Seniors, if you took an AP history course (AP World History or AP European History for example) and then took the College Board’s respective AP exam, you took a harder version of the test.

That’s right—the infamous DBQ (Document Based Question) has gotten an easier scoring rubric for the 2024-2025 school year.

The change actually was implemented during the 2023-24 exam season (but I’m in AP Euro this year, so I’m writing about this now . . .).

If you are unfamiliar with a DBQ, it is a type of essay question usually found on AP history tests which requires you to analyze source documents (the “D”) and draw a conclusion based on the documents and your historical knowledge.

Previously, the DBQ required you to use six historical documents to answer a specific question potentially based on any of the numerous historical events discussed in the class.

For example a DBQ prompt might be something like: “Evaluate the extent to which economic factors led to the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution (1910–1920).”

The supplied documents for the question could range from letters, maps, articles, newspaper stories, book excerpts, and more.

However, now the essay question has become even easier for AP history students.

Students can now earn two points for supporting an argument by utilizing only four documents compared to the six documents needed previously in the evidence section of the rubric

Wait, there’s more!

In the analysis and reasoning section of the rubric, the infamous sourcing point can now be earned by sourcing two documents instead of three.

This section is also where the infamous “complexity point” is awarded, so it makes it easier for the student to earn this point.

Beaver Area High School’s AP history teacher Mr. Schlenke states that “The exam has gotten easier with reduced expectations and requirements, and the College Board attempted to increase specificity in their language.”

The positive takeaway: hopefully these changes will ease some of the stress put on students (especially first-year AP World students) and give them the opportunity to write some banging essays.

However, is the College Board making it too easy?

And it’s not just AP history testing that’s easier: starting this year the multiple choice AP Lang questions will be easier. How? Students will choose the correct answer from among four choices instead of the traditional five.

As you probably already know, I am not affiliated with the College Board nor am I an educator, so please ask Mr. Schlenke or your history teacher if you want more information regarding these changes. Or you can visit the College Board website.

Good luck to all students taking any history AP tests this spring and stay tuned for another article on the changes to the LEQ . . .