AP COMPARATIVE
GOVERNMENT
AND POLITICS

AP Comparative Government and Politics - Exam Overview

             The AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam will test your understanding of the political concepts covered in the course units, including your ability to compare political institutions and processes in different countries.

 

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Exam Duration
2hrs 30mins

 

 

Exam Components

Section 1: Multiple Choice - 55 questions | 1hr | 50% of Score

The multiple-choice section includes individual, single questions as well as sets of questions. Questions focus on the core countries of the course: China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom.

You’ll be asked to:

• Describe, explain, and compare political concepts and processes

• Compare political concepts and processes of the course countries

• Analyze data in graphs, charts, table, maps, or infographics

• Read and analyze text passages
   

Section 2: Free Response - 4 questions| 1hr 30mins | 50% of Score

In the free-response section, you’ll respond to four questions with written answers. The section includes:

• 1 conceptual analysis question: You’ll define or describe a political concept and/or compare political systems, principles, institutions, processes, policies, or behaviors.

• 1 quantitative analysis question: You’ll analyze data to find patterns and trends and reach a conclusion.

• 1 comparative analysis question: You’ll compare political concepts, systems, institutions, processes, or policies in two of the course countries.

• 1 argument essay: You’ll write an evidence-based essay supporting a claim or thesis.

 

 

AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam – Scoring 

             For the first section (multiple-choice), for every question you answer correctly, you will get one point each. There is no negative marking. It means that even if your answer is wrong or left blank, no points are deducted. 

             Next is the free response section. Its scoring system is a bit complicated. Rather than being graded by AI, it is reviewed by AP graders and scored following Set 1 guidelines and Set 2 guidelines for the AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam.

            For more information about AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam and scoring, you can visit the College Board’s website.

 

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AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam – Credit 

             Keep in mind, credit and advanced standing based on AP scores vary widely from school to school. Though a score of 3 is typically considered passing, it is not always enough to receive credit. Regulations regarding which APs qualify for course credits or advanced placement depends on the policy that your desired college or university has for AP exams. 

 

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AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam - Study Resources

• College Board Classroom Resources

• Barron's AP Comparative Government and Politics Second Edition

• BBC

• Constitute

• Citizens U

• C-Span Classroom

• CIA World Factbook

• The Economist

• Freedom House

• Pew Research Center 

AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam Tips

             The following strategies for answering the free-response questions were developed by faculty consultants to help you on exam day.

 

• Answering essay questions generally requires a good deal of training and practice. Students too often begin to write immediately, creating a string of disconnected, poorly planned thoughts. You need to learn to attack questions methodically and to plan your answers before putting pencil to paper.

 

• Carefully analyze the question, thinking through what is being asked, and identify the elements that must be addressed in the response. Each AP Exam asks different types of questions about each subject. For example, some questions may require you to consider the similarities between people or events, and then to think of the ways they are different. Others may ask you to develop an argument with examples in support of or opposing a particular movement or policy. Be sure to carefully craft your answer in response to what is actually being asked in the question prompt.

 

• When you answer the free-response questions, be sure to follow directions. If the question asks you to provide a certain number of examples, explanations, or selections, you should give that number. If you provide more than the required number of responses for the prompt and any one of the examples provided is incorrect, you will earn partial credit at most.

 

• After you have determined what is involved in answering the question, consider what evidence you can incorporate into your response. Review the evidence you learned during the year that relates to the question and then decide how it fits into the analysis. Does it demonstrate a similarity or a difference? Does it argue for or against a generalization that is being addressed?

 

• Whenever you offer evidence to illustrate contrast or similarity, clearly state your intent. Then, with additional information or analysis, elaborate on the ways in which these pieces of evidence are similar or different. If there is evidence that refutes a statement, explain why it argues against the statement. Your answer should reflect an understanding of the subtleties of the questions.

 

• Begin writing only after you have thought through the evidence you plan to use and have determined what your thesis statement will be. Once you have done this, you will be in a position to answer the question analytically instead of in a rambling narrative.

 

 

• Learn how to present your thesis statement: make your overarching statement or argument and then position your supporting evidence so that it is obviously directed to answering the question, as opposed to being a string of abstract generalizations. State your points as clearly as possible and explicitly connect them to the larger thesis. Do not leave it to the reader to infer what is meant or how something illustrates a point.

 

• If you have done the analytical work required prior to writing, you should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the complexity of the question. You should state your thesis, introduce the elements that support the thesis, and demonstrate the logic that led you to link the elements in support of the thesis. By applying these ideas, you will construct an excellent essay.

 

• While essay writing in general is a valuable exercise, you may wish to work specifically on free-response questions from previous AP Examinations. This will allow you to compare your own responses with those that have already been scored and evaluated. Free-response questions are available through the Advanced Placement Program® in numerous formats. One of the easiest ways to find sample essays is to go to the About the Exam page for Comparative Government and Politics.

 

Task Verbs

 

Pay close attention to the task verbs used in the free-response questions. Each one directs you to complete a specific type of response. Here are the task verbs you’ll see on the exam:
 

• Compare: Provide a description or explanation of similarities and/or differences.

• Define: Provide a specific meaning for a word or concept.

• Describe: Provide the relevant characteristics of a specified topic.

• Develop an argument: Articulate a claim and support it with evidence.

• Draw a conclusion: Use available information to formulate an accurate statement that demonstrates understanding based on evidence.

• Explain: Provide information about how or why a relationship, pattern, position, situation, or outcome occurs, using evidence and/or reasoning. Explain “how” typically requires analyzing the relationship, process, pattern, position, situation, or outcome, whereas explain “why” typically requires analysis of motivations or reasons for the relationship, process, pattern, position, situation, or outcome.

• Identify: Indicate or provide specific information about a specified topic, without elaboration or explanation.

 

             You can also view Past Exam Questions and Scoring Information for you to have a glance of what questions to expect during the exam day.

 

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Conclusion

             The AP Comparative Government and Politics exam focuses on six core countries: China, Great Britain, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, and Russia. According to the College Board, this exam measures your “ability to compare and contrast political regimes; electoral systems; federal structures; civil rights; and state responses to economic, social, and religious challenges over time.” If you are ready to accept this challenge, then go for it! Good luck!