AP free-response
AP free-response guides
By the CollegePrepRoom editorial team · Updated · How we write and check these pages
Free-response questions make up a large share of each AP exam, and each one is scored against a rubric that rewards specific moves: a defensible thesis, evidence that supports a line of reasoning, commentary that explains the evidence, and in the history courses, contextualization and sourcing. These guides explain each task one at a time: what the rubric asks for, a step-by-step method you can follow under time, the mistakes that most often cost points, and original example sentences at different levels.
All guides are free to read. They are written by our editorial team in our own words. Where a detail of the official scoring is uncertain or changes from year to year, we say so and point you to the current official materials. New to AP exams? Start with our guide to the AP exams.
AP English Language
AP English Literature
AP US History
AP World History
AP US Government
Concept application
Scored out of 3 points · rubric, method and examplesQuantitative analysis
Scored out of 4 points · rubric, method and examplesSCOTUS comparison
Scored out of 4 points · rubric, method and examplesArgument essay
Scored out of 6 points · rubric, method and examplesScore calculator
Estimate a 1–5 score from your section resultsAP free-response: frequently asked questions
How are AP free-response questions scored?
Trained readers score each response against a published rubric. Most current AP history and English rubrics are analytic: each row, such as thesis or evidence, is scored separately and the points are added. Free-response scores are then combined with the multiple-choice score using the section weights.
Are these the official College Board rubrics?
No. The rubric summaries on these pages are written in our own words from the publicly available course and exam materials. Always check the current official scoring guidelines, which can be revised.
Does each AP free-response question need a thesis?
No. Essays such as the AP Lang and AP Lit essays, the DBQ, the LEQ and the AP Gov argument essay need a thesis. Short-answer questions and the first three AP Gov FRQs do not; they ask you to answer each part directly.
How should I practice free-response questions?
Practice the planning steps on their own first, then write timed responses, then score your work row by row against the rubric. Each guide includes a method and a practice routine for that task.
Looking for definitions? See the rhetorical terms, literary terms, historical thinking skills and AP Gov key terms in the glossary.