APWH LEQ Calculator: Grade Your Long Essay
Master the Long Essay Question with our interactive 6-point rubric calculator. Evaluate your practice essays to understand exactly how AP readers will assess your historical argumentation and analysis.
Historically defensible thesis that establishes a line of reasoning and responds to all parts of the question.
Describes broader historical context relevant to the prompt.
Your LEQ Score
What is the APWH LEQ?
The Long Essay Question (LEQ) is worth 15% of your total score on the AP World History exam. You'll choose one of three essay prompts and have 40 minutes to write a well-organized essay that demonstrates your historical thinking skills using only your own knowledge—no documents are provided.
The 6-Point LEQ Rubric Explained
What you need: A historically defensible thesis that establishes a line of reasoning and responds to all parts of the question.
Pro tip: Your thesis should be specific, arguable, and clearly state your position. Make sure it addresses the entire prompt, not just part of it.
What you need: Describe the broader historical context relevant to the prompt.
Pro tip: Connect your topic to broader historical processes, developments, or events. This should be more than just background information—it should be relevant to your argument.
1 point: Provides specific examples
Identify specific historical examples relevant to the topic of the prompt.
2 points: Uses specific examples to support an argument
Use specific historical examples to support an argument in response to the prompt.
1 point: Uses historical reasoning
Use historical reasoning (comparison, causation, or continuity and change) to frame or structure an argument.
2 points: Demonstrates complex understanding
Demonstrate complex understanding through sophisticated argumentation, explaining nuance, analyzing multiple variables, or considering alternative interpretations.
Example LEQ Scenarios
- ✓Clear, specific thesis that addresses all parts of the prompt
- ✓Strong contextualization connecting to broader historical processes
- ✓Multiple specific examples that directly support the argument
- ✓Sophisticated analysis showing cause and effect relationships
- ✓Demonstrates complexity through nuanced argumentation
- ✗Vague thesis that restates the prompt without taking a position
- ✗Little to no contextualization or irrelevant background
- ✗Few specific examples or examples that don't support the argument
- ✗Limited analysis, mostly description of events
- ✗No demonstration of complex understanding
Finished calculating your LEQ score? Now check your performance on other sections: