The AP® GoPo exam covers Five Units of study.

• Unit 1     Foundations of American Democracy (approximately 15-22% of multiple choice questions)

• Unit 2    Interactions Among Branches of Government (approximately 25-36% of multiple choice questions)

• Unit 3    Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (approximately 13-18% of multiple choice questions)

• Unit 4    American Political Ideologies and Beliefs (approximately 10-15% of multiple choice questions)

• Unit 5    Political Participation (approximately 20-27% of multiple choice questions)

*There is no state/local unit, there is no unit on international politics, and there is no unit on monster trucks.

The AP® Government and Politics Exam is on May 6, 2024!

PART I. Multiple Choice    55 questions; 80 minutes; 50% of exam grade.

• Quantitative Analysis: Analysis and application of quantitative-based source material

  Five sets of quantitative analysis questions ((table, chart, line graph, map, etc.)

  Each set will contain two multiple-choice questions for a total of ten questions.

• Qualitative Analysis: Analysis and application of text-based (primary and secondary) sources

  Two sets of questions based on a text.

• Visual Analysis: Analysis and application of qualitative visual information

  Three sets of visual qualitative sources. (political cartoon, infographic, etc.)

• Concept Application: Explanation of the application of political concepts in context

• Comparison: Explanation of the similarities and differences of political concepts

  Five sets of comparison charts

• Knowledge: Identification and definition of political principles, institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors

PART II. Free Response    4 questions;  1 hour, 40 minutes; 50% of exam grade.

• Concept Application: Respond to a political scenario, explaining how it relates to a political principle, institution, process, policy, or behavior (20 minutes. 12.5% of total score)

• 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 (20 minutes. 12.5% of total score)

• 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 (20 minutes. 12.5% of total score)

• Argument Essay: Develop an argument in the form of an essay, using evidence from one or more required foundational documents (40 minutes. 12.5% of total score)

The AP® exam covers 9 Documents and 14 Landmark Court Cases.

Required Foundational Documents

1. Federalist No. 10

2. Brutus No. 1

3. The Declaration of Independence

4. The Articles of Confederation

5. The Constitution of the United States (Including the Bill of Rights and following Amendments)

6. Federalist 51

7. Letter from Birmingham Jail

8. Federalist No. 70

9. Federalist No. 78

Get Our Foundational Documents Pack!

Required Landmark Supreme Court Cases

1. Marbury v. Madison, 1803*

2. McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819*

3. Brown v. Board of Education, 1954*

4. Gideon v. Wainwright, 1963*

5. Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, 1969*

6. United States v. Lopez, 1995*

7. Baker v. Carr, 1961*

8. Engel v. Vitale, 1962*

9. New York Times Company v. U.S., 1971*

10. Schenck v. United States, 1919*

11. McDonald v. Chicago, 2010*

12. Shaw v. Reno, 1993*

13. Wisconsin v. Yoder, 1972*

14. Citizens United v Federal Election Commission (FEC), 2010*