---
title: "AP African American Studies No-Source SAQ Practice"
description: "79 No-Source Short Answer Questions written in the AP format, each scored part by part."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-african-american-studies/frqs/no-source-saq"
type: "frq-type-practice"
subject: "AP African American Studies"
---

# AP African American Studies No-Source SAQ Practice

## What the No-Source SAQ asks

The no-source short-answer question is Question 3 in Section II of the AP African American Studies exam. There is no source to read, and each part asks for a specific example or explanation tied to a theme that runs across the course.

- **13 min**: suggested time per SAQ
- **3 points**: one for each part, A to C
- **18%**: of your exam score, for all three SAQs

| Part | What it asks | Points |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A: Describe | A specific example or development, with a supporting detail | 1 |
| B: Describe | A second specific example tied to the same theme | 1 |
| C: Explain | How or why something happened, using a specific example | 1 |

## How No-Source SAQ practice works

1. **Read the full question.** All three parts, A through C, laid out the way the exam shows them.
2. **Write on a 13-minute timer.** About the time each SAQ gets on exam day. Pause it or turn it off, and your response saves as you go.
3. **Submit for a score out of 3.** Your response is scored against the scoring guidelines written for that question. Your first score is included.

## All 79 questions

### Unit 1: Origins of the African Diaspora (20)
- [Ancient African technological, artistic, and cultural achievements](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=696f1a0a685ff00701789bb1&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Ancient African architecture, trade, and cultural legacy](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850db7a8b2b7ff89a77f0d&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Griots, oral tradition, West African empires, African diaspora](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850dfba8b2b7ff89a77f10&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Griots, oral tradition, West African cultural preservation](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850e32a8b2b7ff89a77f12&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Ancient African artistic and architectural legacies](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850e63a8b2b7ff89a77f16&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [African architectural innovation and trans-Saharan trade networks](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850e8da8b2b7ff89a77f17&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Oral traditions and trade in West African empires](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850edca8b2b7ff89a77f1b&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [African architectural achievements and cultural synthesis in West Africa](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850f16a8b2b7ff89a77f1e&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Griots, trans-Saharan trade, West African oral traditions](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850f56a8b2b7ff89a77f22&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Ancient African architecture, trade, and cultural adaptation](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850f9aa8b2b7ff89a77f24&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Ancient African educational traditions and oral practices](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850fdea8b2b7ff89a77f28&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Ancient African societies' cultural and economic legacies](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=6985100fa8b2b7ff89a77f2b&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Ancient West African cultural contributions and legacies](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69851053a8b2b7ff89a77f2f&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [African architectural achievements and trans-Saharan trade influence](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=6985109da8b2b7ff89a77f32&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Religious practices, trade, and African diaspora connections](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=698510d3a8b2b7ff89a77f34&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Ancient West African educational, artistic, and spiritual traditions](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=698510ffa8b2b7ff89a77f36&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Ancient African artistic contributions and cultural legacies](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69851133a8b2b7ff89a77f39&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Stone architecture, trans-Saharan trade, West African women leadership](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=6985116aa8b2b7ff89a77f3b&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Timbuktu scholarship and trans-Saharan trade networks](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=698511cda8b2b7ff89a77f3e&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Ancient African societies: cultural and artistic legacies](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69851207a8b2b7ff89a77f40&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)

### Unit 2: Freedom, Enslavement and Resistance (20)
- [African American rights restrictions and resistance movements](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69671664a0b756c5bfcb8dfa&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Enslaved African resistance and twentieth-century political movements](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850dcfa8b2b7ff89a77f0f&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [African American resistance and its political legacies](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850e5ba8b2b7ff89a77f14&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Mali and Songhai intellectual achievements, trans-Saharan trade, cultural transmission](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850e93a8b2b7ff89a77f18&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [African resistance to slavery and its legacies](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850edfa8b2b7ff89a77f1c&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Enslaved African resistance and twentieth-century movements](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850f30a8b2b7ff89a77f1f&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [African ethnic diversity and cultural adaptation in early America](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850fa3a8b2b7ff89a77f25&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [African American cultural adaptation and resilience during slavery](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850ff5a8b2b7ff89a77f29&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [African and African American resistance to slavery](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=6985104ea8b2b7ff89a77f2e&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Enslaved African American resistance and twentieth-century activism](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69851151a8b2b7ff89a77f3a&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Enslaved African and African American resistance strategies](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=698511a2a8b2b7ff89a77f3c&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Griots, trans-Saharan trade, West African oral traditions](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=698511e5a8b2b7ff89a77f3f&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Ancient African artistic contributions and trans-Atlantic cultural continuity](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69851216a8b2b7ff89a77f41&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Transatlantic slave trade effects and African American cultural legacy](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69851261a8b2b7ff89a77f44&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Ancient African contributions to art, architecture, technology](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=6985129ea8b2b7ff89a77f46&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Ancient African innovations and trans-Saharan trade impact](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=698512d7a8b2b7ff89a77f48&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [African resistance during slavery and twentieth-century movements](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=6985133ca8b2b7ff89a77f4b&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [African cultural traditions and adaptations in Americas](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=698513bea8b2b7ff89a77f4f&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Enslaved African resistance and slave codes](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69851415a8b2b7ff89a77f51&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Ancient West African societies: cultural legacies and trade impacts](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=6a8f907cd37d9095a741d4e1&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)

### Unit 3: The Practice of Freedom (19)
- [Reconstruction Amendments, disenfranchisement, segregation resistance](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=696f1a19685ff00701789bb3&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Great Migration causes and Harlem Renaissance cultural impact](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850dc4a8b2b7ff89a77f0e&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [African American migration and political activism development](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850dfba8b2b7ff89a77f11&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Great Migration causes and African American cultural transformation](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850e3ca8b2b7ff89a77f13&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [New Negro movement and Harlem Renaissance cultural expression](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850eb7a8b2b7ff89a77f1a&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [African American freedom, uplift strategies, cultural expression](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850f35a8b2b7ff89a77f20&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Great Migration, Harlem Renaissance, New Negro movement](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850fc1a8b2b7ff89a77f27&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [African American migration, urbanization, cultural development](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69851010a8b2b7ff89a77f2c&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [African American strategies for racial uplift and independence](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69851049a8b2b7ff89a77f2d&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [African American migration, culture, and civil rights activism](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=6985107ea8b2b7ff89a77f31&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Great Migration's causes and cultural impact](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=698510b7a8b2b7ff89a77f33&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Great Migration and African American political activism development](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69851109a8b2b7ff89a77f37&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Great Migration causes, effects, and cultural impact](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69851240a8b2b7ff89a77f43&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Great Migration: causes, effects, cultural flourishing](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69851275a8b2b7ff89a77f45&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Great Migration: causes, Northern communities, Black activism](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=698512dea8b2b7ff89a77f49&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [African American freedom and identity, Reconstruction through Harlem Renaissance](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69851359a8b2b7ff89a77f4c&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Great Migration causes, effects, and Harlem Renaissance](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=6985139fa8b2b7ff89a77f4e&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Great Migration: causes, effects, and cultural impact](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=698513e4a8b2b7ff89a77f50&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Special Field Orders No. 15, sharecropping, African American economic advancement](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=6985145aa8b2b7ff89a77f53&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)

### Unit 4: Movements and Debates (20)
- [Négritude and Black Arts movements in African American culture](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=696f1a98685ff00701789bb9&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Black women's activism and feminist movements twentieth century](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850e5ca8b2b7ff89a77f15&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Black Power movement, cultural identity, hip-hop influence](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850e96a8b2b7ff89a77f19&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Black women's leadership and intersectional discrimination analysis](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850ef0a8b2b7ff89a77f1d&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Civil rights activism, legislation, and political empowerment](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850f39a8b2b7ff89a77f21&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Civil Rights activism, Black Power, political representation growth](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850f7ea8b2b7ff89a77f23&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Civil rights activism, nonviolence, and Black Power ideology](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850fbea8b2b7ff89a77f26&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Black women's activism and feminist movements, twentieth century](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69850ffea8b2b7ff89a77f2a&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Black women's activism and intersectionality in Civil Rights](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69851075a8b2b7ff89a77f30&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Civil rights activism and Black political representation growth](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=698510e0a8b2b7ff89a77f35&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Civil rights activism, voting rights, Black political leadership](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69851133a8b2b7ff89a77f38&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [African diaspora cultural pride and reclamation movements](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=698511bda8b2b7ff89a77f3d&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Civil rights activism, Black Power, political representation growth](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=6985122fa8b2b7ff89a77f42&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Négritude, diasporic solidarity, Black Power movements](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=698512aba8b2b7ff89a77f47&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Civil rights nonviolence, Black Power movement emergence, cultural identity](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=698512faa8b2b7ff89a77f4a&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Civil rights activism and Black Power movement strategies](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69851391a8b2b7ff89a77f4d&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Nonviolent resistance, Black Power movement, cultural political impact](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=6985141fa8b2b7ff89a77f52&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Black women's grassroots activism and intersectional feminism](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=6985146aa8b2b7ff89a77f54&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Civil Rights activism, Black Power, community self-determination](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=698514e2a8b2b7ff89a77f55&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)
- [Civil rights activism and Black political empowerment movements](/ap-african-american-studies/frq-practice?id=69851551a8b2b7ff89a77f56&type=short-answer-question-3-no-source)

## Sample question

**Ancient African technological, artistic, and cultural achievements**

Introduction: 3. Respond to parts A, B, and C.

Part A (1 point):
  Prompt: **Describe** one specific technological or artistic achievement of an ancient African society such as the Nok, Great Zimbabwe, or Aksum.
  Topic: Ancient Africa

Part B (1 point):
  Prompt: **Describe** one way that the trans-Saharan trade networks influenced the political or economic expansion of the empire of Ghana, Mali, or Songhai.
  Topic: Ancient West African Empires

Part C (1 point):
  Prompt: **Explain** how a specific cultural practice or tradition from ancient West African societies influenced the development of African American culture in the nineteenth or twentieth century.
  Topic: Historical connections

## Questions

**How many responses can I get scored?**

You can read every question without a plan. Your first scored response is included. A plan unlocks unlimited scoring.

**How is Question 3 different from the other two SAQs?**

Questions 1 and 2 each come with a source, one visual and one text. Question 3 has no source, so every example comes from what you know about the course.

**How long should each answer be?**

A few sentences per part. You don’t need a thesis, an introduction, or a conclusion.

**Is each part scored on its own?**

Yes. Each part is worth 1 point and is scored separately, so a strong answer to part A still counts if part C misses.

**Can I write my answer by hand?**

Yes. The exam is typed, so typing is the closest practice. You can also switch the editor to handwrite, write on paper, and add a photo of your page.

## Related

- [No-Source SAQ exam guide](/ap-african-american-studies/ap-african-american-studies-exam/ap-african-american-studies-saq/study-guide/ap-african-american-studies-saq)
- [AP African American Studies DBQ practice](/ap-african-american-studies/frqs/dbq)
- [AP African American Studies FRQs](/ap-african-american-studies/frqs)
- Any question by id: the `get_frq` tool on the [Fiveable MCP server](/mcp/docs)

## About This Document

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