Long Essay Questions (LEQs) (College Board AP® US History): Revision Note

How do I answer an APUSH Long Essay Question (LEQ)?

Understanding what the question requires you to do

The Long Essay Question (LEQ) is a historical argument essay that does not require documents. You must answer the prompt based on your own knowledge.

According to the Course and Exam Description (CED), students need to make a defendable claim, provide context, incorporate specific evidence, and apply reasoning such as comparison, causation, or continuity and change over time.

What should I keep in mind?

• The LEQ involves choice

• You select the evidence, so be selective

• Avoid trying to include every fact you know

• Choose evidence that best supports your claim.

A straightforward approach for students

• Read the prompt and underline the task word:

  • Compare

  • Describe

  • Evaluate

  • Explain

• Determine the time period and the reasoning skill required

• Write a thesis that clearly states your position

• Include a brief context paragraph or strong contextual sentences

• Then develop body paragraphs, each presenting a clear claim supported by specific evidence

Essential requirements

• Formulate a thesis that states your position

  • The reader should understand your answer immediately

• Use precise historical evidence, which may include:

  • Laws

  • Events

  • People

  • Court cases

  • Movements

  • Policies.

• Align your evidence with the reasoning skill

  • For example, if it's a comparison essay, continue comparing; if it involves causation, focus on causes and effects

• Provide context before presenting your main argument, explaining what led to the topic

• Clarify how your evidence supports your point

  • Do not just list facts

Avoiding common mistakes

• Avoid turning your essay into a timeline; listing events is not an argument.

• Be specific, avoid vague statements such as “things changed a lot”

• Ensure your evidence fits within the specified time frame

• More facts are not always better

  • Do not include unrelated evidence

• Always explain why your evidence is significant

Helpful sentence starters

• “The most important cause was …”

• “A major continuity during this period was …”

• “This development was significant because …”

• “Compared with …, this period showed …”

• “Although some change took place, the stronger pattern was …”

Quick LEQ checklist

Before you move on, ask:

• Did I answer the question directly?

• Did I include relevant context?

• Did I use specific evidence?

• Did I follow the correct reasoning skill?

• Did I explain my evidence clearly rather than just listing it?