Important Updates
2017 Chief Reader Report Module
The Chief Reader for the 2017 AP European History exam provides a brief walkthrough of the highlights of their Chief Reader Report. In this presentation, Paul Deslandes of the University of Vermont gives bite-sized overviews of each free-response question—how students performed, teaching tips for areas where students struggled, and a deeper understanding of the questions and results.
Updated Example Textbook List
An updated example textbook list is available on the Course Audit section of the AP European History page. This resource was reviewed by Learning List, an independent instructional materials review service for schools and districts. Learning List's detailed alignment reports and editorial reviews will help you use these materials more effectively.
Course Overview
AP European History is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester introductory college or university European history course. In AP European History students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in four historical periods from approximately 1450 to the present. Students develop and use the same skills, practices, and methods employed by historians: analyzing historical evidence; contextualization; comparison; causation; change and continuity over time; and argument development. The course also provides six themes that students explore throughout the course in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places: interaction of Europe and the world; poverty and prosperity; objective knowledge and subjective visions; states and other institutions of power; individual and society; and national and European identity.
School and district administrators: Considering AP European History for your school or district? Download the course framework (.pdf/2.04MB), for an overview of the course and exam. You can also download a practice exam (.pdf/1.61MB).
Essential Course Resources
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AP History Disciplinary Practices and Reasoning Skills
See the disciplinary practices and reasoning skills that students need to develop in AP history courses. -
Course Overview Modules for AP European History
Take a guided tour of AP European History with a series of video presentations that provide a detailed look at the course framework, the exam, the AP Course Audit process, helpful resources, and more. -
AP European History Course Overview
The two-page Course Overview provides a succinct description of the course and exam.
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AP European History Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to commonly asked questions about the course and exam. -
Teacher's Guide
The Teacher's Guide was developed prior to the initial course changes in 2015-16, but still provides helpful tips, sample syllabi, and more.
Course Planning and Pacing Guides
Written by AP teachers, these versatile guides demonstrate a variety of ways to plan and pace the AP European History curriculum across one academic year. Each author presents a host of ideas for activities, resources, and assessments.
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AP European History Course Planning and Pacing Guide, Gallo
This course is taught in a diverse public high school that is both urban and suburban. The teacher gives special focus to developing writing and analytical skills and highlights the importance of differentiated instruction.
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AP European History Course Planning and Pacing Guide, Barry
This course is taught in a public suburban high school where the teacher includes a strong thematic component and guides students to give evidence-based responses.
College Board Store
Find AP European History publications, released exams, and more in the College Board Store.
AP and Higher Education
Higher Education professionals play a key role developing AP courses and exams, setting credit and placement policies, and scoring student work. The AP Higher Ed site features information on AP curriculum and assessment, tips on aligning AP courses to introductory college courses, ideas on using AP in recruitment and admissions, and ways for faculty and academic administrators to get involved with the AP program.
This chart shows recommended scores for granting credit, and how much credit should be awarded, for each AP course. Your students can look up credit and placement policies for colleges and universities on the AP Credit Policy search.
Meet the current Development Committee for AP European History.