AP Comparative Government and Politics

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AP Comparative Government and Politics

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About the Course

If you’re curious about how governments and politics work outside the United States, AP Comparative Government and Politics is the perfect course for you. This course explores the government and politics in China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Throughout the course, you’ll learn how different governments solve similar problems and will gain a clear understanding of the comparative method by analyzing data and text-based sources, making comparisons and applications, and developing evidence-based arguments.

Skills You'll Learn

  • Connecting political concepts to real-life situations

  • Comparing different political systems, institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors

  • Analyzing data to find patterns and trends and draw conclusions

  • Reading and analyzing text sources

  • Developing a claim or thesis and explaining and supporting it in an essay

Equivalency and Prerequisites

College Course Equivalent

A one-semester introductory college course in comparative government and politics

Recommended Prerequisites

None

Exam Date

Wed, May 7, 2025

12 PM Local

AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam

This is the regularly scheduled date for the AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam.

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About the Units

The course content outlined below is organized into commonly taught units of study that provide one possible sequence for the course. Your teacher may choose to organize the course content differently based on local priorities and preferences.

Course Content

Credit and Placement

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Course Resources

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AP Classroom Resources

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AP Comparative Government and Politics Course and Exam Description

This is the core document for the course. It clearly lays out the course content and describes the exam and the AP Program in general.

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The Difference Between AP U.S. Government and Politics and AP Comparative Government and Politics

Read about the similarities and differences between AP U.S. Government and Politics and AP Comparative Government and Politics, and discover which course may be right for you.

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More About Your Course

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CIA World Factbook

This resource from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency provides information on the history, government, economy, geography, and other aspects of hundreds of countries.

  • Go to CIA.gov

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Library of Congress Country Studies

The U.S. Library of Congress offers this digital series of books that describe and analyze the systems and institutions of countries and regions around the world.

  • Go to Library Of Congress

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U.S. Department of State

The U.S. Department of State website provides information on the world’s countries and regions, U.S. international policies, and more.

  • Go to U.S. Department Of State

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United Nations

The United Nations website offers information on U.N. actions and policies around the world, documents including U.N. Security Council resolutions, and other resources.

  • Go to United Nations

See Where AP Can Take You

AP Comparative Government and Politics can lead to a wide range of careers and college majors

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Majors 20

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