GOV - AP United States Government and Politics Exam Overview for Multiple Choice Lesson
AP United States Government and Politics Exam Overview for Multiple Choice
The AP Exam assesses the five units of the course with the following exam weighting on the multiple-choice section:
| Units for AP U.S. Government and Politics | Exam Weighting (Multiple-Choice Section) |
|---|---|
| Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy | 15%–22% |
| Unit 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government | 25%–36% |
| Unit 3: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights | 13%–18% |
| Unit 4: American Political Ideologies and Beliefs | 10%–15% |
| Unit 5: Political Participation | 20%–27% |
Section I: Multiple Choice
55 Questions. 80 minutes. 50% of Exam weight.
The first section of the AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam includes 55 multiple choice questions appearing either as individual questions or in sets of typically two to four questions each. The following chart lays out the different types of questions.
| Question Type | Number of Questions | Stimulus Type |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative analysis | Five sets: two to three questions per set | Each set includes one or more of the following quantitative data as a stimulus: line graphs, charts, tables, maps, and/or infographics. |
| Text-based analysis | Two sets: three to four questions per set | One set includes a foundational document as a stimulus. The other set includes as a stimulus a primary or secondary text-based source. |
| Visual source analysis | Three sets: two questions per set | Each set includes one visual stimulus, including a map, cartoon, and/or infographic. |
| Individual multiple choice questions | Approximately 30 |
No stimulus, but some will be comparison multiple choice questions. |
Learn More
Watch the video below where Ashley Vascik unpacks sample multiple-choice questions. Download questions here. Links to an external site.
Watch the 2nd video below where Steve Heimler unpacks sample multiple-choice questions.
Please view the last type of question he covers at 6:02 in the video. It is the Comparison question.
Let’s look at his example. While the question is in a chart on his example you will see it in the following format on our AP US Government and Politics Tests in our course at GAVS:
Full text of the image above:
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of Federalist and Anti-Federalist views on government?
(Answers choices are arranged as Federalist // AnitFederalist)
- Believed a large republic ensured the best protection of individual freedoms // Believed only a small republic could best ensure protection of individual freedoms
- Believed the creation of a bill of rights was necessary // Believed the creation of a bill of rights was not necessary
- Favored the legislative branch having more power than the executive // Favored increasing the power of the national judiciary over the states
- Favored a weak central government and strong state governments // Favored a strong central government and weak state governments
IMAGES CREATED BY GAVS