The APUSH DBQ is worth 25% of your exam score and is scored on 7 points. The rubric is exactly the same every year — the documents and prompt change, but the point structure doesn't. Here is what earns each point.
The 7 DBQ rubric points
- Thesis (1 point): A historically defensible claim that makes a specific argument in response to the prompt. Must do more than restate the prompt. Must be in the introduction or conclusion.
- Contextualization (1 point): A well-developed paragraph that describes a broader historical context relevant to the prompt — from BEFORE the prompt's time period — and explains how it relates to your argument. One sentence does NOT earn this point. It must be developed.
- Evidence – Document Content (1 point): Accurately describes the content of 3+ documents AND explains how each one supports your argument.
- Evidence – Document Content (1 point): Accurately describes the content of 6+ documents AND explains how each supports your argument.
- Evidence – Outside Evidence (1 point): Uses one piece of specific historical evidence NOT from the documents and explains how it supports your argument. Must be specific (named event, person, law, idea).
- Analysis – Sourcing (1 point): For at least 3 documents, explains how the Historical Situation, Audience, Purpose, or Point of View (HAPP) of the document's author is relevant to an argument. Not just "the author is biased" — WHY does the bias matter for interpreting the document?
- Complexity (1 point): Demonstrates a complex understanding of the topic — a corroborating or qualifying argument, a connection across time periods, or a counterargument developed within the essay. Most commonly: spend one paragraph arguing the other side, then explain why the evidence ultimately supports your thesis.
The time management that earns all 7
You have 60 minutes (including 15 minutes reading time). Spend 5 minutes outlining: thesis, 3 body paragraph topics, and which documents go where. Spend 40 minutes writing. Use the last 5 minutes to add your outside evidence or complexity point if you haven't yet — these are the most commonly forgotten.
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