Practice a College Board-style Short Answer Question on the Age of Reformation. Write your response, then reveal the model answer to see exactly what earns each point.
Short Answer Question · Unit 2 · The Protestant Reformation
"21. Therefore those preachers of indulgences are in error, who say that by the pope's indulgences a man is freed from every penalty, and saved... 36. Any truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without letters of indulgence. 43. Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does a better deed than he who buys indulgences."
Martin Luther, the 95 Theses, 1517
A
Using the excerpt, identify ONE specific criticism Luther makes of the Catholic Church's practice of selling indulgences.
✓ Model answer (earns the point)
Luther argues that indulgences cannot actually free someone from the penalty of sin — true repentance, not a purchased document, is what grants remission of guilt and penalty. He also argues that giving to the poor is a better act than buying an indulgence, implying that the Church's sale of indulgences exploits believers rather than genuinely serving their spiritual welfare.
Why it scores: Identifies a specific claim from the excerpt (indulgences don't truly remit guilt/penalty, or that charity is superior to buying indulgences) rather than a vague statement like "Luther didn't like indulgences."
B
Explain ONE way that Luther's broader theology (other than what is shown in the excerpt) represented a fundamental break from Catholic doctrine.
✓ Model answer (earns the point)
Luther's doctrine of justification by faith alone (sola fide) held that individuals are saved through faith in God's grace alone, not through good works, sacraments, or payments to the Church. This directly undermined the Catholic Church's institutional role as a necessary intermediary in salvation, since believers no longer needed the Church's sacraments or clergy to be saved.
Why it scores: Names a specific doctrine (sola fide, or alternatively sola scriptura) and explains how it broke from Catholic teaching, rather than vaguely stating Luther "disagreed with the Church."
C
Explain ONE way that the printing press contributed to the spread of the ideas described in the excerpt and in Part B.
✓ Model answer (earns the point)
Because movable-type printing was already established technology by 1517, Luther's 95 Theses and later pamphlets — along with his German translation of the Bible — could be copied and distributed across the Holy Roman Empire far more quickly than handwritten texts. This rapid circulation helped Luther's challenge to indulgences and his theology of sola fide reach a much wider audience than earlier reform movements ever achieved.
Why it scores: Explains the specific mechanism (lower cost, faster and wider distribution of printed texts) connecting the printing press to the spread of Luther's ideas, rather than just asserting "the printing press spread Luther's ideas" without explanation.
How to score points on AP European History SAQs
Answer exactly what's asked. "Identify" needs a name or fact only. "Explain" needs a claim PLUS supporting reasoning — don't skip the "why" or "how."
Use the stimulus, but don't just summarize it. Strong SAQ responses connect the source to outside historical knowledge, not just restate what the excerpt says.
Be specific, not general. Name specific developments (sola fide, the Diet of Worms, the printing press) rather than vague references to "the Reformation" or "new ideas."
Keep each part short and focused. 2–3 sentences per part is usually enough — SAQs reward precision over length.
Connect cause to effect. Don't just describe a development; explain why it mattered or how it connects to the question's claim.