1. Structure of the AP Government & Politics Exam
Mrs. Lacks
2013

2. Exam Time 2 hours & 25 mins total
2 Sections: Multiple Choice & Writing
Each section worth 50% of total grade

3. Multiple Choice Section I 60 Questions 45 mins
Five answer choices per question (A – E)

4. Multiple Choice Questions get progressively difficult
Often one or two words can change the question, so read thoroughly
Some questions ask you to analyze charts, graphs, and tables closely

5. Multiple Choice
Reverse MC questions are included (questions that use NOT, LEAST, or EXCEPT)
Multiple MC questions are included (picking multiple answers in one question)

6. Multiple Choice Scoring All questions are of equal weight
If you have no clue, leave it blank
If you can narrow it down to two answers, guess
Scoring is similar to SAT

7. Multiple Choice Political Beliefs & Behaviors: 10 to 20%
Political Parties, Interest Groups, & Mass Media: 10 to 20%
Structure of Government: 35 to 45%
Public Policy: 5 to 15%
Civil Rights & Liberties: 5 to 15%

8. Free Response Section II 4 Essays (FR) 100 mins No choice of essays
Frequently multi-part essays
Each essay carries the same weight (25% of your score for Section II)

9. Free Response
You do not have to answer your questions in order, just label them clearly
At least one question will be stimulus based (chart, graph, table)
Outline your answer & jot down facts
Answer the question that you think is easiest first

10. Almost ALL questions ask you to..
Define or Identify: means to tell me what the term is
Discuss or describe: this means to talk about it – more than a definition (add at least one example)
Explain: means how and why (if you define but don’t explain how or why, no points)

11. Format No need for an introduction or conclusion
Answer each question directly – no BS

12. Use Examples If the question asks you for two examples, write three
No penalty for wrong answers in your FRQ as long as you have the correct number of right ones

13. Do’s
Write as neatly as possible. If they can’t read it, they can’t grade it.
Read the question. Then read the question again. Make sure you’re answering only what is being asked.
Use the EXACT VOCABULARY from the question in each component of your answer.
Define all government related vocabulary even if you think it’s obvious

14. Don’ts
Don’t give personal opinions (like your political affiliation or whether you like the president’s policy). The exam tests your knowledge of political process, not opinion.
Don’t give long, unnecessary introductions, get right to the point.
Don’t give information they didn’t ask for. There are no extra credit or “brownie” points.

15. Don’ts Do not label parts of the question in your answer
Separate each part in a separate paragraph (even if you’re only writing a couple of sentences), but do not differentiate by writing (a), (b), ( c), etc.

16. Overall Scoring - 2009 5 (extremely well qualified): 13.1%
2 (possibly qualified): 24.2%
1 (no recommendation): 20.3%