{"id":14542,"date":"2023-04-03T09:11:05","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T09:11:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/?p=14542"},"modified":"2025-01-24T21:02:01","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T21:02:01","slug":"study-plans-for-the-ap-u-s-history-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/ap-us-history\/study-plans-for-the-ap-u-s-history-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Study Plans for the AP U.S. History Test"},"content":{"rendered":"

Studying for the AP U.S. History exam can seem daunting because of the sheer volume of material covered in a yearlong course. Whether you have taken the course over a semester or over two years, the exam measures your knowledge and skills<\/a> in exactly the same way. It is only through the thorough study over the course of the year that you will earn a high score on the AP exam. Kaplan’s AP U.S. History\u00a0guide<\/a> is an excellent addition to the class notes, reading notes, and practice essays you have accumulated throughout the year. This guide is not intended to replace your assigned readings, a textbook, or your instructor. You can, however, use this guide to assist you in studying throughout the year or closer to your exam.<\/p>\n

Some students prefer to review what they learned last in class and work their way back to the beginning of the course as they study. This is perfectly acceptable. However, other students prefer to begin their studies with the material that is most distant\u2014material learned at the beginning of the course. Again, this is a perfectly logical way to attack the material. Other students choose to skip around and study only those sections of the course with which they had difficulty. Whatever approach you decide to take, make sure it best suits your needs and helps you feel prepared and secure in your abilities in AP U.S. History. <\/span><\/p>\n

There is one method we advise against. We do not recommend cramming material into your brain in the weeks before the AP exam. Students who score well on the exam are students who have carefully studied U.S. history and have both a breadth and depth of understanding of the material<\/a> and how to think historically. Take your time. Allow yourself the opportunity to practice your material often by starting your review early. <\/span><\/p>\n

Regardless of where you will take your AP U.S. History test, everyone preparing for the AP exam has a Friday morning in early May earmarked as Test Day. You may be reading this\u00a0in September. For others, mid-April. Yet in some cases it may already be May! Whatever your situation, we have provided study calendars below that you can use to set some goals.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unit<\/td>Time Period<\/td>Main Concepts<\/td><\/tr>
1<\/td>1491-1607<\/td>Native Populations, European Expansion, African Slavery<\/td><\/tr>
2<\/td>1607-1754<\/td>Colonization, Conflict in North America, Colonial Societies<\/td><\/tr>
3<\/td>1754-1800<\/td>The American Revolution, Formation of U.S. Government, Migration <\/td><\/tr>
4<\/td>1800-1848<\/td>Defining America, Technological and Agricultural Developments, Early U.S. Foreign Policy<\/td><\/tr>
5<\/td>1844-1877<\/td>Expansionism, The Civil War, Post-War America<\/td><\/tr>
6<\/td>1865-1898<\/td>Railroads and the Rise of Big Business, Industrial Growth<\/td><\/tr>
7<\/td>1890-1945<\/td>World War I, The New Deal, World War II<\/td><\/tr>
8<\/td>1945-1980<\/td>Post-War America, The Cold War, Civil Rights<\/td><\/tr>
9<\/td>1980-Present<\/td>New Conservatism, The End of the Cold War, The 21st Century<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>