Rules for Taking AP Exams
The Multiple Choice Test
1. Do not panic if you come across some difficult questions. The test is designed to
include some very tough questions in order to differentiate between the more well
prepared students and the less prepared students.
2. Use at least two “go throughs” on the test.
 On the first run, answer only the questions that you definitely know and
skipping all Graph / Data questions.
 On the second run, go back and answer the questions you skipped on the first
pass. Continue skipping all Graph / Data questions.
 If there is time, go back a third time and try to answer the Graph / Data
questions.
3. Circle any EXCEPT questions in order to remind yourself that you are looking for a
false statement for the answer. Remember, you are allowed to write on the AP exams.
4. DO NOT change an answer unless you are certain that it is correct. Make sure that all
erasures are clear.
 On your first pass through the test, mark all answers lightly.
 On the second pass, as part of checking your answers, darken the answers.
5. There is no penalty for guessing, so narrow it down and take a guess.
6. Be mindful of the time. You only have 45 minutes to answer 60 questions. By making
multiple passes, you will be given the opportunity to answer more questions correct.
The Free Response Question
1. On the AP Exam, you will have 100 minutes to answer 4 Free Response questions.
You do not have to answer the questions in order, do the easy questions first and then
come back to the difficult questions. You can write your answers in the booklet out
of order, just be sure to label the question number at the top of the each page you
write on.
2. Attack the question! Analyze the question to determine what it is asking for and how
many points the Rubric / Question is worth. By analyzing the question in this manner,
you are able to make sure that you have successfully answered every part of the
question.
 Underline the verbs in the question that tell you what to do.
 Tailor your answer to what is called for by the verbs.
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
Example: Identify, asks for a simple listing, whereas, discuss, explain, or
describe, require an elaboration.
3. Jot down the letter for each part of the answer, and then do what that part of the
question asks for. If part of the question asks you to identify something that can be
accomplished in a sentence or two. If the question uses discuss, explain or, describe,
you will be required to write much more.
 With verbs such as discuss, explain, or describe, it is important to avoid
MINIMALISM (not writing enough). It is crucial that you include enough
support information to support your answer.
 Use examples whenever possible. This demonstrates a higher level of
knowledge and gives the reader another chance to give you points.
4. General Guidelines:
 Skip lines between answers for each part of the question.
 Use a BLUE pen.
 Write on one side of the page only. Writing on the back of the page makes the
answers difficult to read.
5. If there is an actual question such as, “Does Congress exercise effective oversight
over the bureaucracy?” be sure to answer it. Typically you will be required to back
up your answer with a certain number of supporting points.
6. If the question calls for you to do something, such as “Explain three reasons for…”
or “Discuss two reasons why…” number your responses to make your answer easier
for the reader to grade.
7. Unless there is an actual question, you do not need to include a thesis. Most free
response items already include the thesis in the question. You do not need an
introduction or conclusion either. You get ZERO points for these.
 Put your effort into answering the prompt (AP= Answer the Prompt)
8. Goals:
 Your primary goal is to SCORE points rather than write a formal essay.
 By closely analyzing the question, you should be able to determine how many
points are available for each prompt. Score as many of the points as you can,
even if you cannot answer every part of the question, answer the parts you
can.
 You are not expected to earn perfect scores on each of the free response
questions. Earn as many points as you can.
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Sample Free Response Question
The United States Constitution has endured for more than two centuries as the
framework of government. However, the meaning of the Constitution has been changed
both by formal and informal methods.
A. Identify two formal methods for adding amendments to the Constitution
B. Describe two informal methods that have been used to change the meaning of the
Constitution. Provide one specific example for each informal method you described.
C. Explain why informal methods are used more often than the formal amendment
process.
Sample Answer
A.
1- Congress can propose an amendment with a 2/3 vote in both houses, and the
proposed amendment can then be ratified by ¾ of the state legislatures.
2- Congress can propose an amendment with a 2/3 vote in both houses, and the
proposed amendment can be approved by ratifying conventions in ¾ of the
states.
B.
1- Judicial Interpretation: As a framework for government, the wording of the
Constitution can be vague, and requires clarification. This clarification can be
performed by court decisions. In effect, the Supreme Court can be a
“constitutional convention in continuous session.” For example, when the
Supreme Court struck down school segregation in the Brown v. Board case, it
was clarifying the meaning of the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause.
Although the wording of the 14th Amendment itself did not change with this
court decision, the meaning of the amendment changed.
2- Congressional Elaboration: Again, the Constitution is broadly worded, and
needs, “filling in” from time to time. Congress can accomplish this by simply
passing laws. For example, the Judiciary Act of 1789 laid the foundation of
our Federal Court System. Although the wording of the Constitution did not
change with the passage of this law, the creation of lower courts to
supplement the Supreme Court changed the meaning of the Constitution.
C.
1- Informal methods are used more often than the formal amendment process
simply because of practicalities. The supermajorities that are required to
propose and ratify and amendment are difficult to muster. This is
demonstrated by the fact that the Constitution has been formally amended
only 27 times in more than 200 years. Informal methods such as court
decisions and legislation do not require such supermajorities, and are therefore
far easier to accomplish.
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Free Response Writing Styles
Understand the Instructions and Action Verbs
When writing Free Responses, you will be asked to list, discuss, describe, explain,
analyze, etc.; these are not all identical tasks. Most questions will call for more than one
task, such as both to identify and explain. You must understand that some tasks are more
complex than others. For example, composing a list may not even require a complete
sentence, but you may need to write several paragraphs for a satisfactory discussion,
including well-developed examples as support, in order to adequately explain some
phenomenon. Here are some of the most common action words used in past free-response
questions:

List/Identify: Listing or identifying is a task that requires no more than a simple
enumeration of some factors or characteristics. A list does not require any causal
explanations. For example, you might be asked to list or identify three characteristics
Presidents consider when making appointments. Such a list, which could be bulleted
or numbered, and might include party, race, gender, etc.

Define: A definition requires you to provide a meaning for a word or concept.
Examples may help to demonstrate understanding of the definition. You may be
instructed to note the term's significance as part of the definition.

Describe: A description involves providing a depiction or portrayal of a phenomenon
or its most significant characteristics. Descriptions most often address "what"
questions. For example, if you are asked to describe reasons for the decline in voter
turnout, in the description you must do more than simply list facts, you must actually
describe the reasons. For example, you may explain that the expansion of suffrage led
to decline in overall voter turnout because once voting was made available to more
individuals, the overall percentage of those voting declined.

Discuss: Discussions generally require that you explore relationships between
different concepts or phenomena. Identifying, describing, and explaining could be
required tasks involved in writing a satisfactory discussion.

Explain: An explanation involves the exploration of possible causal relationships.
When providing explanations, you should identify and discuss logical connections or
causal patterns that exist between or among various political phenomena.

Compare/Contrast: This task requires you to make specific links between two or
more concepts or phenomena. You should understand that it is important to note
similarities AND differences between the concepts or phenomena under
consideration.
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
Evaluate/Assess: An evaluation or assessment involves considering how well
something meets a certain standard, and as such generally requires a thesis. It is
important to identify the criteria used in the evaluation. If no criteria are explicitly
given in the question, you should take care to clearly identify the ones that they
choose to employ. Specific examples may be applied to the criteria to support the
student's thesis. Evaluation or assessment requires explicit connections between the
thesis or argument and the supporting evidence.

Analyze: This task usually requires separating a phenomenon into its component
parts or characteristics as a way of understanding the whole. An analysis should yield
explicit conclusions that are explained or supported by specific evidence and/or wellreasoned arguments.
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