The AP Exam
Format for AP Government
Section 1: Multiple Choice (50%)
• 45 Minutes
• 60 Questions
• No guessing penalty
• The questions do not test
“history” or “knowledge of
events.”
• The questions focus on the
structures of government, the
interactions of/with
government, and the impact
of government
Section 2: Free Response (50%)
• 100 Minutes
• 4 Questions (all equal in
terms of worth)
• Most often they attempt to
link different concepts
together.
The Units of Study
• Unit One: Constitutional Underpinnings
– Theories of democratic government
– Considerations that influenced the formulation
and adoption of the Constitution
– Content and structures of the Constitution
– Separation of powers
– Federalism
(5-15% of Exam)
The Units of Study
• Unit Two: Political Beliefs and Behaviors
– Beliefs that citizens hold about their government and
leaders
– Factors that influence citizens to differ in terms of
political beliefs and behaviors
– The nature, sources, and consequences of public
opinion
– The ways in which citizens vote and participate in
political life
(10-20%)
The Units of Study
• Unit Three: Political Parties, Elections and Media
– Political Parties (including functions, organizations,
historical developments and effects on the political
process)
– Nomination and elections processes and campaign
strategy
– Interest Groups (including PACs)
– Media (Function, structure, and impact on politics)
(10-20%)
The Units of Study
• Unit Four: Institutions of National Government
– Legislative
– Executive
– Judicial
– Bureaucracy
(35-45%)
The Units of Study
• Unit Five: Public Policy
– Policy making in a federal system
– Formation of policy agendas
– Role of institutions in policy enactment
– Role of bureaucracy and courts in policy
implementation and interpretation
– Linkages between policy processes and various
aspects of Government
(5-15%)
The Units of Study
• Unit Six: Civil Liberties/Civil Rights
– Development of civil liberties and civil rights
– Substantive rights and liberties
– Impact of the 14th Amendment on rights/liberties
(5%-15%)
How to Write a Gov. FRQ
• Step One: Forget how to write FRQs from APUSH!
In this case those of you who didn’t have APUSH
actually are starting at a small advantage (or
at least at the same spot). By the way, don’t
actually forget it as it will help you with
college writing, just don’t bring it into this
house.
How to Write a Gov. FRQ
• Have I READ and UNDERSTOOD the question?
Did you read the question? Good! NOW READ IT AGAIN.
You need to know what the question is asking you. If you
are asked to discuss the CHANGE in federalism over time,
you don’t get full credit by simply defining federalism.
The rest of your answer would involve using new policies
and court cases to explain how they changed federalism.
75% of all mistakes made on FRQs are made because the
student doesn’t know what is being asked of them. *
* I have no idea if this statistic is actually true or not. I just made it up. But based on observation over the past
6 years, it is pretty accurate so it is close enough for our purposes.
How To Write A Gov. FRQ
• Did I identify the question type?
There are generally only two types of questions asked on
the AP Government Exam. The verbs which the
question uses will tell you what kind of question is
being asked.
1) Write about the MEANING of a concept. Key verbs:
define, describe, identify, list, state, summarize
2) Compare, contrast, explain how one factor influences
other factors, or explain how something actually works.
Key verbs: Compare, contrast, discuss, explain, and
illustrate
How To Write A Gov. FRQ
Key Vocabulary for what type of question…
• List
Write an itemized series of concise statements (concepts,
events, laws) without explanation.
• Identify
Write a concise statement defining a concept, event, law
without explanation
• Describe
Give a detailed account. Make a picture with words. Include
characteristics, qualities, and parts.
• Explain
Make an idea/concept/process/relationship clear. Show the
logical relationship between components of the question.
Provide reasons for an event or series of events. Provide
supporting evidence/data. Requires EXPLICIT LINKAGE
(cannot imply) between what is being explained and how or
why it exists, happens, or whatever the question spells out.
• Compare
Show the similarities (and sometimes the differences)
between two or more things.
• Contrast
Show the differences between two or more things
How To Write A Gov. FRQ
Which path do I take?
Often times, FRQ’s will ask you to come up with several IDs
and to elaborate on them. They might ask for “two
reasons”, “three examples”, or “four ways.” However, there
are often 7 or 8 possible right answers. Therefore, before
you write, make a list of all the possible answers you know
could work. Then, choose the ones that you feel the most
comfortable writing about. AP readers DO NOT PENALIZE
YOU FOR WRONG ANSWERS, ONLY MISSING ANSWERS.
Therefore, if they ask for “two examples” then you can give
three examples (as long as none of the examples
CONTRADICT another one). UNLESS they ask for MAIN,
FUNDAMENTAL, or PRIMARY in which case you must give
only ONE.
How To Write A Gov. FRQ
What is linkage?
Because this is the FRQ section the College Board likes to
ask how one aspect of government impacts another.
Whenever you are linking anything (two parts of
government, cause and effect) you MUST BE EXPLICIT.
You cannot imply anything on the FRQs. They must be
stated. Think back to how you were taught to answer
questions in a full sentence back in elementary school.
Basically restate the question in the answer. Failure to
do so means you missed the point because you failed
to CLOSE THE LOOP (CTL).
How To Write A Gov. FRQ
Do I need an introduction? Do I need to write full
paragraphs?
No, you don’t. Let me repeat this. You do not need to
write an introduction. You don’t have to answer in
paragraphs. In order to avoid students from going on
political rants the College Board has made the
questions so bland that no opinion, or stand on a
position is required. They give you all that you need to
answer in the question. So no introduction is needed.
In addition, you do not need to answer in full
paragraph forms either. All that is required is enough
to answer the question. No more and no less
How To Write A Gov. FRQ
That sounds cool. Show me how that looks.
Can you ask nicely?
Can you please show me how that looks?
That’s better. Ok assume the following part of a
question (this question taken from the 2005 AP
Exam and is only one aspect of the question).
Question: Explain how two factors keep the United
States Supreme Court from deviating too far
from public opinion.
How To Write A Gov. FRQ
Question: Explain how two factors keep the United States Supreme
Court from deviating too far from public opinion.
1) One factor is the fact that Presidents nominate Supreme Court
Justices to their seats. Because the President is an elected position
his decisions can impact his approval ratings and chances for reelection. Due to this the President will nominate Justices whose
opinions are not far out of the mainstream and won’t deviate too
far from public opinion.
2) Supreme Court rulings can be overruled by the passage of new
laws or constitutional amendments. If an opinion issued by the
Court deviates too far from public opinion, the elected Congress
who are responsible to the people will takes actions to overturn the
Court’s decision. Not wanting to be overruled by Congress, the
Court will not deviate too far from public opinion.
How To Write A Gov. FRQ
Did I re-read my answer?
You are going to be stuck in this room for 100
minutes. You’re not going anywhere and if
you tried you’ll get a zero on the test. Take
the time to go back over your answer. Make
sure you answered the question fully. If you
didn’t you can add on to the answer (You can
even attach it using an arrow if you don’t have
room on the paper).
How To Write A Gov. FRQ
What are some easy, general tips for doing well?
• Give concrete examples. Specific examples of your
answers will solidify your answers.
• Answer all parts of the question. Exam graders tend to
reward students more for answering all parts of the
question rather than doing really well on just one part.
• Understand what you are being asked before you start
writing
• Don’t panic and start making things up. It is better to
just make a brainstorm list and you might get lucky and
stumble across a right answer
How To Write A Gov. FRQ
What are some things I should always do?
• Write as neatly as possible. If they can’t read it, they can’t grade it.
Neatly draw a line through a mistake and write the correct
information above or after it.
• Read the question. Then read the question again. Only answer
what is being asked.
• Reread your work if you have time. Pay close attention to see if you
link the answer to the question.
• Use the EXACT VOCABULARY from the question in each component
of your answer. Most rubrics ask for linkage back to the question.
This is an easy way to move in that direction.
• When answering in bullet point format use the same
letters/numbers in the question. If the question is A, then put A on
your answer sheet and follow with the answer.
How To Write A Gov. FRQ
What are some things I should never do?
• Don’t give personal opinions. The exam tests knowledge of
process not opinion. In addition you don’t want to upset
somebody grading you who doesn’t believe what you do.
• Don’t give long, unnecessary introductions. Get to the
point. Actually don’t even write an introduction.
• Don’t give information they didn’t ask for. They don’t give
“brownie” or extra credit points
• Don’t spend more than 25 minutes on any one question
(unless it’s the last one and you’re done with the others)
• Don’t fall asleep. Fight the fatigue. Slap yourself if needed
to stay awake.