DBQ & LEQ Rubric Self-Assessment
Use the checklists to reflect on a response you have already written. This tool counts only the criteria you select. It does not read your essay, verify your evidence, or award an official score.
Self-assessment only. Check criteria you believe your response meets; this tool does not read or grade your essay. Points are independent. Consult the official scoring guidelines for the full conditions.
Before you check a box
Compare your response with the full current scoring guidelines. A thesis must answer the prompt with a defensible claim; context should describe a broader relevant development; evidence must be accurate and used as the rubric specifies. Complexity requires a nuanced argument, not simply an extra fact. For the DBQ, distinguish using document content from explaining why a document’s perspective, purpose, audience or historical situation matters to your argument.
The 2027 changes affect SAQ and LEQ prompts, while free-response rubrics remain unchanged according to AP History exam updates for 2027.
What the checklist can and cannot establish
For each criterion, ask whether the response itself clearly satisfies the official requirement. A defensible thesis answers the prompt; broader context explains a related historical development; evidence must be specific and used to support reasoning. Document sourcing requires an explanation of why point of view, purpose, audience or situation matters to the argument. In an LEQ, name and explain at least two relevant pieces of evidence where the rubric calls for them.
The displayed sum is the count of boxes the student checked. It has no access to the essay text, cannot decide whether a claim is historically accurate and cannot replace an official grader. Compare a released official scoring guide with your response and ask a teacher about any uncertain criterion. Read the DBQ guide and LEQ guide for worked planning examples.