You can expect at least one question on the AP U.S. History Examination to include a chart, graph, table, or map. The following are a few examples from exams issued before the mandatory four-essay format was introduced in 1998:

• Political implications of changes in congressional representation as a result of reapportionment (map)
• Impact of party identification trends on political campaigns (graph)
• Gender/ethnic characterization of Congress (table)
• Political factors in judicial appointments (graph)
• Third parties in presidential elections (table)
• Election of women in Congress (graph)

Data-based essay questions invariably have at least two parts. The first part asks you to identify patterns or trends in the data or to summarize the data. The second part of the question usually, but not always, requires you to explain or discuss points raised by what you found in the data.