College Board
AP World History: Modern
Advanced Placement World History: Modern
A college-level global history survey from c. 1200 CE to the present. A strong AP exam score can earn college credit and strengthen admissions, making the course a common gateway to advanced standing.
What's on the exam
AP World History: Modern Course and Exam Description (effective Fall 2019)
Unit 1: The Global Tapestry, c. 1200-1450
8-10%States in Afro-Eurasia · Developments in East and South Asia · Dar al-Islam · States in the Americas and Africa · Comparison of state building
Unit 2: Networks of Exchange, c. 1200-1450
8-10%Silk Roads · Mongol Empire · Indian Ocean trade · Trans-Saharan routes · Cultural and biological exchange
Unit 3: Land-Based Empires, c. 1450-1750
12-15%Expansion of empires · Administration of empires · Belief systems · Comparison of gunpowder empires · Legitimizing power
Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections, c. 1450-1750
12-15%Technological innovations · Columbian Exchange · Maritime empires established · Internal and external challenges · Changing social hierarchies
Unit 5: Revolutions, c. 1750-1900
12-15%Enlightenment · Political revolutions · Industrial Revolution · Capitalism and reactions · Imperialism and migration
Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization, c. 1750-1900
12-15%Rationales for imperialism · State expansion · Economic imperialism · Causes of migration · Effects of migration
Unit 7: Global Conflict, c. 1900-present
8-10%Shifting power · World War I · Interwar period · World War II · Mass atrocities
Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization, c. 1900-present
8-10%Setting the stage for the Cold War · Decolonization · Newly independent states · Global proxy wars · End of the Cold War
Unit 9: Globalization, c. 1900-present
8-10%Advances in technology and science · Global economy · Calls for reform · Globalized culture · Resistance and movements
Frequently asked questions
How much does the AP World History: Modern cost?
The AP World History: Modern costs $99. $99 per AP Exam in the US (2025-2026); a College Board fee reduction of $37 per exam is available for eligible students.
How long is the AP World History: Modern and how many questions does it have?
55 multiple-choice, 3 short-answer, 1 DBQ, 1 long essay — 3 hours 15 minutes.
What do you need to pass the AP World History: Modern?
Scored 1-5; a 3 or higher is generally considered passing, though credit policies are set by each college.
Can you retake the AP World History: Modern?
Once per year (next May administration).
What is the best way to study for the AP World History: Modern?
Study the official blueprint, not random material: the exam is weighted by domain (Unit 1: The Global Tapestry, c. 1200-1450 8-10%, Unit 2: Networks of Exchange, c. 1200-1450 8-10%, Unit 3: Land-Based Empires, c. 1450-1750 12-15%, Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections, c. 1450-1750 12-15%, Unit 5: Revolutions, c. 1750-1900 12-15%, Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization, c. 1750-1900 12-15%, Unit 7: Global Conflict, c. 1900-present 8-10%, Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization, c. 1900-present 8-10%, Unit 9: Globalization, c. 1900-present 8-10%). Spaced-repetition flashcards built domain-by-domain against that blueprint are the most time-efficient way to cover everything the exam tests.
Program in development
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