The AP World History Course and Exam Description (CED) is the official document from the College Board outlining the curriculum structure, required skills, and exam structure for the AP World History course. It serves as a guide for teachers and students preparing for the exam.
The CED divides the course into five course units, each covering a major period in world history. These units are further broken down into key concepts, which are essential themes and developments within each period. The CED also specifies the percentage of the exam dedicated to each unit, ensuring balanced coverage.
The CED includes several critical components:
The CED ensures consistency in teaching and learning across schools. Teachers use it to design their syllabi, and students rely on it to understand what they need to study. The College Board updates the CED periodically to reflect new research and shifts in historical understanding.
For example, the current CED emphasizes global interactions and processes, encouraging students to analyze how different societies have influenced each other over time. This approach helps students see the interconnectedness of world history rather than treating regions in isolation.
Many students and teachers confuse the CED with a textbook or a list of facts to memorize. However, the CED is not a textbook but a structure for teaching and assessing historical thinking skills. It focuses on how students engage with historical evidence and construct arguments rather than just recalling dates and events.
Another misconception is that the CED covers every significant event in world history. Instead, it highlights key concepts and themes that provide a foundation for deeper exploration. For instance, the CED might focus on the concept of "empires" rather than listing every empire in history.
Consider Unit 3 of the CED, which covers the period CE. This unit includes key concepts such as "Expansion and Intensification of Communication and Exchange Networks" and "State Formation and Expansion." Students learn about the Silk Road, the rise of Islam, and the development of empires like the Tang and Song dynasties in China. The exam might ask students to compare the political structures of these empires or analyze how trade routes facilitated cultural exchange.
To prepare for this unit, students might analyze primary sources like travel accounts from Marco Polo or secondary sources discussing the impact of the Mongol Empire. They would practice writing essays that compare and contrast different historical developments, using evidence from these sources to support their arguments.