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← Arii's AP HUMANITIES MCQs GUIDE:

MCQs - or the Multiple Choice Question portions of the AP test are relatively relaxed for those who've familiarized themselves with their AP exam's contents.

However, there are ways that one can speed up their MCQ solving process. Your ultimate goal should be "taking the MCQ twice" (meaning having enough time to run back through your previous answers).

(Please note that these methods mainly apply to AP Humanities classes where the "most correct" answer applies, rather than AP Sciences or Mathematics, where the MCQ answer must be solved for... although guessing methods can be useful there in a pinch, I'd not recommend it as your first option).

Principles on the MCQ:
  1. There are always 2-3 obviously (if you know the content) wrong answers - these are either in the wrong time period or do not answer the question at all.
  2. There is then a red herring, this answer may be partially correct or answer the question somewhat.
  3. Finally, there is the true answer.

Doing well on the MCQ comes down to quickly eliminating the obviously wrong answers - and then finding which question answers the prompt "better". It may be it backs the claim more effectively or is a better word choice.

Most importantly - go with your gut. Answer all the questions, and mark for review (a little red bookmark) any question you're unsure about. Do not leave a question incomplete, give it your best guess and come back later.

This ensures your questions are all finished if you're a slow test taker, and gives you places to double check. When double checking, reread the question, stimulus, and answers. Find the obviously wrong answers, and the red herring again. If you believe your answer has changed, double check yourself one more time, and answer.

History (APUSH, World, Euro):

There are 55 questions in 55 minutes, they appear in sets of 3-4 for each stimulus. Only a small percentage will appear from the first 2 units. The MCQ is worth 40% of the final score.

For history MCQs with a stimulus, the impulse is to read the stimulus, then the questions. What you should be doing is reading the questions first, then the stimulus source (who made it, when, etc.) and THEN the stimulus.

This ensures you know what you're looking for and have the insight of what kind of person wrote the stimulus.

Geo:

There are 60 questions in 60 minutes, 30 to 40% of the MCQs have a stimulus, divided evenly between quantitative and qualitative sources. The MCQ is worth 50% of the final score.

Lang:

There are 45 questions in 60 minutes. The MCQ is worth 45% of the final score.

There are 5 sets with one piece being used for 11-14 questions for reading sections, and 7-9 or 4-6 questions for writing sections.

Half of the MCQ is reading (23-25 questions), the other half is writing (20-22 questions). Reading and writing assess the student's ability to work with the rhetorical situation, claims and evidence, reasoning and organization, and style.

Tips:

  • Identify the rhetorical situation.
  • Read the lines directly before and after, and look for tone shifts when reading.
  • TRUST. YOUR. GUT.
  • If you have to make many different assumptions about the author - it's not the correct answer!
  • Keep an eye out for "distractor" questions mentioning the wrong section, being too literal, partially true, or off topic as well as not being specific enough.