AP European History - Scoring Guidelines - Part B Short-Answer Question with Primary Sources

Sep 22, 2026

Uploaded by Finn

AP European History scoring guidelines for Part B short-answer questions using primary sources. The document specifies how points are earned independently, emphasizing historically defensible accuracy and clarity while allowing grammatical errors that do not obscure knowledge and reasoning. It defines scoring expectations for prompts focused on Spain’s political situation reflected in a 1936 anarchist poster, connections to broader European developments, and how the artist’s political affiliation shaped the fascism-and-anarchism perspective. Learning objectives and example criteria are included.

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General Scoring Notes

Scoring Guidelines for Part B: Short-Answer Question with Primary Sources

(a) Describe the historical situation in Spain

(b) Describe broader European historical developments

Document-Based Question

AP EUROPEAN HISTORY Scoring Guidelines Part B: Short-Answer Question with Primary Source 1. Use the image below to answer all parts of the question that follows. Xavier Badia-Vilatò, Spanish artist, poster produced for Spanish anarchist group, 1936 The text of the poster reads: Ambition, Militarism, War. This is Fascism. Unite to Destroy It. (A) Describe the historical situation in Spain reflected in the poster. (B) Describe one way in which the poster reflects broader historical developments in Europe. (C) Explain one way in which the artist’s political affiliation influenced the view expressed in the poster. AP European History Course and Exam Description | SG 1 General Scoring Notes • Each point is earned independently. • Accuracy: These scoring guidelines require that students demonstrate historically defensible content knowledge. Given the timed nature of the exam, responses may contain errors that do not detract from their overall quality, as long as the historical content used to advance the argument is accurate. • Clarity: Exam responses should be considered first drafts and thus may contain grammatical errors. Those errors will not be counted against a student unless they obscure the successful demonstration of the content knowledge, skills, and reasoning processes described below. • Describe: Provide the relevant characteristics of a specified topic. Description requires more than simply mentioning an isolated term. • Explain: Provide information about how or why a historical development or process occurs or how or why a relationship exists. AP European History Course and Exam Description | SG 2 |
Scoring Guidelines for Part B: Short-Answer Question
with Primary Sources 3 points
Learning Objectives: Unit 8, Learning Objective H | | | | --- | --- | --- | | (a) | Describe the historical situation in Spain reflected in the poster. | 1 point | | | Credited responses must describe some aspect of the Spanish political situation during the period of the | 2.B | | | Spanish Civil War, and do more than simply mention the word “Anarchism” or “Fascism.” | | | | Examples that earn this point include the following: | | | | • Rise of radical leftist groups in Spain inspired by the Bolshevik Revolution. | | | | • Growth of the Fascist movement in Spain led by Franco. | | | | • Conflict between conservatives led by Franco and a coalition of leftist groups supporting the republic. | | | (b) | Describe one way in which the poster reflects broader historical developments in Europe.
Credited responses must describe broader historical developments in Europe and do more than simply mentioning fascism, Nazism, or communism.
Examples that earn this point include the following:
• Growing influence of Nazi and Fascist political ideologies in Europe.
• The influence of communist and anarchist thought on Europe after the Bolshevik Revolution.
• Effects of the Great Depression leading to political radicalism.
• Political tensions growing in Europe leading up to the Second World War.
• Fascist use of militaristic nationalism to win support of the population.
• Growing postwar bitterness as the catalyst for extreme political developments | 1 point
4.B | | (c) | Explain one way in which the artist’s political affiliation influenced the view expressed in the poster. Credited responses must explain a connection between the artist opinion of fascism and the basic tenets of anarchism.
Examples that earn this point include the following:
• Anarchists believed that people should be free from government control, while fascists believed in government asserting control over many aspects of people’s daily lives.
• Anarchists were heavily influenced by Marxist thought, which the fascist and Nazi movements strongly opposed.
• Franco’s nationalists drew on Spain’s Catholic and monarchical traditions, which the anarchist movement rejected. | 1 point
2.C

FAQs

How are points awarded for Part B short-answer responses?

Each point is earned independently. Responses must demonstrate historically defensible content knowledge, and scoring allows minor errors due to timed exam conditions as long as the historical content used is accurate.

What must a response include for part (a) about the Spanish poster?

The response must describe aspects of Spain’s political situation during the Spanish Civil War and go beyond simply mentioning “Anarchism” or “Fascism,” using relevant historical examples such as radical left growth or conflicts involving Franco and leftist republic supporters.

What is required for part (c) regarding the artist’s political affiliation?

The response must explain a connection between the artist’s view of fascism and the basic tenets of anarchism, using examples such as contrasting beliefs about government control over daily life or differing ideological influences.

Sep 22, 2026

Uploaded by Finn