what appeared the most on the test and do you have any tips for the writing portions?
I remember a LOT of stuff about the colonial era, the War of Independence, and the Civil War - make sure you can talk about the major trends of those eras, and what led up to them. For example, with the War of Independence, make sure you can describe how the relationship between Britain and the colonies deteriorated, starting with the French and Indian War.Â
Also, know the significant “turning points” in US history. What started the Civil War? The bombing of Fort Sumter. What got us into WWI? The Zimmerman Telegram and the Lusitania. Court cases like Plessy v Ferguson, and the overturning decision Brown v Board, are also very important.
As for the writing portions, the biggest tip I can say is to ANSWER THE QUESTION. That is, if it says “Analyze the role that the United States played in World War II”, don’t just identify it - actually analyze it! Be thorough in your answers, and don’t worry too much about style. As long as your writing is legible to the average English-speaker, all they care about is your content. They literally have a checklist that goes:
 “Did they mention Person X? That’s a point.Â
Did they mention Event Y? That’s a point.Â
Did they tie them together in the way we asked? That’s a point.”
You don’t have to answer prettily, just answer it, even if it’s in a way that would anger your English teacher.Â
So to conclude: Know the key events, know how we got to those events, and write your essays with as much detail as you can muster up, while also making sure you’re answering the question that’s being asked.
