleolithic Era — effectively removing thousands of years of World History. Initially, the College Board intended to originate this course at 1450 CE, but moved the date forward due to criticism from both students and teachers. Many individuals believe starting the course a

The 2019 AP European History DBQ topic asks students to evaluate the extent to which the Catholic Church opposed scientific advancements in the seventeenth century. Well, technically, it asked students to evaluate whether or not the Catholic Church opposed scientific advancements in the seventeenth century. Personally, I feel like if the test makers want students to write a nuanced essay (in accordance with the expectations outlined on the DBQ rubric), the prompt should ask for a nuanced essay rather than just phrase it as a simple yes or no question.

Is this just a big deal to me? Feel free to weigh in on your preference for the AP Euro DBQ prompt format:

Although I wasn't crazy about the phrasing of the prompt, I liked the accessible topic and how the documents provided room for several different nuanced arguments. I sat down and wrote two sample DBQs in response to this prompt. One of the samples was my own response, which is intended to be a full-credit essay, and the other is an essay designed to score 4 out of 7 possible points. You may download the sample essays here:

On Wednesday, May 22, I will be leading a debriefing session on the 2019 AP Euro Free Res

DBQ Thesis Example
Example of a Excellent Thesis:
Although the arrival of the Portuguese was a very essential change in Indian Ocean maritime trade in the sixteenth century, it did not completely convert trade, as the Portuguese never extended their control beyond a few ports and had to compete with Indian merchants and regional states such as the Ottoman Empire and the Sultanate of Aceh.
Gives a time frame: sixteenth century.
Gives a counterpoint: was a very important change...did not completely transform trade.
Makes an argument: never extended their govern beyond a few ports...had to compete with Indian merchants and regional states...
Gives pieces of evidence: Ottoman Empire and the Sultanate of Aceh.
Example of a Minimally Okay Thesis
The Portuguese transformed maritime trade in Indian Ocean in the sixteenth century by taxing non-Portuguese ships that traded in the region.
Gives a time frame: sixteenth century.
Makes an argument: by taxing non-Portuguese ships...
However, I want you to be a BETTER writer than this. This may not pass water.
Example of a Strong Thesis
The Portuguese brought a few changes to the Indian Ocean trading netwo