Readings
Readings
Readings
Readings
If you do what you can, you will never be more than what you are.
Dedicated to the Class of 2020 for all their efforts
TO THE 100%ers
The ARodConnection
Click here for AP Government test information
​
Exam Details
Exam Date: Monday, May 6, 2024
The exam is 3 hours long and has two sections — multiple choice and free-response.
The exam measures your understanding of required content. You’ll need to define, compare, explain, and interpret political concepts, policies, processes, perspectives, and behaviors that characterize the U.S. political system.
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
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:
​
Subject Percentage of the Test
Government Institutions 35 to 40%
(Congress, presidency, courts, bureaucracy)
Political Behavior of Individuals 10 to 20%
(political culture, public opinion, voting)
Political Behavior of Groups 10 to 20%
(political parties, elections, interest groups, PACs, and mass media)
Constitutional Foundations 5 to 15%
(federalism, checks & balances, separation of powers, theories of democracy)
Civil Liberties and Civil Rights 5 to 15%
There are 15 Required Supreme Court Cases:
Marbury v. Madison
McCulloch v. Maryland
Schenck v. US
Brown v. Board of Ed (1954)
Baker v. Carr
Engel v. Vitale
Gideon v. Wainright
Tinker v. DesMoines
NY Times Co. v. US
Wisconsin v. Yoder
Roe v. Wade
Shaw v. Reno
US. v. Lopez
McDonald v. Chicago
Citizens United v. FEC
Required Documents:
The Declaration of Independence
The Articles of Confederation
The Constitution of the United States
Federalist #10
Brutus #1
Federalist #51
Federalist #70
Federalist # 78
Letter from a Birmingham Jail
