The Long Essay Question (LEQ) is worth 15% of your AP History exam score. You get 40 minutes and choose 1 of 3 prompts. This guide shows you how to earn every rubric point.
The AP LEQ Rubric (6 Points)
- Thesis/Claim (1 pt) — Historically defensible thesis with a line of reasoning
- Contextualization (1 pt) — Broader historical context beyond the prompt
- Evidence (2 pts) — Specific, relevant historical evidence supporting the argument
- Analysis & Reasoning (2 pts) — Historical thinking skills and complex understanding
LEQ vs DBQ: Key Differences
- No documents provided — all evidence comes from your knowledge
- You choose which prompt to answer (pick the one you know best)
- 40 minutes instead of 60 minutes
- 6-point rubric instead of 7-point (no document sourcing)
AimFive scores every LEQ against the AP rubric. Start practicing LEQs now.
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