AP United States Government and Politics
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About the Exam
Exam Overview
The AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam will test your understanding of the political concepts covered in the course units, including your ability to analyze the foundational documents and to apply Supreme Court decisions you studied in the course to real-life scenarios.
Exam Duration
3hrs
3hrs
Update: Roe v. Wade
We’ve received questions from AP teachers about the status of Roe v. Wade (1973), one of the 15 required Supreme Court cases. The Supreme Court recently overturned Roe in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022). Accordingly, Roe no longer applies as precedent for Topic 3.9, “Amendments: Due Process and the Right to Privacy.” Furthermore, the full set of legal implications related to the Dobbs decision and the status of Roe remain uncertain and are likely to evolve. Because AP Exam questions are drafted years before they are administered, future questions about the role of this case as precedent are at risk of becoming inaccurate and confusing to students.
Consequently, teachers and students should not expect exam questions related to Roe v. Wade on the 2023 AP Exam. The AP Program is evaluating inclusion of Roe on future AP Exams and will post an update this fall.
Exam Date
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Mon, May 1, 2023,
8 AM LocalAP United States Government and Politics Exam
This is the regularly scheduled date for the AP United States Government and Politics Exam.
Exam Components
Section I: Multiple Choice
55 questions 1hr 20mins 50% of Score
The multiple-choice section includes individual, single questions as well as sets of questions. You’ll be asked to:
- Describe, explain, and compare political concepts and processes
- Apply Supreme Court decisions in real-life scenarios
- Analyze data in graphs, charts, tables, maps, or infographics
- Read and analyze foundational documents and other text-based and visual sources
Section II: Free Response
4 questions 1hr 40mins 50% of Score
In the free-response section, you’ll respond to four questions with written answers. The section includes:
- 1 concept application question: You’ll describe and explain the effects of a political institution, behavior, or process, and apply concepts in a new situation.
- 1 quantitative analysis question: You’ll analyze data in the form of a table, graph, map, or infographic to find patterns and trends and reach a conclusion.
- 1 SCOTUS comparison question: You’ll compare a nonrequired Supreme Court case with a required one, explaining how information from the required case is relevant to the nonrequired one.
- The prompt specifies 1 required SCOTUS case, and you are asked to identify how that required case is related to the case given in the scenario.
- 1 argument essay: You’ll write an evidence-based essay supporting a claim or thesis.
Exam Essentials
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