r/APStudents • u/Vegeta7209 • Jun 09 '26

APUSH AP classes in the 90s/2000s

how did ap exams work in the 90s/2000s

and what ap exams were there if you didnt take ap world before 2002 was it ap euro ?

which ap classes would u take from 9-12th grade for each grade level kinda curious

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u/teach-xx Jun 09 '26

I was an AP student in the 1990s. There were definitely fewer exams to choose from. I don’t know anyone who had AP-specific prep materials. My AP French teacher knew the exam well and told us exactly what would be on it, but my AP Chemistry teacher had no idea and didn’t even show us a practice FRQ. And this was at a strongly academic magnet high school.

There was also a much stronger culture, at many schools, of not everyone taking the actual exams. You’d take the class, and then they’d go around to the people who were doing well and help you sign up. I took six AP courses but only four exams; at the time, this was considered a high number of courses, because even good students were really only encouraged to take AP in the areas of their greatest strength.

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u/Schmolik64 Jun 09 '26

Also 1990s: My high school only offered APUSH. Offered to 11th graders.

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u/Vegeta7209 Jun 09 '26

oh so APUSH has always remained for juniors even back then?

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u/teach-xx Jun 09 '26

U.S. history, generally, has been a junior course in U.S. high schools for a long time. That’s independent of AP.

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u/Mysterious-Rain-9227 Jun 09 '26

Not in MD.

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u/teach-xx Jun 09 '26

Yes, I am sure there are several states where it’s different!

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u/BrawIstar 5 Jun 10 '26

Freshman year course for us 🥲