In 2020, as a response to the disruption caused by COVID-19, the College Board modified the AP exams so they were shorter, administered online, covered less material, and had a different format than previous tests. But thousands of students faced technical problems and had to retake their exams.
This year, the College Board is providing 3 testing dates starting in early May for each AP exam with options for in-school and at-home, as well as traditional and digital, testing.
“While this year’s exam options look different from years past, this schedule will maximize opportunities for AP students in a variety of different situations to test and earn college credit and placement,” according to the College Board.
The AP US History exam for 2021 will be a full-length exam that students can take in school and/or at home, either traditionally (i.e., paper and pencil) or digitally, depending on the testing date.
Here are the key changes you need to know to do well in the upcoming APUSH exam.
Will I get college credit for the 2021 APUSH exam?
Students who take the 2021 APUSH exam will be eligible for college credit.
As in previous years, a student must obtain a score of 3, 4, or 5 to be eligible for college credit.
How long is the 2021 APUSH exam?
The 2021 APUSH exam will be 3 hours, 15 minutes long. Students can take it in school or at home depending on the testing date (details below).
What’s the 2021 APUSH exam date and time?
The College Board is offering 3 exam dates for the APUSH exam this year. The times and locations vary by date.
| Date | Time | Location | Method |
| Thursday, May 6, 2021 | 8 AM Local Time | In School | Paper & Pencil |
| Wednesday, May 19, 2021 | 12 PM EDT | In School & At Home | Digital |
| Wednesday, June 2, 2021 | 12 PM EDT | In School & At Home | Digital |
It is up to individual schools, though, to choose the exam options that work best for them.
What will be tested on the 2021 APUSH exam?
The 2021 APUSH exam will test students on the whole course content regardless of the version of the exam they take — traditional or digital — so be prepared to answer questions on these topics:
- Unit 1: Period 1: 1491-1607
- Unit 2: Period 2: 1607-1754
- Unit 3: Period 3: 1754-1800
- Unit 4: Period 4: 1800-1848
- Unit 5: Period 5: 1844-1877
- Unit 6: Period 6: 1865-1898
- Unit 7: Period 7: 1890-1945
- Unit 8: Period 8: 1945-1980
- Unit 9: Period 9: 1980-Present
What is the APUSH exam format for 2021?
While both the 2021 APUSH paper exam and the digital exam are 3 hours, 15 minutes long, the format is different.
The paper exam consists of the typical multiple-choice and free-response sections. In the first section, you will have 55 minutes to answer 55 multiple-choice questions and 40 minutes to answer 3 short answer questions. The first two short answer questions are required, but you can choose between two prompts to answer the third question. In the second section, you will have 60 minutes to answer 1 document-based question and 40 minutes to answer 1 long essay question.
The chart below shows the breakdown of the paper exam components.
| PAPER EXAM FORMAT | |||
| Section | # Questions | Time Allocation | Exam Weight |
| IA: Multiple Choice | 55 | 55 minutes | 40% |
| IB: Short Answer | 3 | 40 minutes | 20% |
| IIA: Document-Based Question | 1 | 60 minutes | 25% |
| IIB: Long Essay | 1 | 40 minutes | 15% |
The digital exam differs from the paper exam. First, the digital exam has 3 mandatory short answer questions in the first section. Second, the digital exam does not have a long essay question in the second section. There will be 2 more short answer questions instead.
The chart below shows the breakdown of the digital exam components.
| DIGITAL EXAM FORMAT | |||
| Section | # Questions | Time Allocation | Exam Weight |
| IA: Multiple Choice | 55 | 55 minutes | 40% |
| IB: Short Answer | 3 | 40 minutes | 20% |
| IIA: Document-Based Question | 1 | 60 minutes | 25% |
| IIB: Short Answer Questions | 2 | 40 minutes | 15% |
For free examples of free-response questions, check here for the actual questions posed in the 2019 APUSH exam and here for those posed in the 2018 APUSH exam.
You can also practice multiple-choice and free-response questions within the digital exam app starting early April.
Is there a difference between the traditional and the digital APUSH exam for 2021?
Both the 2021 APUSH paper exam and the digital exam are 3 hours, 15 minutes long and test the same course content.
However, if you’re taking the digital APUSH exam, there are a few things you should know. First, there will be more short answer questions in the digital exam (as described above). Second, you will be answering free-response questions with a keyboard, rather than by hand. Third, you cannot submit handwritten or photographed responses (unlike last year, when the College Board made an accommodation for the 2020 APUSH exam).
What device should I use to take the 2021 APUSH exam digitally?
What you will need to take the exam digitally will depend on whether you’re taking the digital exam in school or at home. In either case, you should make the determination of which device works best for you beforehand.
If you’re taking the digital exam in school, you will need a laptop (Mac, Windows, or school-managed Chromebook) that has a built-in camera. This can be a personal or school-provided computer. If it’s a school-provided computer, it must not be shared between students once the exam setup is completed.
To take the digital exam at home, you will need a laptop or desktop computer (Mac, Windows, or school-managed Chromebook) that has a built-in or attached camera. This can be a personal or school-provided computer. If it’s a school-provided computer, it must not be shared between students once the exam setup is completed.
No matter the type of device or who owns it, make sure that your computer is fully charged on exam day so it will last for the whole exam. If you’re taking the digital exam at home, be sure that your setup includes charging during the exam if necessary.
You should also install the digital testing app no later than the day before the exam.
You will, of course, also need reliable access to the internet if you’re taking the digital exam.
Is the College Board offering any free APUSH exam review courses?
The College Board is offering free AP resources to students.
The College Board’s AP YouTube channel gives students access to APLive classes and recordings delivered by AP teachers from across the country. Additionally, to help students review course content and skills before their exam, the College Board will give students access to AP Daily: Live Review sessions from April 19 to 29. You can sign up for the live review sessions here.
What are my other options for preparing for the 2021 APUSH exam?
If you don’t have an APUSH review book already, check out TUN’s Textbook Save Engine to compare prices and get the best deals.
There are also online resources that you can use to help you prepare for the 2021 APUSH exam.
Princeton Review
The Princeton Review offers a 6-Hour AP Cram Course for the APUSH exam. The course covers significant events and people in U.S. history from earliest times up to the present time, and reviews the historical periods and themes you need to understand for a great score.
The course, which comes with a Princeton Review prep book, can be ordered online for $299. For now, there are 2 available Cram Course schedules.
- April 24 & 25, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Eastern time)
- April 26 & 28, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Eastern time)
- May 1 & 2: 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Eastern time)
The Princeton Review also offers private tutoring, available both in-person or online, for a fee starting at $167 an hour. If you decide to go with this personalized option, expert tutors will work with you to “make a plan, set goals, and exceed them.” The Princeton Review guarantees that if you’re not 100% satisfied, they will match you with another tutor and your next lesson will be free.
If you’re taking more than one AP exam in 2021, check TUN’s AP Exam Review for details on other revised AP exams.
