Introduction to AP World History: Modern
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AP World History: Modern is a college-level course for high school students, covering human history from 1200 CE to the present. It includes a curriculum framework with four chronological periods and nine thematic units, focusing on critical thinking and analytical skills. The AP exam assesses these skills through multiple-choice questions, short answers, a DBQ, and an LEQ, with a majority of students scoring proficiently.
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Introduction to AP World History: Modern
Advanced Placement World History: Modern, often abbreviated as AP World History or WHAP, is a rigorous college-level course offered to high school students through the College Board's Advanced Placement Program in the United States. This course aims to equip students with a profound understanding of the patterns and processes that have shaped human history from approximately 1200 CE to the present. It focuses on fostering critical thinking, analytical skills, and a nuanced comprehension of historical evidence. The curriculum was revised in 2015 to concentrate on the modern era, with the updated course beginning in the 2019–20 academic year. To address historical periods prior to 1200 CE, the College Board has introduced a new course, AP World History: Ancient.Curriculum Framework and Themes of AP World History: Modern
The AP World History: Modern curriculum is organized into four chronological periods, subdivided into nine units that provide a thematic structure for the course content. Period 1, covering circa 1200 to circa 1450, includes Units 1 and 2, which examine the Global Tapestry and Networks of Exchange. Period 2, spanning circa 1450 to circa 1750, consists of Units 3 and 4, delving into Land-Based Empires and Transoceanic Interconnections. Period 3, from circa 1750 to circa 1900, is made up of Units 5 and 6, which focus on Revolutions and the Industrialization and Its Effects. The final Period 4, extending from circa 1900 to the present, is comprised of Units 7 through 9, exploring Global Conflicts, the Cold War and Decolonization, and Contemporary Globalization. This structure facilitates a comprehensive understanding of world history through both a chronological and thematic lens, enabling students to grasp the interconnectedness of global events and trends.Assessment Structure of the AP World History: Modern Exam
The AP World History: Modern examination is structured in two sections. Section I contains 55 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 55 minutes, making up 40% of the exam score. These questions are based on the nine units but are not distributed equally. Section I, Part B, consists of three short-answer questions to be completed in 40 minutes, contributing 20% to the overall score. Section II, lasting 100 minutes, includes a Document-Based Question (DBQ) and a Long Essay Question (LEQ). The DBQ, which should take 60 minutes including a 15-minute reading period, accounts for 25% of the total score. The LEQ, to be written in 40 minutes, comprises 15% of the score. The exam's format is designed to assess students' abilities to analyze historical documents, synthesize information, and articulate well-supported arguments, similar to the AP United States History and AP European History exams.Performance Trends and Scoring for the AP World History Exam
The AP World History exam, established in 2002, has undergone several changes to improve its assessment methods, including the elimination of penalties for incorrect answers and a reduction in the number of answer choices in 2011. Historical data on grade distributions reveal that scoring a 5, the highest possible score, is quite challenging, indicative of the course's collegiate rigor. Trevor Packer, Senior Vice President of AP and Instruction at the College Board, has remarked that the lower frequency of top scores is partly due to the demanding analytical writing skills required, which are often still developing in high school sophomores. Nonetheless, the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher has consistently been above 50%, suggesting that the majority of test-takers achieve a level of proficiency or higher. The mean score and standard deviation of exam results across different cohorts provide additional insights into student performance trends over time.
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Overview of AP World History: Modern
Definition of AP World History: Modern
AP World History: Modern is a college-level course that covers human history from 1200 CE to the present and focuses on critical thinking and analytical skills
Revision of the curriculum in 2015
Introduction of AP World History: Ancient
To cover historical periods before 1200 CE, the College Board introduced a new course, AP World History: Ancient
The curriculum for AP World History: Modern was revised in 2015 to focus on the modern era
Four chronological periods and nine units
The AP World History: Modern curriculum is organized into four periods and nine units, providing a thematic structure for the course content
Curriculum Framework and Themes
Four chronological periods and nine units
The AP World History: Modern curriculum is organized into four periods and nine units, providing a thematic structure for the course content
Themes of AP World History: Modern
The course focuses on themes such as global tapestry, networks of exchange, land-based empires, transoceanic interconnections, revolutions, industrialization, global conflicts, the Cold War, decolonization, and contemporary globalization
Assessment Structure of the AP World History: Modern Exam
Two sections of the exam
The AP World History: Modern exam consists of two sections, with multiple-choice questions and short-answer questions in Section I and a document-based question and long essay question in Section II
Distribution of questions and time limits
Section I has 55 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 55 minutes, while Section II has a document-based question and a long essay question to be completed in 100 minutes
Emphasis on analytical skills and argumentation
The exam is designed to assess students' abilities to analyze historical documents, synthesize information, and articulate well-supported arguments
Performance Trends and Scoring
Changes in the AP World History exam
The AP World History exam has undergone changes, such as the elimination of penalties for incorrect answers and a reduction in the number of answer choices
Difficulty in scoring a 5
Scoring a 5 on the AP World History exam is challenging due to the course's collegiate rigor and the demanding analytical writing skills required
Consistent percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher
The majority of students taking the AP World History exam achieve a level of proficiency or higher, with over 50% earning scores of 3 or higher
Mean score and standard deviation
Historical data on grade distributions provide insights into student performance trends over time, with a mean score and standard deviation calculated for each cohort
Introduction to AP World History: Modern
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AP World History: Modern abbreviation
Abbreviated as AP World History or WHAP.
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AP World History: Modern time span
Covers human history from 1200 CE to present.
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AP World History: Ancient introduction
New course for events before 1200 CE, introduced alongside the modern era curriculum revision.
