<p>What should I emphasize my study on? I have the Barrons AP World History book, and it has 7 units, each one focusing on a different time period and/or region or area of the world. I have heard before that the test focuses mainly on a few subjects, with the rest of the information scattered throughout the test. If I am not mistaken, I believe it is Chinese history. I am not sure, but it is said that the test is this way. Also, if you have any tips for studying for the test, they are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>World War I, World War II, Ottoman Empire</p>
<p>College Board really does test “world” history, so you are expected to know all regions of the world and how humans have interacted historically. There are quite a few questions about cross-regional, global interaction: how Europe affected the Americas, how ideas travelled the world, how two or more regions are similar. CB tests events from 1450 to 1990, more or less. You only need to know the “important stuff” from before that, although there are quite a few questions on the Chinese empire, Ottomans, and Romans. </p>
<p>Phenomena include agriculture/feudalism to industrialization/nationalism, revolution and independence, and ideologies (especially socialism and Enlightment thought). Subjects include trade, legacies of civilizations (wheels were invented by _____), and the World Wars. Expect tons of cause & effect questions (why did A invade B?) and “all EXCEPT” abuse. It would help tremendously to know general accomplishments and trademarks of each civilization. Know how they generally lived (nomads? specialized labor?), if they invented, discovered or pioneered anything notable (one question I remember asked which civilizations knew the concept of zero), and how they compare to other similar or nearby civilizations. Know generally who conquered who and any notable war tactics (guerrilla in Vietnam, iron weapons for Hittites, chariots for Aryans). Dates are barely asked for, but you should know chronology (Etruscans > Romans > Germanic barbarians). I was surprised by just how unimportant dates were; don’t waste your time on them. Your dates need to be a bit more specific for more recent events though (World Wars, decolonization).</p>
<p>As far as Africa and Latin America: they throw a fair share of those in, but the questions are no-frills and emphasize what’s important. Use common sense and know the general timeline for each region. For example, Africa is basically: Bantu migration, Egypt/Nubia, Saharan trade, spread of Islam & Christianity, slavery, colonization and independence. You don’t have to sweat about specific people or details if you just cover the basics. Know where L’Ouverture is from, what the Mexican Revolution was fought over, and how Nelson Mandela and apartheid relate. That’s as deep as it generally gets for those two regions.</p>
<p>Overall, the test focuses on what the prep books emphasize. Follow them and you should be fine (I found Kaplan really useful). The test is pretty standard in its scope and focus.</p>
<p>From what I’ve heard from other students who have taken this exam… 30% of it is on native americans…</p>
<p>0.o</p>
<p>They often put questions about the Mayan/Toltec/Olmec/other native American civilizations you’ve never heard about and only around 20% of the takers get those right. I’m guessing it’s just to decrease the median</p>
<p>ahh ok. that’s sort of cruel…
and also, how specific does the exam go? I just read hormones post and i’m glad you don’t need to know dates for the most part lol but how about minor names and stuff like that? and are the questions like the ones found on the world history ap exam?</p>
<p>The SAT exam is almost identical to the AP World History exam, but slightly more fact-based. The AP test looks more at big picture and contains more broad, “deep” questions about cause & effect (a.k.a. questions you can BS) while the SAT asks more straightforward fact questions. Yes, you may get stumped on a few Native American questions but honestly, unless you’re the type who doesn’t give a flip about those places then you can get most of the questions right. Know about their polytheism and the Olmec heads with African features, for example. I personally remembered the Olmec head thing because to me, that’s interesting. Maybe Africans reached the Americas thousands of years ago? See… that’s what I mean when I say that anyone with some interest and knowledge in those civilizations will be fine for the test. You can miss about 15 questions to get an 800… The only Amerindian civilizations they test are Olmec, Inca, Maya and Aztec. There was nothing on North Amerindians for my test. It is sooo not 30% NA questions. More like 10%. Like I said earlier: know general traits of each civilization. The Incans did have a writing system, for example. Many Mesoamericans practiced sacrificial killing and bloodletting. Stuff like that.</p>
<p>dude thank you talk about an informative post haha. Yeah I “bsed” a lot of questions on the world history ap test, i guess this means more memorization for me then when i study</p>