Question 1
The prayer niche shown was made in Isfahan in 1354-1355. Which describes a difference between it and the Il-Khanid mihrab in the Great Mosque of Isfahan?
How the AP Art History free-response questions are scored
Six essays for 33 points: Comparison 8, Visual/Contextual Analysis 6, and four short essays of 5. Each point is earned on its own.
| Long Essay: Comparison | 8 points, about 35 minutes |
|---|---|
| Long Essay: Visual/Contextual | 6 points, about 25 minutes |
| Four short essays | 5 points each, about 15 minutes each |
| Section II | 2 hours, 50% of the score |
The Comparison essay: 8 points
- Identify the work you select with two accurate identifiers (1).
- Describe a feature of each work (2: one per work).
- Explain two similarities or differences with visual evidence (2).
- A claim about why they are alike or differ, with contextual evidence from each work (3).
The Visual/Contextual Analysis essay: 6 points
- Identification (1) and a defensible claim (1).
- Two pieces of specific visual or contextual evidence (2).
- Reasoning that links the evidence to the claim (1), and complexity: a qualified or corroborated argument (1).
The four short essays: 5 points each
- Visual Analysis and Attribution use a work beyond the 250: describe it, place it in a tradition or attribute it, with visual evidence.
- Contextual Analysis uses a required work: how its context shaped its form or meaning.
- Continuity and Change: how a work keeps or breaks with a related tradition.
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Questions people ask
How many points is the AP Art History comparison essay worth?
8 points, the most of the six questions, with about 35 minutes suggested.
Do I need to memorize identifiers for AP Art History?
Yes: the long essays give a point for two accurate identifiers (such as the title, artist or culture, date and materials) of the work you select.