AP United States Government & Politics Exam Prep
This page is intended to provide everything you need to prepare for the AP United States Government & Politics Exam.
2023 Exam Updates
The College Board has announced the dates for the 2023 exams.
The United States Government and Politics Exam will be administered in-person @ OHS:
Here is a step-by-step suggested AP Gov Exam prep schedule:
This list seems long but the videos are short (5-15 minutes) and will prepare you well!
Below you will find all the links you need to prepare effectively
The College Board has announced the dates for the 2023 exams.
The United States Government and Politics Exam will be administered in-person @ OHS:
- MONDAY, MAY 1 @ 8:00 am Pacific Time (Be in the AUX Gym NO LATER THAN 7:30 am)
Here is a step-by-step suggested AP Gov Exam prep schedule:
This list seems long but the videos are short (5-15 minutes) and will prepare you well!
Below you will find all the links you need to prepare effectively
- First: begin content review with the following:
- *Download Schaef's AP Gov Exam Crash Review (I suggest reading through this during the week and using the weekend to focus on FRQs, documents and Court Cases)
- Watch AP Gov Required Documents Exam Review
- Open Required Documents Quizlet (study as needed)
- Watch AP Gov Required Court Cases Exam Review
- Open Required Court Cases Quizlet (study as needed)
- Watch this Intro to Writing AP Gov FRQs video
- Watch How to write AP Gov FRQs: Understanding the Task Verbs
- Watch How to Write the Concept Application FRQ
- Go to my AP Gov Exam Prep page and find/review the Concept Application FRQ rubric
- You may want to review these student samples with scoring guidelines (Question 1)
- Watch How to Write the Quantitative Analysis FRQ
- Go to my AP Gov Exam Prep page and find/review the Quantitative Analysis FRQ rubric
- You may want to review these student samples with scoring guidelines (Question 2)
- Watch How to Write the SCOTUS Comparison FRQ
- Go to my AP Gov Exam Prep page and find/review the SCOTUS Comparison FRQ rubric
- You may want to review these student samples with scoring guidelines (Question 3)
- Watch How to Write the Argument Essay
- Go to my AP Gov Exam Prep page and find/review the Argument FRQ rubric
- You may want to review these student samples with scoring guidelines (Question 4)
Preparation Resources:
Below you will find:
Additionally, you can find a full practice exam on the AP Central website here: AP United States Government & Politics Practice Exam
Also helpful are these sample student FRQ responses with scoring guidelines: Sample FRQ Responses and Scoring Guidelines
You may also find this YouTube channel helpful as it contains videos on all the documents, court cases and more:
webstite: AP Gov with LaMoney
- The Exam Format
- How to write the FRQs
- The Required Supreme Court Cases (with summaries, review videos)
- The Required Foundational Documents (with full text, summaries, and review videos)
- Mr. Schaefer's 16 page Crash Review
Additionally, you can find a full practice exam on the AP Central website here: AP United States Government & Politics Practice Exam
Also helpful are these sample student FRQ responses with scoring guidelines: Sample FRQ Responses and Scoring Guidelines
You may also find this YouTube channel helpful as it contains videos on all the documents, court cases and more:
webstite: AP Gov with LaMoney
Course Outline:
UNIT I: Foundations of American Democracy (Chapters 1-3)
UNIT III: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (Chapters 4 & 5)
UNIT IV: American Political Ideologies & Beliefs (Chapters 6 & 10)
UNIT V: Political Participation (Chapters 8, 9, 11)
UNIT II: Interactions Among Branches of Government (Chapters 12-16) (we cover this last in our class)
UNIT III: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (Chapters 4 & 5)
UNIT IV: American Political Ideologies & Beliefs (Chapters 6 & 10)
UNIT V: Political Participation (Chapters 8, 9, 11)
UNIT II: Interactions Among Branches of Government (Chapters 12-16) (we cover this last in our class)
Exam Format
Section I: Multiple Choice — 55 Questions | 1 Hour, 20 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score
Section II: Free Response — 4 Questions | 1 Hour, 40 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score
Section I: Multiple Choice — 55 Questions | 1 Hour, 20 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score
Section II: Free Response — 4 Questions | 1 Hour, 40 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score
- Concept Application: Respond to a political scenario, explaining how it relates to a political principle, institution, process, policy, or behavior
- Quantitative Analysis: 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: 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: Develop an argument in the form of an essay, using evidence from one or more required foundational documents
Writing the Free Response Questions
While each of the four questions is worth 12.5% of the total Exam Score, the College Board recommends that you spend roughly
Here is a breakdown of each question and how they are scored:
Question 1: Concept Application
After reading a political scenario, this 3 point question requires you to:
Here is the scoring rubric:
While each of the four questions is worth 12.5% of the total Exam Score, the College Board recommends that you spend roughly
- 20 minutes on Question 1 (Concept Application)
- 20 minutes on Question 2 (Quantitative Analysis)
- 20 minutes on Question 3 (SCOTUS Comparison)
- 40 minutes on Question 4 (Argument Essay)
Here is a breakdown of each question and how they are scored:
Question 1: Concept Application
After reading a political scenario, this 3 point question requires you to:
- Describe a political institution, behavior, or process connected with the scenario. (0–1 point)
- Explain how the response in part (A) affects or is affected by a political process, government entity, or citizen behavior as related to the scenario (0–1 point)
- Explain how the scenario relates to a political institution, behavior, or process in the course (0–1 point)
Here is the scoring rubric:
Question 2: Quantitative Analysis
After analyzing a chart, graph, map, cartoon, or other form of data, this 4 point question requires you to:
Here is the scoring rubric:
After analyzing a chart, graph, map, cartoon, or other form of data, this 4 point question requires you to:
- Identify or describe the data in the quantitative visual (0–1 point)
- Describe a pattern, trend, or similarity/difference as prompted in the question (0–1 point) AND draw a conclusion for that pattern, trend, or similarity/ difference (0–1 point)
- Explain how specific data in the quantitative visual demonstrates a principle in the prompt (0–1 point)
Here is the scoring rubric:
Question 3: SCOTUS Comparison
after reading a summary of a Supreme Court Case, this 4 point question requires you to:
Here is the scoring rubric:
after reading a summary of a Supreme Court Case, this 4 point question requires you to:
- Identify a similarity or difference between the provided Supreme Court case and one of the specific required Supreme Court Cases, as specified in the question (0–1 point)
- Provide prompted factual information from the specified required Supreme Court case (0–1 point) AND explain how or why that information from the specified required Supreme Court case is relevant to the non-required Supreme Court case described in the question (0–1 point)
- Describe or explain an interaction between the holding in the non-required Supreme Court case and a relevant political institution, behavior, or process (0–1 point)
Here is the scoring rubric:
Question 4: Argument Essay
This 6 point questions requires you to develop an argument in the form of an essay, using evidence from one or more required foundational documents. A good response should:
Here is the scoring rubric:
This 6 point questions requires you to develop an argument in the form of an essay, using evidence from one or more required foundational documents. A good response should:
- Articulate a defensible claim or thesis that responds to the question and establishes a line of reasoning (0–1 point)
- Describe one piece of evidence that is accurately linked to the topic of the question (1 out of 3 points); use one piece of specific and relevant evidence to support the argument (2 out of 3 points); use two pieces of specific and relevant evidence to support the argument (3 out of 3 points)
- Explain how or why the evidence supports the claim or thesis (0–1 point)
- Respond to an opposing or alternate perspective using refutation, concession, or rebuttal that is consistent with the argument (0–1 point)
Here is the scoring rubric:
Required Supreme Court Cases QUIZLET SET
These SCOTUS cases have been identified as essential and required learning by the College Board. They may be referenced in multiple choice questions and at least one of them will be featured in the SCOTUS comparison FRQ.
Here is a pretty decent video summarizing each case and its significance:
These SCOTUS cases have been identified as essential and required learning by the College Board. They may be referenced in multiple choice questions and at least one of them will be featured in the SCOTUS comparison FRQ.
Here is a pretty decent video summarizing each case and its significance:
The Cases
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Established the principle of judicial review empowering the Supreme Court to nullify an act of the legislative or executive branch that violates the Constitution
Review Video: Click to view
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Established supremacy of the U.S. Constitution and federal laws over state laws. Often referenced in regards to implied powers
Review Video: Click to view
Schenck v. United States (1919)
Speech creating a “clear and present danger” to national security or public safety is not protected by the First Amendment
Review Video: Click to view
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
Race-based school segregation violates the equal protection clause. Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson
Review Video: Click to view
Baker v. Carr (1961)
Opened the door to equal protection challenges to redistricting and the development of the “one person, one vote” doctrine by ruling that challenges to redistricting did not raise “political questions” that would keep federal courts from reviewing such challenges
Review Video: Click to view
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
School sponsored prayer and bible readings violates the establishment clause
Review Video: Click to view
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
Guaranteed the right to an attorney for the poor or indigent (and subsequently everyone) in a state felony case (Incorporation)
Review Video: Click to view
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)
Preemptively banning students from wearing black armbands in school to protest the Vietnam War was deemed unconstitutional
Review Video: Click to view
New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)
Bolstered the freedom of the press, establishing a “heavy presumption against prior restraint” even in cases involving national security
Review Video: Click to view
Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)
Compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade violates the free exercise clause
Review Video: Click to view
Roe v. Wade (1973) IN LIGHT OF THE DOBBS DECISION LAST SUMMER, THE COLLEGE BOARD HAS DROPPED THIS CASE
Extended the right of privacy to a woman’s decision to have an abortion and established the three trimester standard
Review Video: Click to view
Shaw v. Reno (1993)
Majority minority districts, created under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, may be constitutionally challenged by voters if race is the only factor used in creating the district
Review Video: Click to view
United States v. Lopez (1995)
Congress may not use the commerce clause to make possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime
Review Video: Click to view
McDonald v. Chicago (2010)
The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for self-defense is applicable to the states. (Incorporation)
Review Video: Click to view
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)
Political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment
Review Video: Click to view
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Established the principle of judicial review empowering the Supreme Court to nullify an act of the legislative or executive branch that violates the Constitution
Review Video: Click to view
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Established supremacy of the U.S. Constitution and federal laws over state laws. Often referenced in regards to implied powers
Review Video: Click to view
Schenck v. United States (1919)
Speech creating a “clear and present danger” to national security or public safety is not protected by the First Amendment
Review Video: Click to view
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
Race-based school segregation violates the equal protection clause. Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson
Review Video: Click to view
Baker v. Carr (1961)
Opened the door to equal protection challenges to redistricting and the development of the “one person, one vote” doctrine by ruling that challenges to redistricting did not raise “political questions” that would keep federal courts from reviewing such challenges
Review Video: Click to view
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
School sponsored prayer and bible readings violates the establishment clause
Review Video: Click to view
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
Guaranteed the right to an attorney for the poor or indigent (and subsequently everyone) in a state felony case (Incorporation)
Review Video: Click to view
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)
Preemptively banning students from wearing black armbands in school to protest the Vietnam War was deemed unconstitutional
Review Video: Click to view
New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)
Bolstered the freedom of the press, establishing a “heavy presumption against prior restraint” even in cases involving national security
Review Video: Click to view
Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)
Compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade violates the free exercise clause
Review Video: Click to view
Roe v. Wade (1973) IN LIGHT OF THE DOBBS DECISION LAST SUMMER, THE COLLEGE BOARD HAS DROPPED THIS CASE
Extended the right of privacy to a woman’s decision to have an abortion and established the three trimester standard
Review Video: Click to view
Shaw v. Reno (1993)
Majority minority districts, created under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, may be constitutionally challenged by voters if race is the only factor used in creating the district
Review Video: Click to view
United States v. Lopez (1995)
Congress may not use the commerce clause to make possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime
Review Video: Click to view
McDonald v. Chicago (2010)
The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for self-defense is applicable to the states. (Incorporation)
Review Video: Click to view
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)
Political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment
Review Video: Click to view
Required Foundational Documents QUIZLET SET
The Declaration of Independence
Document: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html
Review Video: Click to view
The Articles of Confederation
Document: http://www.ushistory.org/documents/confederation.htm
Review Video: Click to view
Brutus No. 1
Antifederalist appeal to the Citizens of the State of New-York
Document: http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/brutus-i/
Summary: http://www.taraross.com/2016/10/the-anti-federalist-papers-brutus-i/
Review Video: Click to view
Federalist No. 10
The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection
Document: http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/federalist-no-10/
Summary: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/f/the-federalist/summary-and-analysis/section-ii-advantages-of-union-federalist-no-10-james-madison
Review Video: Click to view
The Constitution of the United States (including the Bill of Rights and subsequent Amendments)
Document: http://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution
Federalist No. 51
The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments
Document: http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/federalist-no-51/
Main Points: https://www.reference.com/government-politics/main-points-federalist-51-156780bdeae29994
Review Video: Click to view
Federalist No. 70
The Executive Department Further Considered
Document: http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/federalist-no-70/
Summary: https://www.gradesaver.com/the-federalist-papers/study-guide/summary-essay-70
Review Video: Click to view
Federalist No. 78
The Judiciary Department
Document: http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/federalist-no-78/
Summary: https://www.gradesaver.com/the-federalist-papers/study-guide/summary-essay-78
Review Video: Click to view
Letter from a Birmingham Jail (Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Document: http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/documents/Letter_Birmingham_Jail.pdf
Summary: https://www.enotes.com/topics/letter-from-birmingham-city-jail
Review Video: Click to view
Here is a concise review video that covers all 9 documents and how they might be used:
The Declaration of Independence
Document: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html
Review Video: Click to view
The Articles of Confederation
Document: http://www.ushistory.org/documents/confederation.htm
Review Video: Click to view
Brutus No. 1
Antifederalist appeal to the Citizens of the State of New-York
Document: http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/brutus-i/
Summary: http://www.taraross.com/2016/10/the-anti-federalist-papers-brutus-i/
Review Video: Click to view
Federalist No. 10
The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection
Document: http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/federalist-no-10/
Summary: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/f/the-federalist/summary-and-analysis/section-ii-advantages-of-union-federalist-no-10-james-madison
Review Video: Click to view
The Constitution of the United States (including the Bill of Rights and subsequent Amendments)
Document: http://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution
Federalist No. 51
The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments
Document: http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/federalist-no-51/
Main Points: https://www.reference.com/government-politics/main-points-federalist-51-156780bdeae29994
Review Video: Click to view
Federalist No. 70
The Executive Department Further Considered
Document: http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/federalist-no-70/
Summary: https://www.gradesaver.com/the-federalist-papers/study-guide/summary-essay-70
Review Video: Click to view
Federalist No. 78
The Judiciary Department
Document: http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/federalist-no-78/
Summary: https://www.gradesaver.com/the-federalist-papers/study-guide/summary-essay-78
Review Video: Click to view
Letter from a Birmingham Jail (Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Document: http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/documents/Letter_Birmingham_Jail.pdf
Summary: https://www.enotes.com/topics/letter-from-birmingham-city-jail
Review Video: Click to view
Here is a concise review video that covers all 9 documents and how they might be used:
Mr. Schaefer's 16 page Crash Review: Download
Review Powerpoint