AP US
GOVERNMENT
AND POLITICS
AP United States Government and Politics - Exam Overview
The AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam will test your understanding of the political concepts covered in the course units, including your ability to analyze the foundational documents and to apply Supreme Court decisions you studied in the course to real-life scenarios.
Exam Duration
3 hours
Exam Components
Section I: Multiple Choice - 55 questions | 1hr 20mins | 50% of Score
The multiple-choice section includes individual, single questions as well as sets of questions. You’ll be asked to:
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Describe, explain, and compare political concepts and processes
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Apply Supreme Court decisions in real-life scenarios
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Analyze data in graphs, charts, tables, maps, or infographics
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Read and analyze foundational documents and other text-based and visual sources
Section II: Free Response - 4 questions | 1hr 40mins | 50% of Score
In the free-response section, you’ll respond to four questions with written answers. The section includes:
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1 concept application question: You’ll describe and explain the effects of a political institution, behavior, or process, and apply concepts in a new situation.
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1 quantitative analysis question: You’ll analyze data in the form of a table, graph, map, or infographic to find patterns and trends and reach a conclusion.
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1 SCOTUS comparison question: You’ll compare a nonrequired Supreme Court case with a required one, explaining how information from the required case is relevant to the nonrequired one.
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The prompt specifies 1 required SCOTUS case, and you are asked to identify how that required case is related to the case given in the scenario.
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1 argument essay: You’ll write an evidence-based essay supporting a claim or thesis.
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AP United States 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.
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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 the guidelines for set 1 and guidelines for Set 2 AP United States Government and Politics Exam.
You can visit the College Board's website for more information about AP United States Government and Politics Exam and scoring.
AP United States 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 depend on the policy that your desired college or university has for AP exams.
AP United States Government and Politics Exam - Study Resources
• College Board Classroom Resources
• The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History: AP U.S. History Study Guide
• Khan Academy: AP U.S. History
• National Constitutional Center Interactive Constitution
• Stanford History Education Group (SHEG)
AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam Tips
The following strategies for answering the free-response questions will help you on exam day.
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Answering essay questions generally requires a good deal of training and practice. Students too often begin to write immediately, which can create a string of disconnected, poorly planned thoughts. You should approach questions methodically and plan your answers before putting pencil to paper.
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Carefully analyze the question, think 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 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
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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While essay writing in general is a valuable exercise, you may wish to work specifically on free-response questions from previous AP Exams. 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 AP Program in numerous formats. One of the easiest ways to find sample essays is to go to the About the Exam page for U.S. Government and Politics.
Task Verbs
Pay close attention to the task verbs in the question. Each one directs you to complete a specific type of response. Here are the task verbs you’ll see on the exam:
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Compare: Provide a description or explanation of similarities and/or differences.
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Define: Provide a specific meaning for a word or concept.
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Describe: Provide the relevant characteristics of a specified topic.
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Develop an argument: Articulate a claim and support it with evidence.
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Draw a conclusion: Use available information to formulate an accurate statement that demonstrates understanding based on evidence.
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Explain: Provide information about how or why a relationship, process, 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.
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Identify: Indicate or provide 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 to questions to expect during the exam day.
Conclusion
Taking AP United States Government and Politics and AP Exams as a whole, while you’re in high school, is a great way to demonstrate your academic skill and prepare for college coursework. If you do well on your AP exams, those high scores will be valuable assets when it comes time for you to apply to college. On exam day, just be positive and look forward to your goal. If you make little mistakes, it's okay! If you fail, do not be afraid to try again. Good luck!