Trains each rubric point with timed practice; pairs with any AP history course.
Formats
6 to 8 student seminars with homework, 32 weeks, no spring break, ending before the AP exam; also 1-on-1, online or in person.
How to start
Start with a placement assessment. We use it to set the level and class, then confirm the year plan with the family. For schedules, tuition, and bundle offers, request the 2026-27 program guide through the form below.
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Contact a course advisorFrequently Asked Questions
Why do Irvine students train the DBQ separately?
The document-based question asks students to read several primary sources under time pressure, build an argument, and write it out. It is the part of the AP history exams where scores spread the most, and it draws on different skills from remembering historical facts, so it earns its own course.
What does the course actually train?
Each College Board rubric point in turn: thesis, use of evidence from the documents, contextualization, and complex understanding. Every point is explained against the scoring guidance and then practiced under exam timing, so students learn to finish a complete response within the time allowed.
What grade should Irvine students take DBQ writing?
Grades 9 to 12, taking AP US, World, or European History at the same time. The course runs 32 weeks with no spring break and ends before the AP exam, so it stays alongside the school course for the whole year.
What if the student's writing itself is weak?
Work on both at the same time. This course handles sourcing and argument structure against the exam rubric, while sentence and paragraph problems are better addressed in academic writing. Neither course replaces the other, and students often take them in the same year.
Should Irvine students choose the seminar or 1-on-1?
The 6 to 8 student seminar, with homework across the year, suits a student training the whole question type from the start. For targeted work on a few rubric points on the school's own schedule, 1-on-1 is available online or in person by hour package.
