Who should use this 1-month APUSH study plan?
This last-minute APUSH study schedule is designed for students who:
- Have about 4 weeks left before the APUSH exam.
- Can study around 1.5–2 hours per day on weekdays and a bit more on weekends.
- Already know some U.S. history but haven’t done consistent AP-style practice.
- Want to move up into the passing range or push toward a 4–5 if possible.
If you have more time than a month, use the 3-month APUSH study plan instead, then come back to this crash plan for your final month.
Step 1: Get a baseline score before you cram
Before starting any last-minute plan, you need to know where you are right now. That’s the only way to tell if the 1-month cram is actually working.
- Take a full or half-length APUSH practice test under timed conditions (MCQ + free response).
- Score the exam:
- Use teachers’ keys or explanations for MCQ & SAQ.
- Grade DBQ with the APUSH DBQ rubric.
- Grade LEQ with the APUSH LEQ rubric.
- Enter your section scores into the APUSH Score Calculator to see your predicted AP score (1–5).
- Write down:
- Your predicted score (1–5).
- Which section is weakest (MCQ, SAQ, DBQ, or LEQ).
Why this matters:
A 1-month APUSH study plan must be targeted. If MCQ is already strong but your DBQ is weak, your time is better spent on writing practice, not another 200 flashcards.
What this 1-month APUSH cram plan covers
Content priorities
We use a simplified, high-yield version of an APUSH Unit 1–9 study guide so you don’t get lost in low-value details.
Timed practice
Weekly practice tests plus exam pacing from APUSH time management strategies .
How to use this plan based on your starting score
Use your baseline score from the calculator to tweak how aggressive you need to be.
If your predicted score is 1–2
- Focus heavily on content gaps using the unit-wise guide.
- Do smaller, more frequent MCQ sets (10–15 questions at a time).
- Do at least 1 DBQ or LEQ per week using rubrics to build structure fast.
If your predicted score is around 3
- Follow the plan almost exactly as written.
- Prioritize SAQ + DBQ practice since they often push students into the 4 range.
- Use APUSH tips for getting a 5 for extra strategy ideas.
If your predicted score is already 4
- Use this plan mainly as a structure for more full-length practice tests.
- Do extra DBQ and LEQ practice with DBQ tips and LEQ tips.
- Focus on eliminating silly mistakes using common mistakes to avoid .
4-week APUSH cram plan – week by week
WEEK 1 • Baseline, Units Overview & Core Themes
Focus: Get organized, understand scoring, and review high-yield units.
- Re-read APUSH scoring explained so you know how MCQ, SAQ, DBQ, and LEQ are weighted.
- Use the unit-wise study guide to review big themes in Units 3–5 (Revolution, Constitution, Early Republic).
- Do 2–3 short SAQ sets (one each on different periods) and 1 small MCQ set (15–20 questions).
- End of week: plug scores into the APUSH Score Calculator and note any quick improvements from baseline.
WEEK 2 • MCQ Practice & SAQ Consistency
Focus: Build speed and accuracy on MCQ, and make SAQs automatic.
- Do MCQ sets of 10–15 questions, 4–5 times during the week (mix different units).
- Write at least 3 full SAQs across the week (all parts A/B/C), using real prompts when possible.
- Review every wrong MCQ: was it content, reading, or timing?
- At the end of the week, do a half-length Section I (MCQ + SAQ) under timed conditions.
- Enter your new scores into the APUSH Score Calculator and see if your MCQ/SAQ band has moved.
WEEK 3 • DBQ & LEQ Writing Focus
Focus: Rubric-based writing and timed essays.
- Study the APUSH DBQ rubric and APUSH LEQ rubric.
- Write 1 full DBQ and 1–2 LEQs this week using released-style prompts.
- Self-score using the rubrics, focusing on thesis, context, and evidence points first.
- Do 1–2 small MCQ or SAQ sets midweek to keep those skills fresh.
- Update the calculator with your best estimated DBQ/LEQ scores to see how much essays move your overall prediction.
WEEK 4 • Final Review, Weak Spots & Exam Simulation
Focus: Plugging knowledge gaps, essay confidence, and realistic pacing
- Early Week (Mon–Wed):
- Revisit your weakest units using the unit-wise study guide .
- Do 1–2 SAQ prompts every day.
- Do small MCQ sets on your weakest topics (10–15 questions).
- Mid-Week Writing Focus (Thu–Fri):
- Final Weekend (2–3 days before the real exam):
- One last full or near-full practice exam using recommended APUSH resources & practice tests .
- Enter scores into the APUSH Score Calculator and note your final predicted score.
- Last 1–2 days: light review only — flash through major themes and your own mistake patterns, using common APUSH mistakes to avoid .
Final checklist for your last-minute APUSH cram
- Use this page as your 1-month APUSH study schedule.
- Use the Unit 1–9 study guide to keep content focused.
- Use time management strategies to avoid running out of time on exam day.
- Use resources & practice tests to pick good materials.
- Use the APUSH Score Calculator once per week to see if the cram plan is paying off.
About this 1-month APUSH cram plan
This last-minute APUSH study schedule is part of the Study Plans & Strategies silo on APUSH Score Calculator. It’s designed so that every week of cram time can be measured using your predicted score in the calculator — instead of guessing.
Last updated: February 2025 • Have feedback or a variation of this schedule that worked for you? Share it with us through the Contact Us page.