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Wave 2 · October

AP World History: Modern

From the Mongol Empire to the present. Nine units spanning c. 1200 CE to today, built around the evidence and argument skills that define the AP history exams.

  • 9 Units
  • 9 Forge Fragments
  • 64.3% Pass Rate
  • DBQ + LEQ
  • 412,964 Students in 2025
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2025 Exam Overview

Section I 55 MCQ + 3 SAQMultiple choice · 55 min · Short answer · 40 min
Section II 1 DBQ + 1 LEQDocument-based · 60 min · Long essay · 40 min
Total Time 3 hours 15 minPlus 15-min reading period for DBQ
Score Weighting 40% MCQ · 60% FRQEssays carry the majority of your score
2025 Score Distribution — 412,964 students

Pass rate (3+): 64.3%

What you study

9 Units. 9 Forge Fragments.

Unit 1

The Global Tapestry

8–10% of exam · c. 1200–1450
Unit 2

Networks of Exchange

8–10% of exam · c. 1200–1450
Unit 3

Land-Based Empires

12–15% of exam · c. 1450–1750
Unit 4

Transoceanic Interconnections

12–15% of exam · c. 1450–1750
Unit 5

Revolutions

12–15% of exam · c. 1750–1900
Unit 6

Consequences of Industrialization

12–15% of exam · c. 1750–1900
Unit 7

Global Conflict

8–10% of exam · c. 1900–Present
Unit 8

Cold War and Decolonization

8–10% of exam · c. 1900–Present
Unit 9

Globalization

8–10% of exam · c. 1900–Present

Free-response

The writing half, practised properly.

DBQ

Document-Based Question

Analyze 7 primary source documents and construct an argument using evidence from the sources. Thesis, contextualization, evidence, and reasoning are all scored separately.

LEQ

Long Essay Question

Choose one of three prompts spanning the full course timeline. Construct a historically defensible thesis supported by specific evidence. No documents provided.

SAQ

Short Answer Questions

Three required SAQs using secondary sources, images, or maps. Part A, B, and C responses, typically 3–5 sentences each. No thesis required.

Historical Thinking

Reasoning Skills

Comparison, Causation, and Continuity and Change Over Time (CCOT) are the three reasoning skills tested across all FRQ types. Specto coaches each skill separately.

Notable distribution: APWH shows a clear bimodal pattern in 2025: a large 4 cohort (33.4%) and a significant 2 cohort (26.5%), with a comparatively small 3 cohort (17%). This gap between strong performers and students who fall just short of passing is one of the largest in the AP catalog. Spectropa targets the 2-cohort directly.

AP World History: Modern example spectrum: 3 of 9 units sharpened, 3 sharpening, 3 dulled.

Your credential

Your APWH Forge Plate

Forge all 9 unit Fragments, then pass the Final Gauntlet to earn your APWH Seal and light your Forge Plate in full.

Spectropa never claims to predict your AP score. Your credential reflects your demonstrated preparation within the Spectropa platform.

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