Online seminars in spring and fall. DBQ focus: DBQ course.
Formats
6 to 8 student seminars with homework, 32 weeks, no spring break, ending before the AP exam; also 1-on-1, online or in person.
How to start
Start with a placement assessment. We use it to set the level and class, then confirm the year plan with the family. For schedules, tuition, and bundle offers, request the 2026-27 program guide through the form below.
Want to talk to a course advisor now?
Contact a course advisorHow the exam is built
Sections drawn to their share of the score; the wider the block, the more practice it deserves.
| Section | Questions | Time | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice (sets of 3–4 on a source) | 55 | 55 min | 40% |
| Short answer | 3 | 40 min | 20% |
| Document-based question (7 documents; includes 15-min reading) | 1 | 60 min | 25% |
| Long essay | 1 | 40 min | 15% |
Units and exam weighting
Each ruler segment equals the unit’s midpoint exam weight. The yellow unit carries the most points and gets the most class time.
- 1Period 1: 1491–16074–6%
- 2Period 2: 1607–17546–8%
- 3Period 3: 1754–180010–17%
- 4Period 4: 1800–184810–17%
- 5Period 5: 1844–187710–17%
- 6Period 6: 1865–189810–17%
- 7Period 7: 1890–194510–17%
- 8Period 8: 1945–198010–17%
- 9Period 9: 1980–Present4–6%
Global score distribution 2026
Out of every 100 test takers.
At Irvine public high schools
Whether each school offers it, which grades can enroll, the gate, and last year’s results. Updates with the school guides.
Portola High School
University High School
Open to 10-12PrerequisitesMet all World History Honors Distinction requirements both semesters OR overall course grade 92% and writing assessment 90%; see AP social science criteria
Full school guide →Woodbridge High School
Open to 11PrerequisitesA or B in AP World History, or A in World History with teacher recommendation
Full school guide →IUSD course-selection rules
Which grade can take this AP at each school, what the prerequisites are, and how weighted GPA is calculated. Confirm with the school's current course catalog before choosing.
- Portola High School: Grade 10 has a single AP option, AP Human Geography, which the school calls the "grade 10 choice." The large majority of AP courses are for grades 11 and 12. AP Precalculus, AP Statistics, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Computer Science A open from grade 10 subject to math prerequisites. Restricted to grade 12 are AP Physics C, AP English Language, AP United States Government together with Honors Political Economy, AP 3-D Design, and Honors Engineering Design and Development. Grade 9 students may not sit an AP exam at the school unless they have taken the course or the Irvine Unified School District GATE office approves it on the basis of existing preparation.
- University High School: No AP courses are offered in grade 9. From grade 10, students may take AP Precalculus, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Statistics, and AP Cybersecurity. AP United States History is offered in grade 10 on the condition that the student earned Honors Distinction in both semesters of World History. Most AP courses are concentrated in grades 11 and 12.
- Woodbridge High School: Grade 9 may take one AP course, AP Human Geography, the only AP course open to grade 9 at any of the five comprehensive high schools in the Irvine Unified School District. Grade 10 may take AP World History, AP English Language, AP Precalculus, and AP Computer Science Principles. From grade 11, AP United States History, AP Physics 1, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Calculus AB and BC, and AP Statistics open. AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, AP United States Government, and AP Macroeconomics are taken in grade 12.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grade should Irvine students take AP US History?
Grades 9 through 12, with most students taking it in grade 10 or 11. Reading and writing demands are high, so the practical prerequisite is being able to write a complete essay with a thesis and supporting evidence independently.
What are the DBQ and the LEQ?
The Document-Based Question gives 7 sources, includes 15 minutes of reading time, runs 60 minutes, and is worth 25 percent. The Long Essay Question runs 40 minutes and is worth 15 percent. Together the two essays make up 40 percent of the exam.
How are the four sections weighted?
The exam runs 3 hours 15 minutes. Multiple choice is 55 questions at 40 percent, short answer is 3 questions at 20 percent, the DBQ is 25 percent, and the LEQ is 15 percent. Multiple choice groups 3 to 4 questions around one source, testing analysis rather than date recall.
Is memorizing a timeline enough for Irvine students?
It is necessary but not sufficient. The exam draws on nine periods, with periods 3 through 8 each carrying 10 to 17 percent. Credit depends on using sources to argue causation and comparison, so the course teaches periods and argument structure together.
What if writing is the weak point?
Add focused essay work rather than waiting for the history course to fix it. The DBQ course handles grouping documents, analyzing point of view, and organizing a thesis; younger students can build the base through middle school history and academic writing.
How do Irvine public high school students score?
In 2026, 74 percent scored 3 or higher but only 14 percent scored 5. School-by-school rates at Irvine public high schools appear above. Passing is common; a 5 is not, because the DBQ and LEQ rubrics award separate points for thesis, evidence, document use, and historical context, and a top essay must earn all of them.
