Starting at 1200 CE — broader chronology, tighter time limits than APUSH.
AP World History: Modern starts in 1200 CE and asks students to compare societies across continents using AP-specific reasoning processes (causation, comparison, continuity-and-change-over-time). Most students underestimate how much of the FRQ section depends on naming the correct reasoning process and applying it explicitly.
Our lessons highlight 'connection points' across regions — for example, the Columbian Exchange links Units 4 and 5, and the Industrial Revolution links Units 5 and 6 — because the LEQ and DBQ both reward cross-regional comparison over single-region depth.
Master AP World History
From ancient civilizations to modern globalization — interactive lessons covering every AP World History period.
Start here
Take the free AP World History diagnostic
It finds what you already know and builds your study plan: the topics to clear first, each a short lesson plus an exit quiz.
Take the free diagnosticInteractive Lessons
Step-by-step lessons covering every AP World History unit with practice problems and exit quizzes.
Diagnostic Test
Quick assessment across all units to identify your strengths and weak areas.
Unit Tests
Drill a single AP unit at a time. 6 units · 4 different variations each — perfect for end-of-unit review.
Practice Exam
Full-length 30-question stimulus-based practice exam covering all 9 units, modeled on the official College Board exam.
Flashcards
Review key terms and concepts with spaced-repetition flashcards.
Daily question
A fresh question every day covering different units. Build consistency with daily practice.
Study schedules
Structured 4, 10, or 16-week study schedules tailored to your timeline.
Score Predictor
Estimate your AP score based on your practice performance and study habits.
FRQ Practice
Practice free-response questions with rubrics and timed exam simulation.
What's Covered
Unit 1: The Global Tapestry (1200–1450)
- Song Dynasty & East Asia
- Dar al-Islam
- South & Southeast Asia
- State Building in the Americas & Africa
Unit 2: Networks of Exchange (1200–1450)
- Silk Roads
- Mongol Empire
- Indian Ocean Trade
- Trans-Saharan Trade
Unit 3: Land-Based Empires (1450–1750)
- Ottoman Empire
- Safavid Empire
- Mughal Empire
- Qing Dynasty
Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections (1450–1750)
- European Exploration
- Columbian Exchange
- Maritime Empires
- Coerced Labor Systems
Unit 5: Revolutions (1750–1900)
- Enlightenment
- American & French Revolutions
- Haitian Revolution
- Latin American Independence
Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization (1750–1900)
- Industrial Revolution
- Imperialism
- Economic Imperialism
- Reform & Resistance
Unit 7: Global Conflict (1900–present)
- World War I
- World War II
- Mass Atrocities
- Total War
Unit 8: Cold War & Decolonization (1900–present)
- Cold War Conflicts
- Decolonization in Africa & Asia
- Proxy Wars
- End of the Cold War
Unit 9: Globalization (1900–present)
- Economic Globalization
- Technological Innovation
- Disease & Environment
- Social & Cultural Changes
About the AP World History Exam
Format
- • Section I: 55 MCQs + 3 SAQs in 95 minutes
- • Section II: 1 DBQ + 1 LEQ in 100 minutes
- • DBQ: analyze 7 documents
- • Total exam time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Scoring
- • Score range: 1–5
- • 5 = Extremely well qualified
- • ~12% of students score a 5
- • No penalty for guessing
- • Most colleges accept 3+