DBQ and LEQ Rubric Calculator
Score an AP History essay row by row with the 2026 College Board rubric. Pick the points for each row to see the total, the percent and the points still open.
Score the essay
Leave empty for plain percent. Enter 50 to spread grades from 50% to 100%.
Enter a number from 0 to 99.
Rubric score
| Row | Points |
|---|
Points still open
DBQ rubric (7 points)
- Thesis/claim, 1 point: a claim that responds to the prompt, can be defended with history, and shows the line of reasoning the essay will follow. You only earn it when the whole claim sits in the introduction or the conclusion, not split between them.
- Contextualization, 1 point: the writer explains the bigger historical picture around the topic of the prompt. A quick mention is not enough.
- Evidence from the documents, 2 points: one point for correctly describing what at least 3 documents say, or both points for using what at least 4 documents say to back up the argument.
- Evidence beyond the documents, 1 point: the essay brings in at least one specific, relevant example that does not come from the documents.
- Sourcing, 1 point: for 2 or more documents, the writer explains how or why the author's point of view, the purpose, the historical situation or the audience is relevant to the argument.
- Complex understanding, 1 point: the essay shows complex understanding, either with a sophisticated argument or with very effective use of evidence, such as explaining more than one cause or both continuity and change.
LEQ rubric (6 points)
- Thesis/claim, 1 point: same rule as the DBQ.
- Contextualization, 1 point: same rule as the DBQ.
- Evidence, 2 points: one point for naming at least 2 specific, relevant examples, or both points when at least 2 of them are used to support the argument.
- Analysis and reasoning, 2 points: one point for framing the argument with a historical reasoning skill (comparison, causation, or continuity and change), or both points for showing a complex understanding of the topic.
SAQ (3 points)
A short answer question comes in three parts, A, B and C, with 1 point for each part.
Rubric score to percent
| Rubric score | Percent |
|---|---|
| 0 / 7 | 0.0% |
| 1 / 7 | 14.3% |
| 2 / 7 | 28.6% |
| 3 / 7 | 42.9% |
| 4 / 7 | 57.1% |
| 5 / 7 | 71.4% |
| 6 / 7 | 85.7% |
| 7 / 7 | 100.0% |
| Rubric score | Percent |
|---|---|
| 0 / 6 | 0.0% |
| 1 / 6 | 16.7% |
| 2 / 6 | 33.3% |
| 3 / 6 | 50.0% |
| 4 / 6 | 66.7% |
| 5 / 6 | 83.3% |
| 6 / 6 | 100.0% |
Example
A DBQ earns the thesis point, the contextualization point, both points for evidence from the documents and the sourcing point, but no point for evidence beyond the documents and no complex understanding point. That is 1 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 5 out of 7, which is 71.4%. With a teacher scale that starts at 50, it becomes 50 + 50 x 5 / 7 = 85.7%.
Where the rubric comes from
The rows and points match the 2026 College Board scoring guidelines for AP U.S. History, AP World History: Modern and AP European History, checked on 17 October 2026. Each row is summarized in plain words here, so read the full guidelines for the exact wording and the scoring notes.
Scoring happens in your browser. What you enter is not stored or sent.
This rubric tool is GradeKind's own work. The College Board, which owns the AP® trademark, has no tie to it and has not endorsed it.
Frequently asked questions
How many points is a DBQ worth?
Seven points in total. Thesis/claim and contextualization give 1 each, evidence gives 3 (2 from the documents plus 1 from outside them), and analysis and reasoning gives 2 (1 for sourcing and 1 for complex understanding).
How many points is an LEQ worth?
Six points in total: 1 for thesis/claim, 1 for contextualization, 2 for evidence and 2 for analysis and reasoning.
Do all three AP history courses share this rubric?
Yes. The 2026 scoring guidelines for AP U.S. History, AP World History: Modern and AP European History use the same DBQ (7 points), LEQ (6 points) and SAQ (3 points) structure. Only the prompts and documents change.
What is a 5 out of 7 on a DBQ as a percentage?
5 out of 7 is 71.4% of the rubric points (5 divided by 7, times 100). A 4 out of 6 on an LEQ is 66.7%. Rubric points are not the same as a class grade, so many teachers convert them with their own scale.
How do I turn a rubric score into a class grade?
The plain way is points divided by total points, times 100. Some teachers set a lowest grade for a 0 and spread the rest evenly: lowest grade + (100 - lowest grade) x points / total. With a lowest grade of 50, an LEQ scored 4 out of 6 becomes 50 + 50 x 4 / 6 = 83.3%. Use the teacher scale field to try this.
Does this show my AP exam score from 1 to 5?
No. This scores one essay or short answer at a time. The College Board does not publish a fixed list that turns section points into a 1 to 5 score.
Related tools
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- Final Grade Calculator: work backward from the grade you want to the final exam score it takes.
- High School GPA Calculator: high school GPA, plain and weighted, with the extra points AP and honors classes earn.