Who is this APUSH “5” guide for?
These APUSH tips are meant for students who already have a basic handle on the course:
- You’ve taken at least one full practice test.
- Your predicted score on the APUSH Score Calculator is usually around a 3 or 4.
- You want to push into the 5 range by exam day.
If you’re still below a 3, start with content review and the 3-month APUSH study plan first, then come back to this page once your practice scores rise.
Step 1: Set realistic target scores for a 5
Every exam year has a slightly different curve, but most APUSH 5-scorers land in the 80–100 composite range on our calculator. That usually looks like:
Minimum goals for a 5
- MCQ: 40–45 correct out of 55
- SAQ: 7+ points out of 9
- DBQ: 5–6 points out of 7
- LEQ: 4–5 points out of 6
How to use the calculator
- Take a full practice test under timed conditions.
- Score each section using rubrics:
- Enter numbers into the APUSH Score Calculator.
- Adjust section goals until your predicted score is consistently 5.
Step 2: Section-by-section strategy to move from 3/4 → 5
MCQ – build fast pattern recognition
MCQs are 40% of your score. To get a 5, you want most practice tests to show 40+ correct out of 55. Focus on:
- Doing question sets in 15-question chunks and reviewing every miss.
- Labeling each mistake: content gap, rushed reading, wrong elimination, or misreading the stimulus.
- Re-doing the same set 3–4 days later until you can score 85–90%+.
SAQ – secure easy points
SAQs are where 5-scorers rarely throw away points. Aim for 7–9/9 by:
- Practicing 2–3 SAQ prompts at a time, timed to 12–15 minutes.
- Using a simple structure: answer → because → example for each sub-part.
- Checking scoring using the guidance on the APUSH scoring explained page.
DBQ – your biggest score booster
Many 4-level students sit around 3–4 points on the DBQ. A 5-level student pushes that to 5–6+. Use the DBQ rubric breakdown and focus on:
- Memorising a thesis template you can adapt in 2–3 sentences.
- Practicing document grouping: 2–3 groups that support your argument.
- Adding sourcing (POV, purpose, historical situation, audience) for at least 3 documents.
- Leaving 5 minutes at the end to add a complexity point if possible.
LEQ – don’t let it be your weak link
LEQs feel intimidating, but even moving from 2 → 4 points can raise your predicted score a lot. Use the LEQ rubric and:
- Practice one LEQ outline every few days (thesis + topic sentences + 2–3 pieces of evidence per body).
- Alternate between causation, comparison, and CCOT prompts.
- Write full essays once per week under 40-minute timed conditions and self-score them.
Step 3: 4-week “push to a 5” plan
This mini-plan assumes you already follow a broader schedule like the 3-month APUSH study plan. Here we’re adding a final 4-week push focused on score gain.
Weeks 1–2
- 2× MCQ sets of 25 questions (review every miss).
- 2× SAQ sessions (3 prompts each).
- 1× full DBQ (timed & scored with rubric).
- 1× LEQ outline + 1× full LEQ essay.
- Use the calculator after each full practice to log your composite.
Weeks 3–4
- 1× full practice exam each week.
- Grade using rubrics, then enter numbers into the calculator.
- Identify your lowest-weighted section and give it extra time next week.
- Review at least 2–3 high-quality DBQ or LEQ samples from teachers or AP sites.
- Two days before the exam: light review only, plus one last quick run with the calculator.
Common mistakes that keep students stuck at a 3–4
- Doing lots of questions but never reviewing why each wrong answer was wrong.
- Ignoring the DBQ/LEQ rubrics and just “writing an essay.”
- Only taking partial practice tests and never timing a full exam.
- Guessing their progress instead of checking with a tool like the APUSH Score Calculator.
If you avoid these and follow a structured plan, moving into the 5 range is very realistic.
Next steps
- Take a timed practice test and score it using the scoring explained, DBQ and LEQ pages.
- Enter your numbers into the APUSH Score Calculator.
- Use the 4-week plan on this page plus the 3-month study plan to raise your composite into the 80+ range.
About this APUSH 5 guide
This page is part of the APUSH Tips & Guides series on APUSH Score Calculator. All strategies are designed to work directly with the calculator and rubric pages so you always know how your study time changes your predicted score.
Last updated: February 2025 • Have a question or correction? Contact us via the Contact Us page.