Short Answer Questions
After you complete the Multiple Choice section of the exam, you will have 40 minutes to open up the separate booklet containing the Short Answer Questions (SAQs). This is the way that the College Board has described what you'll find and do:
"The short-answer section will consist of four questions that require students to use historical thinking skills and content knowledge to respond to stimulus material, a historian’s argument, or a general proposition or question about history. As in the multiple-choice section, stimulus material may consist of a primary or secondary source, including texts, images, charts, graphs, maps, etc. At least two of the four short-answer questions will include stimulus material. Each short-answer question will directly address one or more of the thematic learning objectives for the course and assess one or more of the nine historical thinking skills. Each short-answer question will ask students to analyze historical developments and/or processes using examples drawn from the concept outline or other examples explored in depth in classroom instruction. The short-answer questions may require students to take a position based on the stimulus material presented, identify a significant cause or effect, or account for differences and similarities in perspectives, historical developments, etc."
In this section, I have compiled a few "fast facts" about the SAQs as well as some insights into writing and grading them which I gained as a reader for the College Board this past summer. I hope they help!
To elaborate on this information, check out the materials below.
"The short-answer section will consist of four questions that require students to use historical thinking skills and content knowledge to respond to stimulus material, a historian’s argument, or a general proposition or question about history. As in the multiple-choice section, stimulus material may consist of a primary or secondary source, including texts, images, charts, graphs, maps, etc. At least two of the four short-answer questions will include stimulus material. Each short-answer question will directly address one or more of the thematic learning objectives for the course and assess one or more of the nine historical thinking skills. Each short-answer question will ask students to analyze historical developments and/or processes using examples drawn from the concept outline or other examples explored in depth in classroom instruction. The short-answer questions may require students to take a position based on the stimulus material presented, identify a significant cause or effect, or account for differences and similarities in perspectives, historical developments, etc."
In this section, I have compiled a few "fast facts" about the SAQs as well as some insights into writing and grading them which I gained as a reader for the College Board this past summer. I hope they help!
- There are four short-answer questions on the exam. Students answer Question 1 and Question 2, they then choose to answer either Question 3 or Question 4. Don't answer both!
- Many of the short-answer questions ask you to respond to a primary source passage or a secondary source such as a debate between two historians, a map, an illustration, or a chart, though most years there will be at least one question that requires you to answer purely from your historical content knowledge.
- Each short-answer question will include three very specific sub-points. Your answers to these sub-points do not require a thesis. Concentrate on writing concise statements that include specific historic examples. Use complete sentences. An outline or a list of bulleted points is not acceptable.
To elaborate on this information, check out the materials below.
Grading rubric
| ap_saqs.pdf |
Overview Video
Overview PowerPoint
| o-saq2_prompt.pdf |
| saq2-12_prompt.pdf |