AP U.S. History Practice Test 2026 — Free AP U.S. History Exam Prep Questions
High school students take AP U.S. History to earn college credit or placement for an introductory U.S. history survey. Our practice reproduces the exam's stimulus-based multiple-choice section: each question starts from a short primary source or data set, spans the nine historical periods from 1491 to the present, and tests causation, comparison, continuity and change, and sourcing. The short-answer questions, the document-based question and the long essay are scored by AP readers and are not included in our tests.
AP U.S. History format, scoring & key facts
Fully digital in the College Board Bluebook app, taken at school on the scheduled exam day; responses submit automatically. No calculator.
| Multiple choice | 55 questions in 55 minutes (40% of the score), in source-based sets with 4 options each |
|---|---|
| Short answer | 3 required questions in 40 minutes (20%): secondary text, primary text and a non-text source |
| Document-based question | 1 question, 60 minutes including a 15-minute reading period (25%), 7 documents |
| Long essay | 1 required question in 40 minutes (15%); the choice of prompts was removed from May 2027 |
| Total time | 3 hours 15 minutes |
| Delivery | Fully digital in the Bluebook app; essays are typed |
| Course framework | 9 historical periods from 1491 to the present; Course and Exam Description effective fall 2026 |
| Fee | $99 in the U.S. ($129 outside the U.S.) |
| 2027 exam date | Friday, May 7, 2027 |
Facts last verified Oct 17, 2026. Source: apstudents.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-united-states-history/assessment. Always confirm details with College Board before your exam.
When can you take the AP U.S. History?
Given once a year: the 2027 exam is Friday, May 7, 2027 (morning session). Late-testing dates may be available through your AP coordinator.
What the AP U.S. History covers
Every PrepBanq AP U.S. History test mirrors the official domain weights.
Domain distribution
% of the exam| Content domain | Weight | ≈ Questions on exam | Our practice questions |
|---|---|---|---|
Period 1: 1491-1607Official weighting 4–6%: Native American societies, European exploration, the Columbian Exchange and the Spanish colonial system. | 5% | ~3 | 7 questions → |
Period 2: 1607-1754Official weighting 6–8%: European colonization, the British colonial regions, transatlantic trade, slavery and colonial society. | 6% | ~4 | 10 questions → |
Period 3: 1754-1800Official weighting 10–17%: the Seven Years' War, the American Revolution, the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution and the new republic. | 14% | ~8 | 21 questions → |
Period 4: 1800-1848Official weighting 10–17%: political parties, the Market Revolution, Jacksonian democracy, the Second Great Awakening and reform. | 14% | ~8 | 21 questions → |
Period 5: 1844-1877Official weighting 10–17%: Manifest Destiny, sectional conflict, the Civil War and Reconstruction. | 14% | ~8 | 21 questions → |
Period 6: 1865-1898Official weighting 10–17%: westward expansion, the New South, industrial capitalism, labor, immigration and Gilded Age politics. | 14% | ~8 | 21 questions → |
Period 7: 1890-1945Official weighting 10–17%: imperialism, the Progressives, World War I, the 1920s, the Great Depression and New Deal, and World War II. | 14% | ~8 | 21 questions → |
Period 8: 1945-1980Official weighting 10–17%: the Cold War, postwar economy and culture, the civil rights movements, Vietnam and the Great Society. | 14% | ~8 | 21 questions → |
Period 9: 1980-PresentOfficial weighting 4–6%: Reagan and conservatism, the end of the Cold War, a changing economy, migration and 21st-century challenges. | 5% | ~3 | 7 questions → |
How to register for the AP U.S. History
Eligibility
No prerequisites. You register through your school's AP coordinator; the ordering deadline for 2027 exams is November 13, 2026 (a $40 late fee applies after that).
Retake policy
The exam is given once a year in May; you may repeat it in a later year. Both scores are reported unless you ask for one to be withheld or canceled.
Score release
Scores are released online in July (2026 scores were available from July 6, 2026).
Credential renewal
AP scores do not expire. Once your last AP Exam is more than four years old, scores are archived and sent by paper request.
Your path to passing the AP U.S. History
Diagnostic
Free test across every content areaTargeted practice
Drill your weakest areas firstReview
Every option explainedFull simulation
Real format and timingReady
Book your exam with confidenceAP U.S. History practice tests
All AP U.S. History tests →The full AP U.S. History question bank is on its way
All AP U.S. History practice tests here are free right now. Leave your email and we'll tell you when the complete question bank, full-length simulations and readiness tracking launch.
AP U.S. History FAQ
How many questions are on the AP U.S. History?
The AP U.S. History has 60 questions and you have 3 hours 15 minutes to finish. Question types: Section I: 55 multiple-choice questions (4 options) in sets of usually 3–4 built on primary and secondary texts, images, charts and maps, plus 3 required short-answer questions. Section II: one document-based question (7 documents) and one required long essay question..
How long is the AP U.S. History exam?
Testing time for the AP U.S. History is 3 hours 15 minutes.
What is the passing score for the AP U.S. History?
AP U.S. History passing standard: No pass/fail: scored 1–5. Many colleges grant credit or placement for a 3 or higher (policies vary). Score range: 1–5.
How much does the AP U.S. History cost?
The AP U.S. History registration fee is $99 per exam in the U.S., U.S. territories, Canada and DoWEA schools; $129 elsewhere. Students with significant financial need get a $37 College Board fee reduction. Schools may charge more.. Check the official site for current fees before you register.
What is on the AP U.S. History?
The AP U.S. History covers Period 1: 1491-1607 (about 5%), Period 2: 1607-1754 (about 6%), Period 3: 1754-1800 (about 14%), Period 4: 1800-1848 (about 14%), Period 5: 1844-1877 (about 14%), Period 6: 1865-1898 (about 14%), Period 7: 1890-1945 (about 14%), Period 8: 1945-1980 (about 14%), Period 9: 1980-Present (about 5%).
Who administers the AP U.S. History?
The AP United States History Exam is administered by College Board. Delivery: Fully digital in the College Board Bluebook app, taken at school on the scheduled exam day; responses submit automatically. No calculator..
Can you retake the AP U.S. History?
The exam is given once a year in May; you may repeat it in a later year. Both scores are reported unless you ask for one to be withheld or canceled.
Is there a free AP U.S. History practice test?
Yes. PrepBanq has 15 free AP U.S. History practice tests with 150 exam-style questions in the real AP U.S. History formats, and every answer is explained. No credit card is needed.
AP U.S. History practice test reviews
No reviews yet. Took a free AP U.S. History practice test? Tell other test-takers how it went.
Related college admissions & placement exams
Your AP U.S. History prep starts with one free test.
Instant score report · no credit card.