Decoding the AP Euro LEQ Rubric for 2024

Introduction

The Advanced Placement (AP) European History Long Essay Question (LEQ) is a significant component of a student’s assessment. For 2024, certain changes and specifications have been stipulated to ensure a nuanced evaluation of a student’s mastery of historical argumentation, analysis, and synthesis. Understanding the LEQ rubric is essential for students aiming to excel in this assessment. This guide decodes the 2024 AP Euro LEQ rubric, dismantling its complexity into manageable insights.

Thesis and Argument Development

The foundational pillar of the LEQ is the thesis statement. It is imperative that the thesis is historically defensible, addresses all parts of the question, and is presented in one or more sentences typically located in the introduction. This forms the bedrock upon which the rest of the essay is built.

For 2024, scorers will prioritize clarity and directness in the thesis. It needs to articulate a clear position or argument without ambiguity. Students must avoid vague statements and instead present a concise claim that sets the stage for their argument. The argument development further involves substantiating the thesis throughout the essay coher