Guide+Lines+to+Test+Preparation

The College Board gives the following approximate breakdown for its selection of questions: Pre-Columbian to 1789: **20%** 1790-1914: **45%** 1915 to the present: **35%**

While history cannot be neatly divided into categories, the recommened allocation for the mutiple-choice questions for AP U.S. History exam is as follows: Politcal institutions, behavior, and public policy: **35%** Social change, cultural and intellectual developments: **40%** Diplomacy and international relations: **15%** Economic developments: **10%**

In the College Board's directions, the time allotment is divided into the following mandatory and recommended time periods:
 * 15 minutes** (mandatory) to read the document-based questions (Part A)
 * 45 minutes** (advised) to write the response to the DBQ
 * 5 minutes** (advised) to plan one essay from Part B (to 1865)
 * 30 minutes** (advised) to write the response to one essay from Part B
 * 5 minutes** (advised) to plan one essay from Part C (after 1865)
 * 30 minutes** (advised) to write the response to one essay from Part C