On the May 2026 AP US History exam, students turned to the long essay, read three prompts from different parts of the course and picked one. From the May 2027 exam, everyone answers the same single prompt. The College Board's AP Central page says the change gives students back time, and that the scoring rubric, and what you need to earn each point, stays the same. So the skills in this deck apply to both formats.
The LEQ is the second essay in Section II. It has a recommended 40 minutes, it's worth 15% of your exam score, and there are no documents: every piece of evidence comes from what you know.
Example prompt (made up for this deck, not from any exam), in the 2027 style: Between 1730 and 1860, waves of religious revival swept the colonies and then the United States, and new churches and reform societies took shape. Evaluate how religious movements influenced American society from 1730 to 1860. You may focus on one or more developments; you are not expected to address the entire period.
What changes in May 2027
- One required prompt. No choosing between three. The prompt is broad and covers about half of the course's chronological scope.
- A brief introductory statement comes before the prompt to orient you and suggest possible areas for analysis.
- Choice moves inside the question. You may focus on one or more developments referenced in the prompt, and you aren't expected to cover the whole time period.
- What stays: the 6-point rubric, 40 minutes and 15% of the score.
How the 6 points add up
| Row | What it rewards | Points |
|---|---|---|
| A | Thesis/claim | 1 |
| B | Contextualization | 1 |
| C | Evidence | 2 |
| D | Historical reasoning | 1 |
| D | Complex understanding | 1 |
Each point is earned on its own unless the rubric says otherwise.
Thesis and context
The thesis rules match the DBQ: a historically defensible claim that responds to the prompt and establishes a line of reasoning, in one place, in the introduction or the conclusion. For the example, "Religious movements influenced American society" only restates the prompt. "Revivals from the First Great Awakening to the Second encouraged ordinary people to question authority and then to reform society, although churches also divided over slavery" gives reasons and a counterpoint.
For context, describe something broader, before, during or after the dates. The Enlightenment's ideas about reason and individual rights would work, if you describe them rather than name-drop.
Evidence: two pieces, put to work
With no documents, Row C asks for specific evidence from your own knowledge:
- 1 point: specific examples of at least two pieces of evidence relevant to the topic.
- 2 points: at least two pieces of specific and relevant evidence used to support an argument.
For the example, you could use Jonathan Edwards's 1741 sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", Charles Finney's revivals in upstate New York, Richard Allen founding the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1816, or the founding of the American Temperance Society in 1826. Evidence outside the dates, or a repeat of what the prompt already says, earns nothing.
Historical reasoning: give the essay a shape
The first Row D point asks you to use comparison, causation or continuity and change to frame or structure your argument. Writing "this essay uses causation" doesn't count. A paragraph built on because revivals taught X, converts did Y does. The rubric allows the reasoning to be uneven.
Complexity: more than a closing line
The second Row D point asks for a complex understanding through sophisticated argument and/or effective use of evidence. The scoring guidelines list routes such as explaining multiple causes or effects, both continuity and change, multiple themes or perspectives, connections across periods or regions, or explaining how at least four pieces of specific evidence support a nuanced argument. It must be part of the argument, not a phrase tacked on at the end.
Common mistakes students make
- Trying to cover the whole period. Pick the developments you know best and argue about them.
- Listing evidence without using it. Names alone stop at 1 evidence point.
- Straying outside the dates or region. That evidence earns nothing.
- Announcing a skill instead of using it. Say because, however or still, then show it.
Frequently asked questions
How long should you spend on the APUSH LEQ?
The College Board recommends 40 minutes. A few of them spent choosing your developments and drafting a thesis can save time later.
How many points is the APUSH LEQ?
Six: thesis 1, contextualization 1, evidence 2, and analysis and reasoning 2.
Do you still get a choice of LEQ prompts in 2027?
No. From the May 2027 exam there is one required prompt, but you choose which developments in it to focus on.
How many pieces of evidence do you need for the LEQ?
At least two specific, relevant pieces used to support an argument. The complexity point can also be earned by using at least four to support a nuanced argument.
Try it
Write a thesis for the example prompt that names two effects of religious movements and one limit on them. Then add two pieces of evidence from inside 1730 to 1860 and one because sentence for each. What changed, and why then?
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