APUSH Study Plan • 12 Weeks

3-Month APUSH Study Plan (12-Week Schedule)

Only a few months left until the AP U.S. History exam? This 3-month APUSH study plan shows you exactly what to do each week—content review, practice questions, DBQs, LEQs, and how to track your progress with the APUSH score calculator.

Start with the Score Calculator Jump to Weekly Breakdown

Flexible for school-year or last-minute prep • Adjust the pace up or down based on your schedule and goals

Who Is This 3-Month Plan For?

This 12-week APUSH study schedule is designed for students who:

If you have more time, you can slow this plan down. If you have less, you can compress weeks together and focus on the highest-impact items (MCQs, SAQs, and at least one DBQ + LEQ per month).

How to Use This Plan with the APUSH Score Calculator

A study plan is powerful when you can see your progress. That’s where the APUSH score calculator comes in.

  1. Baseline (Week 1) – Take a short diagnostic (MCQs + 1 writing task). Enter your scores into the calculator to see your starting predicted AP score.
  2. Check-ins (Weeks 4, 8, 11) – After each mini or full practice exam, plug in your new MCQ, SAQ, DBQ, and LEQ scores.
  3. Adjust focus – If your DBQ/LEQ scores are low, spend more time on the DBQ rubric and LEQ rubric. If MCQ is weak, add more timed practice sets.
  4. Final prediction (Week 12) – Use your last practice test to estimate your likely exam range via the calculator.

Seeing your estimated score move from a 2 → 3 → 4–5 over the weeks is a huge motivation boost and helps you know where to focus next.

12-Week APUSH Study Plan – Week by Week

The plan is divided into three phases:

Weeks 1–2: Baseline & Early Units

Goal: Understand where you are now and start patching the biggest content gaps in early APUSH units.

  • Take a short diagnostic:
    • 25–30 MCQs from various units
    • 1 SAQ set
    • Optional: half-length DBQ or LEQ
  • Enter results in the APUSH score calculator to see your starting estimate.
  • Review Units 1–2 (or whatever your weakest early units are):
    • Read or re-read your class notes / textbook
    • Create 1–2 pages of summary notes per unit
    • Do 10–15 MCQs at the end of each unit or from review books
  • Writing: practice 3–4 thesis statements for old prompts. Use the DBQ and LEQ rubrics to self-check.

Weeks 3–4: Mid-Units & Stronger Writing Basics

Goal: Cover key mid-course units and get comfortable with basic essay structure.

  • Content focus (usually Units 3–4 or 3–5 depending on your textbook):
    • Summarize causes and effects of major wars or shifts (e.g., Revolution, Constitution)
    • Create simple timelines and cause/effect charts
    • Do another 20–30 MCQs across these units
  • Writing:
    • Write one full LEQ using the LEQ rubric
    • Write one DBQ introduction + 1 body paragraph (not full essay yet)
    • Practice contextualization paragraphs for 2–3 different prompts
  • Mini check-in: estimate your LEQ and partial DBQ score out of 6/7 and see how that would affect your composite in the calculator.

Weeks 5–6: Later Units & First Full DBQ

Goal: Move into later APUSH units and write your first full timed DBQ.

  • Content focus (typically Units 5–7, depending on your progress):
    • Reconstruction, Gilded Age, Progressive Era, Imperialism
    • Summarize: 1 page per major era with key events/terms
    • Do 30–40 MCQs (split into 2–3 short timed sets)
  • Writing:
    • Write one full DBQ under timed conditions (about 60 minutes)
    • Score it with the DBQ rubric
    • Write one more LEQ, focusing on organization and clear topic sentences
  • Check-in:
    • Estimate your DBQ out of 7 and LEQ out of 6
    • Update MCQ/SAQ estimates
    • Enter into the calculator to see progress vs Week 1

Weeks 7–8: Final Units & Mixed Practice

Goal: Cover the final units and start doing more mixed, exam-like practice.

  • Content focus (later units: 8–9 or modern era):
    • Cold War, Civil Rights, modern America
    • Create quick-reference sheets (“cheat sheets” for yourself) of key themes and turning points
    • Do at least 2 sets of 20 MCQs that mix older and newer units
  • Writing:
    • Write one full LEQ (timed, ~40 minutes)
    • Write at least two DBQ body paragraphs focused on document use + sourcing
    • Practice adding complexity (nuance, multiple perspectives) into at least one essay
  • Mini “section test”:
    • 40–45 MCQs (mixed units)
    • 2 SAQ sets
    • Enter results into the calculator to see which section still limits your score the most.

Weeks 9–10: First Full Practice Test & Targeted Review

Goal: Simulate the exam, then attack your weakest areas.

  • Take a full practice APUSH exam (or as close as possible):
    • MCQ section (time yourself accurately)
    • SAQs (3 questions)
    • 1 DBQ
    • 1 LEQ
  • Carefully score:
  • Make a “weakness list”:
    • Content: which units caused the most MCQ mistakes?
    • Skills: thesis? evidence? time management?
    • Section: MCQ, SAQ, DBQ, or LEQ lowest vs others?
  • Spend the rest of Week 10 doing targeted review only on items from your weakness list.

Weeks 11–12: Final Polishing & Exam Readiness

Goal: Improve speed, confidence, and consistency so your exam score matches your best practice performance.

  • Do 2–3 shorter “mixed practice” sessions:
    • 15–20 MCQs (timed) + 1 SAQ set
    • Alternate with 1 DBQ intro + 1 LEQ body paragraph practice
  • Write at least:
    • One more full DBQ (timed)
    • One more full LEQ (timed)
  • Skim all your summary notes and quick-reference sheets:
    • Focus on big themes: democracy, reform, economics, race, foreign policy
    • Practice connecting units across time
  • Final calculator run:
    • Use your latest practice test or a blend of your recent performance
    • Check the predicted AP score range
    • Use that to set realistic expectations and reduce test-day anxiety

Sample Weekly Schedule (If You Study 5 Days/Week)

Here’s a simple template you can apply to any week of this plan. Adjust time blocks based on your schedule.

Days 1–2: Content & Notes

  • 30–40 minutes: reading textbook/class notes for that week’s units
  • 20–30 minutes: creating summary notes or charts
  • 10–15 minutes: quick self-quiz (flashcards or written recall)

Day 3: Practice Questions

  • 25–30 MCQs (timed)
  • 1 SAQ set
  • 10–15 minutes: review wrong answers and add to notes

Day 4: Writing Focus

  • Rotate between DBQ and LEQ each week
  • Practice intros, body paragraphs, or full essays depending on the week
  • Use DBQ rubric / LEQ rubric to self-grade

Day 5: Review & Calculator

  • Quick review of the week’s notes
  • Small set of mixed MCQs or 1 SAQ
  • Update your approximate scores in the APUSH calculator once every 1–2 weeks

3-Month APUSH Study Plan – Common Questions

Can I still follow this plan if I have less than 3 months? ⌄

Yes. Combine weeks (for example, 1–2 together, 3–4 together) and prioritize high-impact tasks: MCQs, SAQs, and at least one practice DBQ + LEQ each month. Use the calculator to track progress even with a compressed schedule.

What if I’m already done with some units in class? ⌄

That’s fine—treat this plan as a template. Swap out units you already know well for ones you are weaker in. The most important part is the mix of content review + practice questions + writing + score tracking, not the exact week-to-unit mapping.

How do I know if I’m on track for my target APUSH score? ⌄

Use your practice test scores. After each mini or full exam, enter MCQ, SAQ, DBQ, and LEQ scores into the APUSH score calculator. If your predicted score is consistently at or above your target (for example, 3, 4, or 5), you’re on track. If not, identify the weakest section and shift extra study time there.

Study Plan Disclaimer

This 3-month APUSH study plan is a general guide, not a one-size-fits-all requirement. Your school’s pacing, your prior knowledge, and your schedule may be different.

Adjust the number of weekly hours and specific units as needed. Use your practice results, teacher feedback, and the APUSH score calculator to customize this plan for your own strengths and weaknesses.

RC

About the Author

This APUSH 3-month study plan and score calculator are created and maintained by Rohit Chauhan, focused on making AP U.S. History prep clear, structured, and less stressful for students.

Last updated: February 2025 • Have suggestions or corrections? Visit our Contact Us page.