Transitioning from 9th-grade regular social studies to 10th-grade AP World History is a significant leap that presents numerous challenges for students. The shift is not just one of content and complexity but also involves a drastic change in critical thinking, analytical skills, and time management.
“I was not prepared to go into AP-World,” Sophomore Aidan McMahon said. “ I wish my ninth-grade teachers went over more culture-related questions and locations of religions and cultures.”
Ninth-grade social studies typically cover fundamental concepts such as providing a broad overview of a few historical events. The focus is often on understanding basic facts, timelines, and the causes and effects of major historical occurrences.
The assessments included straightforward multiple-choice tests, basic essays, and projects that emphasized completion over basic analysis. This level of study, is the lowest level of depth of knowledge, while important, does not fully prepare students for the rigorous demands they will encounter in AP World History.
AP World History, requires a much deeper level of engagement with the material. Students are expected to not only memorize historical facts but also analyze and interpret them within broader global contexts.
The curriculum covers a vast timeline, spanning from ancient civilizations to contemporary history, and emphasizes themes such as cultural interactions, economic systems, and social structures.
This requires students to draw connections between different periods and regions, develop arguments, and support their ideas with evidence from primary and secondary sources. The complexity of the material demands advanced reading and writing skills, critical thinking, and the ability to synthesize information from diverse sources.
“There is a lack of certain reading and study skill materials because our workload is much heavier,” AP World history teacher Heather Wilkerson-Peterson said. “There are not so many step-by-step instructions. ”
One of the most challenging aspects of the transition is an increased workload and pace. AP World History classes often move quickly to cover the extensive curriculum within a limited timeframe.
“I lacked self-direction because in AP World she gives you an assessment and you figure it out.” Sophomore Emry Grant said. “but last year in World Geography, it was step-by-step instructions on how to do everything,”
This can be overwhelming for students who are not accustomed to such a fast-paced environment. Additionally, the amount of homework and outside reading increases significantly, requiring students to develop effective time management strategies to keep up with the demands of the course.
“The work that we had last year did not prepare me at all for the amount of work and homework load we have this year,” sophomore Colin Acker said.
Furthermore, the assessment methods in AP World History are more rigorous. Students are frequently required to write essays that demonstrate their ability to construct arguments and analyze historical evidence.
“Our homework load is moderate, we are doing a lot of supplement materials, they are expected to do a lot of reading, and weekly quizzes to asses the pace,” Ms. Peterson said. “ The work is not difficult, just fast-paced.”
The Document-Based Question (DBQ) is a particular challenge, as it requires students to evaluate and synthesize information from multiple sources within a limited time. This type of assessment tests, content knowledge and the ability to think critically under pressure.
Another type of challenge is the multiple choice questions. Students are taught to use POE [process of elimination].
Using POE allows students to eliminate wrong answers to determine which of the remaining answers is correct. What makes the multiple choice so difficult is that all the answers might be right. By using POE you have to choose the right answer.
“Freshmen need to learn how to study because the tests are hard,” McMahon said. “but if you put in the work and lock in, it’s an easy class to follow along with and you can learn a lot of stuff,”
