About the AP US Government Test
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Exam Date: May 1, 2023; 8:00am
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 | 1 Hour and 20 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score
This section requires:
Quantitative Analysis: Analysis and application of quantitative-based source material
Qualitative Analysis: Analysis and application of text-based (primary and secondary) sources
Visual Analysis: Analysis and application of qualitative visual information
Concept Application: Explanation of the application of political concepts in context
Comparison: Explanation of the similarities and differences of political concepts
Knowledge: Identification and definition of political principles, institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors
Section II: Free-Response | 4 Questions | 1 Hour and 40 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score
In this section:
Concept Application: You’ll respond to a political scenario, explaining how it relates to a political principle, institution, process, policy, or behavior
Quantitative Analysis: You’ll analyze quantitative data, identify a trend or pattern, draw a conclusion for the visual representation, and explain how it relates to a political principle, institution, process, policy, or behavior
SCOTUS Comparison: You’ll compare a nonrequired Supreme Court case with a required Supreme Court case, explaining how information from the required case is relevant to that in the nonrequired one
Argument Essay: You’ll develop an argument in the form of an essay, using evidence from one or more required foundational document
Course Content:
The questions on the test will cover topics from the whole course. However, in the multiple-choice section, you’ll find that certain subjects come up more often:
You’ll learn how the men who created the U.S. Constitution set up a structure of government intended to stand the test of time, and how the compromises they made left some questions unresolved that continue to be debated today.
Topics may include:
The ideals of democracy as shown in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
Federalist and Anti-Federalist views on central government and democracy
Separation of powers and “checks and balances”
The relationship between the states and the federal government (federalism)
How federalism has been interpreted differently over time
On The Exam
15%–22% of multiple-choice score
You’ll continue to explore how the government sets and administers policy, and you’ll learn about the complexities of this process.
Topics may include:
The structures, powers, and functions of each house of Congress
The roles and powers of the president
The roles and powers of the Supreme Court and other federal courts
The roles of the federal bureaucracy (departments, agencies, commissions, and government corporations)
On The Exam
25%–36% of multiple-choice score
You’ll connect what you’ve learned about the founding principles of our government to the debates over how best to balance freedom and order.
Topics may include:
The intent of the Bill of Rights
The First Amendment (freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of the press) and how the Supreme Court has interpreted it
The Second Amendment (the right to bear arms) and how the Supreme Court has interpreted it
Supreme Court interpretations of other amendments
How the due process and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment have motivated social movements
On The Exam
13%–18% of multiple-choice score
You’ll explore the various beliefs that U.S. citizens hold about government, how these beliefs are shaped, and how they affect which policies citizens support.
Topics may include:
How cultural and social factors affect citizens’ beliefs about government
How polls are used to gather data about public opinion
The ideologies of the Democratic and Republican parties
How political ideologies affect policy on economic and social issues
On The Exam
10%–15% of multiple-choice score
You’ll learn about the many ways that U.S. citizens can influence the decisions the government makes.
Topics may include:
Laws that protect the right to vote
Why it’s hard for third parties and independent candidates to succeed
Interest groups and their influence
Campaign finance and its role in elections
The media’s role in elections
On The Exam
20%–27% of multiple-choice score