If you’re considering or currently taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses in high school, you may have heard the term “DBQ” used in test preparation. DBQ stands for “document-based question,” and it may be used during your AP exams, such as AP History, AP US History, and AP World History.
Document-based question essays test skills like evidence usage, document analysis, historical argumentation, and more. It’s important to understand what a DBQ is, why it matters, and how you can best prepare for your AP History exam.
What Is The Meaning of DBQ and What Is a DBQ Essay?
DBQ stands for “document-based question” in a timed essay portion of AP History exams. Typically, the exam provides 5-7 historical documents that you must use to write a thesis-driven essay according to a prompt or essay question. You may be given 15 minutes to review the documents and 45 minutes to craft your response, citing at least 6 documents.
The key features of a DBQ include:
- A prompt that challenges critical thinking regarding a topic and historical period
- Several short primary source documents related to the topic to review, analyze, and use to support your claims
- An application of evidence-based reading and writing skills, including the application of your own knowledge from your AP course
- A written response in the form of an essay that’s guided by a thesis, or a central claim or argument, that you will defend
Why Is DBQ Important in AP History?
The main purpose of a DBQ is to test your ability to apply the concepts and skills you learned in the course and think critically about history, much like working historians do. The DBQ assesses what you’ve learned about historical research and analysis rather than testing your ability to remember dates, events, or isolated facts.
The DBQ also tests an important part of studying history – assessing primary sources and using them to interpret and analyze historical periods or events and defend your stance. This includes:
- Document analysis: Historians must critically assess source documents and put them in historical context. This means taking the origin and purpose of the document, its authorship, its audience, and its relevance into account.
- Source citations: Historians have to consider how source documents can illuminate history, such as how they challenge existing views or corroborate one another. This often means compiling different source documents to find factual evidence, patterns, or in some cases, inconsistencies across viewpoints that may alter our current understanding of an event or period.
- Interpretive claims: Instead of memorizing information or providing short answers, a DBQ essay requires a deep dive into different sources and the ability to synthesize and apply knowledge. You have to interpret the information before you and make a claim, which you will then defend using analysis and evidence.
The value of learning history at the college level is developing your critical thinking skills. The DBQ essay also tests your course-related skills, such as:
- Background knowledge of historical periods, concepts, people, events, trends, and developments.
- Critical thinking and the application of knowledge from historical sources, which includes analysis, comparison, cause and effect, and synthesis
- Expository and argumentative writing skills, such as organizing your thoughts, maintaining clear and concise writing, and writing and supporting a strong thesis
Format of a DBQ
DBQ essays typically follow a common format with these components:
- A prompt: The prompt is a specific question or statement that guides your essay
- Historical documents: You will be provided primary and possibly secondary source documents, such as speeches, letters, excerpts from books, maps, charts, or photographs
- Essay writing: You will need to respond to the prompt by writing an essay that covers the topic and your thesis.
- Time limits: DBQ format provides 15 minutes to review the prompt and documents and 45 minutes to plan and write the essay.
The scores for DBQ essays follow a rubric, which is simplified here:[1]
| Reporting Category | Scoring Criteria | Scoring Criteria (cont.) |
| Thesis/Claim | 0 points – Does not meet the criteria | 1 point – Responds to the prompt with a historically defensible thesis/claim that establishes a line of reasoning |
| Contextualization | 0 points – Does not meet the criteria | 1 point – Describes a broader historical context relevant to the prompt |
| Evidence | 0 points – Does not meet the criteria | 1-2 points – Use of context of at least three documents to address the topic of the prompt OR supports an argument in response to the prompt using at least four documents |
| Analysis and Reasoning | 0 points – Does not meet the criteria for one point | 1 point – For at least two documents, explains how or why the document’s point of view, purpose, historical situation, and/or audience is relevant to an argument |
It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the rubric criteria to understand how you can get the best score possible.
How to Write a Good DBQ Essay
Writing a DBQ essay during your AP History exam, with a time limit, can be intimidating. Practicing early can help you position yourself for success.
Understand the Prompt
You may be in a hurry to start your essay, but it’s crucial to take the time to read and reread the prompt to ensure you understand it. For example, the prompt may ask you to compare two events or societies, discuss the cause and effect of a historical event, or analyze change from one time period to another.
Make sure you:
- Read the prompt carefully, looking for keywords or phrases that indicate what’s being asked.
- Identify what the essay is requiring, such as comparison or causation.
- Look for time periods or geographical cues in the prompt that can guide your research.
- Write down the kinds of analysis the prompt is asking for to ensure you understand it.
Review and Analyze Historical Documents
You have 15 minutes for the prompt and historical documents, so you have to read them efficiently.
- First, skim the documents to look for ways they may be useful.
- Then, read the documents more carefully and highlight key points or any relevant dates or events to reference.
- Begin historical assessments of the author’s perspective or bias, the purpose of the document, the intended audience, and the historical context.
- Assess the historical evidence and begin formulating your thesis, then identify which documents you can use for support.
- Align the documents and evidence with your essay before beginning the outline.
Create an Outline
Planning your response before you start your essay is crucial to keep your ideas organized and flowing naturally. Your outline should include:
- An introduction with your thesis statement
- 2-4 body paragraphs that address your main arguments
- A conclusion that adds nuance to your claim and highlights key insights
Consider where each document fits into your outline and where you’ll use them for support.
Begin Your Essay
When you have all the planning done, you can begin writing your essay. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Be concise. Avoid unnecessary details or tangents, instead focusing on clear statements and support of your claims.
- Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea and connects it to your thesis.
- Incorporate evidence from the documents to support your argument.
- Include relevant historical facts or context from your course that support your thesis.
- Add your own thoughts when discussing the documents and analyze the point of view or historical context.
- Reiterate your points in the conclusion and highlight key insights from your essay.
- Don’t forget spelling, punctuation, and academic style.
Review Your Essay
Check your work! Review your thesis and ensure your arguments support your claim. Make sure you’ve incorporated the documents and relevant outside information appropriately (with citations!), and double-check your facts and dates.
Manage Your Time Effectively
Taking an exam can be stressful, but how well you manage your time can ensure you present a polished essay. This is the suggested time allocation:
- Reading the prompt: 5 minutes
- Reviewing documents: 10-15 minutes
- Creating an outline: 5-7 minutes
- Writing the essay: 25-30 minutes
- Reviewing the essay:3-5 minutes
Prepare for the AP History Exam
The DBQ forms a big portion of your AP exam score. With the pressure of time, writing a high-scoring DBQ essay can be challenging. However, getting a high score on this aspect of the test can help you earn college credit for your hard work in your AP class. Prepare in advance to feel confident about your approach and manage your time wisely.
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