AP® · 2 rubrics
EasyClass rubrics for AP® essays
AP® free-response questions are scored with short analytic rubrics: a few rows, each worth one to four points, with clear thresholds such as how many documents a student must use or source. These pages give each rubric's exact rows, point values and thresholds, with every descriptor rewritten in our own words for teachers. They are not College Board documents.
AP® rubrics on EasyClass
| Rubric | Grades | Task | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| EasyClass rubric for the AP® English Language argument essay | Grades 11–12 | Argument · Free-response question 3: argument essay | 6 points · 3 criteria |
| EasyClass rubric for the AP® History document-based question (DBQ) | Grades 9–12 (AP® U.S., European and World History) | Historical argument · Document-based question (DBQ) essay | 7 points · 6 criteria |
About the AP® rubrics
Two rubrics are here now. The document-based question (DBQ) rubric is shared by AP® United States History, AP® European History and AP® World History: Modern, and is worth 7 points. The AP® English Language argument essay, the third essay on that exam, is worth 6 points.
For the official text, use the scoring guidelines on AP Central (apcentral.collegeboard.org). Each page links the exact document we compared it with on October 14, 2026.
What changed and what’s coming
- AP® History, from May 2027: College Board says the DBQ will cover a wider chronological range, the long essay becomes one required question with a brief introductory statement, and the three short-answer questions get a fixed source pattern. The free-response scoring rubrics are not changing (apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-history-exam-updates).
- AP® English Language: no changes to the essays or rubrics have been announced for 2027. The current rubrics are the ones in effect since fall 2019.
- Coming next: the AP® History long essay question (LEQ), the AP® English Language rhetorical analysis and synthesis essays, and the AP® English Literature essays.
- Official scoring guidelines: AP® U.S. History, AP® European History and AP® World History: Modern each publish yearly scoring guidelines on their past exam questions pages on AP Central. AP® English Language posts its essay rubrics on its exam page.
Each page lists the official document it was checked against and the date. How we check rubrics.
AP® is a trademark registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this page.
Questions about the AP® rubrics
Are these the official College Board rubrics?
No. The rows, point values and thresholds match the official rubrics, but the descriptions are written by EasyClass. Each page links the official scoring guidelines on AP Central.
Why aren't the official descriptors on these pages?
College Board does not allow its scoring materials to be republished commercially or used with AI tools, so we wrote our own descriptions that follow the same scoring rules.
Do AP® U.S. History, AP® World History and AP® European History use different DBQ rubrics?
No. All three use the same 7-point DBQ rubric. One page covers all three courses.
Do the AP® History changes in 2027 affect how essays are scored?
College Board says the free-response rubrics stay the same. What changes is the format of the questions, mainly the long essay and the short-answer section.
Can I grade AP® practice essays with EasyClass?
Yes. Pick one of these rubrics in the grader. It scores each row separately and drafts feedback, and you review every score before students see it.
Grade a stack of essays tonight.
Pick any rubric above, upload your students’ essays, and check every score before it goes back.