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2024 AP US Government & Politics Exam Guide
11 min read ⢠july 12, 2023
Your Guide to the 2024 AP US Government & Politics Exam
We know that studying for your AP exams can be stressful, but Fiveable has your back! We created a study plan to help you crush your AP Government and Politics exam. This guide will continue to update with information about the 2024 exams, as well as helpful resources to help you do your best on test day. Unlock Cram Mode for access to our cram eventsâstudents who have successfully passed their AP exams will answer your questions and guide your last-minute studying LIVE! And don't miss out on unlimited access to our database of thousands of practice questions.
Format of the 2024 AP US Gov Exam
Going into test day, this is the format to expect:
đ 55 multiple-choice questions with 80 minutes to complete them.
There will be ~30 individual, stand-alone questions.
All the other questions will be put together into sets. You may be asked to complete a quantitative, qualitative, or visual analysis in these questions.
â 4 free-response questions with 100 minutes to complete them. You should devote ~20 minutes to each response.
Question 1 is always a concept application question.
Question 2 is a quantitative analysis question, where you will analyze data and come to a conclusion.
Question 3 is a Supreme Court case comparison essay. You will compare a required court case with a nonrequired one, explaining how they are related.
Lastly, question 4 is an argumentative essay .
đ Check out the 2023 AP US Government and Politics Free-Response Section posted on the College Board site.
Scoring Rubric for the AP US Government Exam
View an example set of questions and the corresponding scoring guidelines (page 186) from the College Board to get an idea of what they look for in your responses! You can also focus in on the argumentative essay (free response #4) and take a look at that rubric here .
Check out our study plan below to find resources and tools to prepare for your AP US Government exam.
When is the 2024 AP Gov Exam and How do I Take it?
Tests will be taken in person at your school. Here is what we know from College Board so far:
The exam date will be in-person and on paper at your school on Monday, May 6, 2024 at 8 am, your local time.
You have 3 hours to take the exam. We will have more updates from College Board soon, but as of now, this is what we know!
How Should I Prepare for the AP Gov Exam?
First, you need to take stock of your progress in the course so far so that you can build your study plan according to your needs. Download the AP Government and Politics Cheatsheet PDF âa single sheet that covers everything you need to knowâso that you can see a map of the entire course and quickly spot the weak areas that you need to focus on.
Then, create your study plan by focusing on your learning styles and areas to improve. Which types of questions do you need to practice more? We've put together the study plan found below to help you study between now and May. This will cover all of the units and essay types to prepare you for your exam. Pay special attention to the units that you need the most improvement in.
Study, practice, and review for test day with other students during our live cram sessions via Cram Mode . Cram live streams will teach, review, and practice important topics from AP courses, college admission tests, and college admission topics. These streams are hosted by experienced students who know what you need to succeed.
Finally, build your study schedule in advance! We highly suggest making your study schedule ahead of time so that you can easily join interactive study sessions such as live streams, voice chats, and study groups.
Pre-Work: Set Up Your Study Environment
Before you begin studying, take some time to get organized.
đĽ Create a study space.
Make sure you have a designated place at home to study. Somewhere you can keep all of your materials, where you can focus on learning, and where you are comfortable. Spend some time prepping the space with everything you need and you can even let others in the family know that this is your study space.Â
đ Organize your study materials.
Get your notebook, textbook, prep books, or whatever other physical materials you have. Also create a space for you to keep track of review. Start a new section in your notebook to take notes or start a Google Doc to keep track of your notes. Get yourself set up!
đ Plan designated times for studying.
The hardest part about studying from home is sticking to a routine. Decide on one hour every day that you can dedicate to studying. This can be any time of the day, whatever works best for you. Set a timer on your phone for that time and really try to stick to it. The routine will help you stay on track.
đ Decide on an accountability plan.
How will you hold yourself accountable to this study plan? You may or may not have a teacher or rules set up to help you stay on track, so you need to set some for yourself. First set your goal. This could be studying for x number of hours or getting through a unit. Then, create a reward for yourself. If you reach your goal, then x. This will help stay focused!
AP US Government & Politics 2024 Study Plan
đď¸ unit 1: foundations of american democracy, big takeaways:.
Unit 1 introduces the concept of democracy and its various forms. The documents that first started the United States are analyzed by looking at the challenges and promises associated with each. The division of power within our government: individual rights vs government authority and state vs federal government powers are at the heart of this unit and discussed within each founding document.Â
Definitely do this:
đĽ Watch these videos:
Intro to American Government, models of Representative Democracy : A full review of the types of democracy, the difference between government and politics as well as the functions of government are discussed.Â
Foundational Documents Review : A deep dive into the foundational documents you need to know for the exam.
Ratification of the Constitution: Constitutional Convention : A review of the compromises leading to the ratification of the Constitution.Â
đ° Check out these articles:
Unit 1 Overview: Foundations of American DemocracyÂ
1.1 Ideals of Democracy Â
1.2 Types of DemocracyÂ
1.3 Federalist No. 10 & Brutus 1 SummaryÂ
1.4 Challenges of the Articles of Confederation
1.5 Ratification of the US Constitution
1.6 Principles of American Government
1.7 Relationship Between States and the Federal Government
1.8 Constitutional Interpretations of Federalism
1.9 Federalism in ActionÂ
1.10 Required Founding Documents
âď¸ Practice:
Best Quizlet Deck: AP Gov Unit 1 by bryce_s
If you have more time or want to dig deeper:
đť Check out Too Late to Apologize: An Ode to the Declaration of Independence (YouTube)
Types of Federalism Part 1 - Dual vs Cooperative
Marbury v. Madison, McCulloch v. Maryland and US v. Lopez
The Powers - Expressed, Implied, Concurrent, Denied...
âď¸ Unit 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government
Unit 2 dives into the separation of powers between our three branches of government. It looks at the specific powers of each branch as outlined in the Constitution and how each branch has grown in power through the years. The system of checks and balances and the role each branch plays in holding the other accountable is analyzed.Â
Legislative and Judicial Branch Review : This stream provides a review of the legislative and judicial branches including their powers and role within the federal government.
Powers of the Presidency : This stream provides a review of the executive branch including its powers and role within the federal government.
Separation of Powers/Checks and Balances : This video from Crash Course reviews the separation of powers between the three branches of government. It also looks at the ways each branch âchecksâ the other.Â
Unit 2 Overview: Interactions Among Branches of Government
2.1 Congress : The Senate and the House of Representatives
2.2 Structures, Powers, and Functions of Congress
2.3 Congressional Behavior
2.4 Roles and Power of the President
2.5 Checks on the Presidency
2.6 Expansion of Presidential Power
2.7 Presidential Communication
2.8 The Judicial Branch
2.9 Legitimacy of the Judicial Branch
2.10 The Court in Action
2.11 Checks on the Judicial Branch
2.12 The Bureaucracy
2.13 Discretionary and Rule-Making Authority
2.14 Holding the Bureaucracy Accountable
2.15 Policy and the Branches of Government
Best Quizlet Deck: Unit 2 â AP Gov by k8te13
Bill to Law Process
Review and Application of Iron Triangles and Issue Networks
Selection and Nomination of Federal Judges
â Unit 3: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Unit 3 takes the principles of our government established in Units 1 and 2 to analyze maintaining those principles while balancing liberty and order. The role of the Bill of Rights and the 14th amendment in guaranteeing civil rights and liberties for all citizens is at the heart of this unit. Â
First and Second Amendments : This stream looks at what the first and second amendments say, how they have been interpreted and some of the major Supreme Court cases around them.
Civil Liberties and Civil Rights : This video from crash course provides a review of the civil liberties and civil rights guaranteed to US citizens. It also looks at the way the Bill of Rights has been interpreted since its inception in relation to liberties and rights.
The 14th Amendment : This stream breaks down the 14th amendment and many of the key terms associated with it: due process, equal protection, incorporation, citizenship, and privileges or immunities clause.Â
Required Supreme Court Cases from 1st-10th Amendments : This stream reviews Supreme Court cases about the 1st-10th Amendments and how they protect civil liberties today!
Unit 3 Overview: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
3.1 The Bill of Rights
3.2 First Amendment: Freedom of Religion
3.3 First Amendment: Freedom of Speech
3.4 First Amendment: Freedom of the Press
3.5 Second Amendment: Rights to Bear Arms
3.6 Amendments: Balancing Individual Freedom with Public Order and Safety
3.7 Selective Incorporation & the 14th Amendment
3.8 Amendments: Due Process and the Rights of the Accused
3.9 Amendments: Due Process and the Right to Privacy
3.10 Social Movements and Equal Protection
3.11 Government Responses to Social Movements
3.12 Balancing Minority and Majority Rights
3.13 Affirmative Action
Best Quizlet Deck: AP Gov â Civil Liberties and Rights by Sandy_Midgley
đ Check out Bill of Rights and Bill of Rights (YouTube)
Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (Fiveable stream)
đUnit 4: American Political Ideologies and Beliefs
Unit 4 focuses on political ideology - the idea that there are different and consistent patterns of beliefs about political values and the role of government within the context that we live in. This unit will discuss the different American ideologies and how major parties influence them.
Political Socialization and Political Ideology : This stream discusses what influences people's political views and a few different dominant political ideologies.
Political Parties and Their Platforms : This stream dives into the major beliefs and ideologies of the Republican and Democratic party platforms, the history of political parties, their impact on voters and the government, and third parties were also discussed.
Economic Ideology - Keynesian vs Supply Side : In this stream we dived into fiscal economic theory and policy, looking at the liberal take on Keynesian theory and the conservative look at supply-side theory.Â
Unit 4 Overview: American Political Ideologies and Beliefs
4.1 American Attitudes about Government and Politics
4.2 Political Socialization
4.4 Influence of Political Events on Ideology
4.5 Measuring Public Opinion
4.6 Evaluating Public Opinion Data
4.7 Ideologies of Political Parties
4.8 Ideology and Policy Making
4.9 Ideology and Economic Policy
4.10 Ideology and Social Policy
Best Quizlet Deck: AP GOV Unit 4 by MARGARET_CYLKOWSKI
A Review of Public Policy (Social Policy)
A Review of Public Policy (Economic Policy)
Social Security, Healthcare, and Education Policy
đłUnit 5: Political Participation
This unit focuses on how we, citizens, can participate in politics as well as how the media, finance and other factors play a part in our government and policy-making.Â
Voting and Voter Behavior : Who votes and why do they vote? This stream answers these questions and explains the process of voting in the US in this stream.
Campaign Finance : Campaign finance isn't as scary as you think! This stream looks at the Federal Elections Campaign Act, hard vs soft money, Buckley vs Valeo, Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, Citizens United vs FEC, 501(c)s, and more!
Media Ownership and Bias :Â This steam discusses the growing concentration of media companies and how bias in media affects both policy-making and public interest.
Critical Elections: Realignments and Dealignment : Often, students are confused on the differences between a party realignment and dealignment. This stream covers those around the five critical elections in US history.Â
Unit 5 Overview: Political Participation
5.1 Voting Rights and Models of Voting Behaviour
5.2 Voter Turnout
5.3 Political Parties
5.4 How and Why Political Parties Change
5.5 Third-Party Politics
5.6 Interest Groups Influencing Policy Making
5.7 Groups Influencing Policy Outcomes
5.8 Electing a President
5.9 Congressional Elections
5.10 Modern Campaigns
5.11 Campaign Finance
5.12 The Media
5.13 Changing Media
Best Quizlet Deck: AP Government - Political Participation by Carpenter-Economics
đ§AP US Government - Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
AP US Government Multiple Choice Questions
AP US Government Multiple Choice Help (MCQ)
đď¸AP US Government - Free Response Questions (FRQ)
Breaking Down the Supreme Court Case Comparison Essay : This stream discusses how exactly to write the Supreme Court Case Comparison Essay, FRQ #3, on the AP Gov exam! We talked about the elements of a good response, and wrote one ourselves!
Writing Workshop on the Argumentative Essay : This stream explores the Argumentative Essay, looking at the rubric and then using the remainder of the time to practice our skills.Â
AP US Government Free Response Help - FRQs
FRQ: Conceptual Analysis
FRQ: SCOTUS Application
AP Gov FRQ: Argument Essay Review (2020)
AP Gov FRQ: Quantitative Analysis Review (2020)
AP Gov SAQ Practice Prompt Answers & Feedback
AP GoPo Free Response Questions (FRQ) â Past Prompts
AP Gov Federalism Practice Prompt Answers & Feedback
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Lesson Plan: AP Government: Argumentative Essay Practice
The Federalist Papers
Boston College professor Mary Sarah Bilder gives a brief overview backgrounding the Federalist Papers
Description
This is intended as an end-of-course review activity for practice with the argumentative essay format included on the AP United States Government and Politics exam since the 2018 redesign. Eleven practice prompts are provided, reflecting content from Units 1-3.
ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY PROMPT ANALYSIS
- Review the provided Argumentative Essay Prompts in either an individual or jigsaw format.
- Write a thesis statement for your selected prompt(s) and identify the selection you would make from the provided list and the second piece of evidence you would choose.
- If there are prompts for which you struggle to develop a thesis, or items on the bulleted lists with which you are not conversant, use the hyperlinked C-SPAN Classroom resources to extend your understanding of the required founding documents and SCOTUS cases that you found challenging.
ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
- Chose one or more of the provided Argumentative Essay Prompts , as assigned, and use the planning and exploration you did above to write a full essay in response to your designated prompt(s) in 25 or fewer minutes , since that's the time limit you'll face on the AP Exam!
- Exchange essays with a classmate and evaluate each others' work.
- 1st Amendment
- Branches Of Government
- Constitution
- House Of Representatives
- Separation Of Powers
- Supreme Court
AP US Government FRQ
Ap government free response.
Check out the following resources for the AP Gov FRQ. Be sure to watch these strategy videos and work through all of the free response practice questions.
Official Sample FRQ
Frq strategy videos, how to write ap gov frqs, argumentative essay.
AP Government | Practice Exams | FRQ | Notes | Videos |Â Flashcards |Â Study Guides
Choose Your Test
Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the complete guide to ap us government frqs.
Advanced Placement (AP)
Free-response questions, or FRQs, on the AP US Government exam are more straightforward than those on some other AP tests, but they can still be tough if you're not ready for them. In this guide, we will lay out a simple step-by-step method for answering AP Government FRQs , go through a real example, and tell you where you can find additional practice resources.
AP Government Free-Response Section Format
The free-response section lasts one hour and 40 minutes and consists of four questions , each of which is worth 12.5% of your total score. So as a whole, the free-response section accounts for half your total AP Gov score (the other 50% comes from the multiple-choice section). Each FRQ is worth 3-6 raw points.
Here are the four types of FRQs you'll get on the AP Government exam:
- Concept Application (3 raw points)
- Quantitative Analysis (4 raw points)
- SCOTUS Comparison (4 raw points)
- Argument Essay (6 raw points)
The free-response questions will ask you to integrate your knowledge of the various content areas covered by the course. This includes analyzing political events in the US, discussing examples, and demonstrating your understanding of general principles of US government and politics. You'll also be asked to examine data from charts, define key terms, and explain the roles that different parts of our government play in the political system.
The following chart shows specifically what you must do for each FRQ on the AP Government test. All info below comes from the 2020 AP US Government and Politics Course and Exam Description .
AP Government FRQs: 5-Step Solution Process
This section provides a step-by-step process for answering any question on the AP US Government exam. Here's a sample question from the 2020 AP Gov Course and Exam Description that I'll reference throughout so you can see how these steps might work in practice:
Step 1: Read the Introductory and Concluding Sentences
Free-response questions #1 and #3 will include passages, while question #2 will have an image or a chart with data. Skim the first and final sentences of the passage (or title of the graphic for #2) before you get to the tasks (labeled A-C or A-D). This will help you get a rough sense of what to expect in the rest of the question.
It's a good idea to read the intros and conclusions to all the FRQs before choosing which one to begin with. Doing this might help build up your confidence and improve your efficiency to start with a question that's easier for you.
In the sample question above, you would read the title of the graphic ("Public Education Spending: Amount Spent per Pupil by State in 2014") and then skim the image itself to get a sense of what it's asking you to analyze.
Step 2: Identify (and Underline, If You Want) the Command Verb
For each task in each FRQ, you're given specific instructions on the type of answer that is expected; these instructions include command verbs that tell you what to do. It's important to be aware of exactly what the question is asking so you can earn full points.
These command verbs are the first words you should zero in on as you approach a question. If you think it'll help keep you focused, you can underline these verbs .
Here are the most commonly used task verbs, as described in the AP Gov Exam Description :
Compare: Provide a description or explanation of similarities and/or differences.
Define: Provide a specific meaning for a word or concept.
Describe: Provide the relevant characteristics of a specified topic.
Develop an argument: Articulate a claim and support it with evidence.
Draw a conclusion: Use available information to formulate an accurate statement that demonstrates understanding based on evidence.
Explain: Provide information about how or why a relationship, process, pattern, position, situation, or outcome occurs, using evidence and/or reasoning. Explain "how" typically requires analyzing the relationship, process, pattern, position, situation, or outcome, whereas explain "why" typically requires analysis of motivations or reasons for the relationship, process, pattern, position, situation, or outcome.
Identify: Indicate or provide information about a specified topic, without elaboration or explanation.
In part A of the sample question, the command verb is "identify," indicating that you need to correctly interpret the data in the image. In part B, the command verb changes to "describe," which means you'll need to go one step further and interpret and analyze data in the graphic that you have found.
Part C starts with "draw a conclusion," meaning that you will need to tie together the evidence you found in part B to come up with a final (accurate) statement on what this means. Finally, part D begins with the task verb "explain," showing that you must make a clear connection between the data in this graphic as a whole and the principle of federalism.
Step 3: Know Where You'll Earn Your Raw Points
In general, each part in a question (A, B, C, and D) will correspond to 1 raw point , but not all questions are like this.
After finding the task verb in the part of the question you're answering, take note of how many examples or descriptions you need to provide , as each will likely correspond to a point in your raw score for the question. There might also be more than one task verb in a question, in which case you'll likely get at least 2 raw points for it.
As a reminder, here is the maximum number of raw points you can earn for each question (don't forget that each question is still worth the same percentage of your score: 12.5%):
Take care to answer the question thoroughly but directly , addressing all points in a way that will make it easy for graders to assess your response. Remember that you don't need to write an essay for the first three FRQs, so just go straight for the answer to avoid any ambiguity.
In the sample question, we know there will be 4 raw points you can earn. And since the tasks are divided into four parts (labeled A-D), we can assume that each part will be worth 1 raw point .
You can see more sample FRQs and how they're graded with the official scoring guidelines here .
Step 4: Reread Your Answer
Once you've come up with an answer, reread what you wrote to ensure it makes sense and addresses the question completely . Did you give the correct number of descriptions or examples asked of you? Does your answer directly respond to what the question is asking?
If you're satisfied, move on to the next part of the question and return to step 2!
Step 5: Pace Yourself
The final step is to keep track of time so you can be sure you're pacing yourself effectively and are not spending too much time on any one question. As a reminder, you'll have one hour and 40 minutes for the entire free-response section of the AP Government exam.
It's suggested that you spend the following amounts of time on each FRQ:
As you can see, you should spend about an equal amount of time on the first three FRQs and save most of your time for your essay , which will likely require the most effort of the four.
A Real AP Government FRQ Example + Analysis
Now, let's go through the answers to a real AP Government free-response question from the 2019 released questions to show you what your responses should look like. This question is an example of a Concept Application question on the exam, meaning it's worth 3 raw points (1 point each for parts A, B, and C).
This question is all about the Johnson Amendment, which does not allow religious organizations to engage in political activities and contribute money to political campaigns. As this passage explains, the Alliance Defending Freedom, a religious group, encourages pastors to challenge this law by participating in an annual event called Pulpit Freedom Sunday.
Below, we go through how to answer each of the three parts correctly using the scoring guidelines .
Part Aâ1 Point
Part A asks you to come up with an example of a specific action Congress could take to address the concerns of the Alliance Defending Freedom. In other words, what could Congress do to allow groups such as the Alliance Defending Freedom to speak freely about political campaigns?
Note that the command verb used here is "describe," meaning you must "provide the relevant characteristics of a specified topic," or elaborate on what you're proposing and why it would work.
There are two possible answers you could put down here, according to the scoring guidelines:
- Congress could pass a law that would reverse the Johnson Amendment.
- Congress could pass a law to allow religious organizations to participate more directly in politics.
Part Bâ1 Point
Part B asks you to go into more detail about what you proposed in part A . You must talk about how partisan divisions (i.e., differences in political parties among politicians) could stop whatever you proposed in part A from going into effect (whether that's a new law altogether or a reversal of the original Johnson Amendment).
The task verb used here is "explain," so you must use evidence to show how the action you wrote down in part A could be blocked or reversed.
Here are two possible answers , according to the scoring guidelines:
- Partisan divisions make it more difficult to pass a law because parties adhere to different ideological points of view.
- If Congress and the president are from different political parties, the president might threaten to veto the legislation.
Part Câ1 Point
The final part of this free-response question asks you to examine the scenario again, this time from the perspective of the Alliance Defending Freedom , or the religious group in question.
How might the Alliance argue that the Johnson Amendment, which prevents them from speaking on political issues and contributing money to political campaigns, is taking away their rights?
The key here is to first think about what rights these could be . Perhaps freedom of speech or freedom of religion? As you probably noticed, the task verb is "explain," so once again you must use plenty of evidence to show why this contentious relationship exists between the Alliance and the Johnson Amendment/the US government as a whole.
Here are examples of answers you could write, according to the official scoring guidelines:
- The Alliance Defending Freedom and other religious groups might argue that their First Amendment rights are being violated.
- The Alliance Defending Freedom and other religious groups might argue that their freedom of speech/religion is being violated.
Essential Resources for Practicing AP US Government FRQs
There are several resources you can use to hone your skills for answering AP Government FRQs.
Official College Board Resources
The College Board website hosts free-response questions from previous tests that you can use for practice. I recommend starting with the 2019 FRQs (unfortunately, they don't come with sample student responses), as these will look the most like the questions you'll get on test day.
Once you've used those, you can look at FRQs from the 2018 test and earlier; most of these come with sample student responses so you can see what a good response looks like.
If you're hoping to practice FRQs in the context of a full-length test, here are some links to past AP Government exams you can download (as always, prioritize the most recent tests):
- 2018 Practice Test
- 2013 Practice Test
- 2012 Practice Test
- 2009 Practice Test
- 2005 Practice Test
- 1999 Practice Test
These are by far the best sample AP US Government free-response questions you can get because they most accurately represent what you'll see on the real test.
AP Government Review Books
AP Government review books are also solid resources for free-response practice, though they vary a lot in quality.
The Princeton Review's prep book for AP Gov includes five full-length practice tests , so there should be tons of free-response questions you can use to hone your skills. Barron's AP US Gov review book also has some useful practice tests and free-response questions.
If you use these unofficial free-response questions for practice, just be sure to intersperse them with official questions from the College Board so that you maintain an accurate sense of what to expect on the real test.
Recap: Everything to Know About AP US Government FRQs
The four free-response questions on the AP US Government and Politics exam can be approached methodically to earn the maximum number of points.
Read the intro and conclusion to the question first so you can get your bearings. Then, for each of the separate parts, identify the task verb, figure out where you'll earn your raw points, and double-check your answer for any missing pieces or careless errors.
You should also pace yourself so that you're spending no more than 20 minutes each on the first three questions and 40 minutes on the essay.
I suggest practicing at least a few free-response questions before heading into the AP exam. The best resource to use is the College Board website, which contains an archive of past questions accompanied by scoring guidelines and sample student responses. These questions are pretty simple compared to the free-response questions on other AP tests once you get the hang of them!
What's Next?
Not sure where to begin in your AP prep? Our five-step plan will prepare you to take on any AP test .
If you're missing some of your notes that you need to study for AP Gov, check out this article with links to all the content you need to know for the test . You can also learn about the test as a whole with our comprehensive AP Government and Politics review guide .
Do you have a target score in mind for this exam? Learn more about what it takes to earn a 5 on an AP test and whether you should aim for one yourself.
These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.
Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.
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APÂŽ US Government
How to answer apÂŽ us government free response questions.
- The Albert Team
- Last Updated On: March 1, 2022
Mastering the free response section can make or break any studentâs APÂŽ US Government and Politics score. If youâre looking for the best tips and tricks for answering APÂŽ US GoPo free response questions, youâve come to the right place.
In this article, weâll review tips for writing top-mark APÂŽ US Government and Politics FRQs, mistakes that students make one too many times on past APÂŽ GoPo exams, and how to use past APÂŽ free response questions to start practicing for your upcoming exam.
Keep reading to get everything you need to know when it comes to making the most of your APÂŽ US Government and Politics exam review.
What We Review
5 Steps on How to Write Effective APÂŽ US Government and Politics Free Responses
Here, weâll review a five-step strategy for you to start writing APÂŽ US GoPo free response answers that will score you maximum possible points.
1. Commit to learning what gets you points on the APÂŽ US Government and Politics exam by reviewing past rubrics and scoring guidelines.
A common mistake students make when it comes to preparing for their APÂŽ GoPo exam is failing to understand how theyâre being graded. The first step to solving this is going to the College Boardâs APÂŽ Central website and navigating to the past released exams for US Government.
Here is the link for APÂŽ US Government and Politics past released exams
Open up the scoring guidelines PDF. These guidelines outline how points were distributed on that particular yearâs exams.
Hereâs a screenshot from the first question of the 2019 released exam:
Source: College Board
From this, you can see that this short answer question in 2019 was worth three points, with one point being allocated to each part. There are certain directive words to keep an eye on when reviewing APÂŽ US Government and Politics free response questions, but weâll get into that later.
For now, just make sure you review at least two years worth of released exam scoring guidelines so you begin to understand how questions and parts of questions are weighted.
2. Underline or circle every bolded and capitalized word in the question prompt.
Alright, so now that we know how points are generally distributed, we need to build the habit of having a system for ensuring we actually answer the question asked by the College Board when we start our APÂŽ US Government and Politics free response section.
APÂŽ US Government and Politics isnât as âniceâ as APÂŽ Biology free response questions in that they donât always bold key directive words for you to know what is being asked.
That being said, itâs not hard to circle or underline for yourself the key thing you are being asked to answer.
There are three âkey phrasesâ to commit to memory when it comes to APÂŽ US Government and Politics free response questions:
Thatâs it. If you look at the last few years worth of released exam questions, these are the most commonly used directive words for the short answer question section of the APÂŽ US Government and Politics free response section.
If you arenât sure what the three of these words are asking you for, keep reading.
When the exam asks you to describe something, you need to tell them about what theyâre asking. This doesnât mean you need to explain the âwhyâ — it just means you need to talk about what the topic is and the characteristics of the topic being asked.
When youâre asked to explain something, this is where you need to show the âwhyâ. You need to be able to give 3-5 sentences with an example in most cases to earn credit for these questions.
Finally, when asked to identify something, you need to simply indicate that you know what the topic is related to — no need for explanation or elaboration as you might when asked to describe or explain.
One of our best test taking tips we can give you is to make a tick mark or star next to the words you have circled or underlined after youâve answered it in your free response. This serves as a visual checklist for you to make sure you answered all parts of the question.
Trust us! Itâs easy to forget to answer one small part of an FRQ, and that can make all the difference in your free response score.
Aside from the three directive words above, other commonly used ones for APÂŽ GoPo include:
- Define : Similar to identify — show that you know what the topic is but there is no need to elaborate further than whatâs asked.
- Compare : Provide a description of the similarities and/or differences of the topics presented.
- Develop an Argument : State a claim and support it with evidence.
- Draw a Conclusion : Make an accurate statement from what has been presented.
3. Plan your response BEFORE beginning to write your response.
One of the most commonly cited mistakes students make on the APÂŽ GoPo free response section is not actually answering the question in a thoughtful way.
The College Board uses the free response section to test your ability to connect the dots with what you’ve learned in class. You need to demonstrate skills such as considering evidence to incorporate and how that fits into your analysis.
This means plan out your response before you begin writing!
Take a second before putting your pen down to start writing to think through how you’ll answer the “why” based questions.
Think deeply about what the question is actually asking you — sometimes students answer questions without actually…answering the question.
Readers often express that student misconceptions come from having a poorly planned response or simply restating the question without adding any direct response to the question they were asked.
4. Remember that APÂŽ US Government and Politics free responses are not like other subjects — treat them differently than you may in APÂŽ English Language.
When it comes to the short answer questions in APÂŽ GoPo, you do not need to write an essay to score max points. There is no need for an introduction, thesis, or conclusion on these questions.
When it comes to the argumentative essay, itâs not necessarily a cookie-cutter five paragraph essay either.
The argumentative essay’s scoring depends on each proceeding section building on the prior. On every question 4, the College Board states exactly what you need to score maximum possible points.
You need:
- To articulate a defensible claim or thesis that responds to the prompt and establishes a line of reasoning.
- Typically one will be from a foundational document while the other will be any other foundational document you learned in class
- Use reasoning to explain why your evidence supports your claim or thesis
- Respond to an opposing or alternative perspective using refutation, concession, or rebuttal.
What this means is that as long as you cover all the points outlined above clearly, you can score a perfect score on the argumentative essay!
When it comes to preparing for the argumentative essay, one of the best things you can do is make sure you are fully comfortable with all 9 foundational documents and 15 Supreme Court cases.
The required foundational documents to know are:
- The Declaration of Independence
- The Articles of Confederation
- The Constitution of the United States
- Federalist No. 10
- Brutus No. 1
- Federalist No. 51
- Federalist No. 70
- Federalist No. 78
- Letters from a Birmingham Jail
Kelsey Falkowski has a nice 15-minute review video of these foundational documents here .
The required Supreme Court cases are:
- Marbury v. Madison (1803)
- McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
- Schenck v. United States (1919)
- Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
- Baker v. Carr (1961)
- Engel v. Vitale (1962)
- Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
- Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)
- New York Times Company v. United States (1971)
- Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)
- Roe v. Wade (1973)
- Shaw v. Reno (1993)
- United States v. Lopez (1995)
- McDonald v. Chicago (2010)
- Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)
Adam Norris has a great 11-minute review video on these fifteen cases here .
Typically when it comes to the final component, we like using rebuttals more than concessions or refutations. The reason why is because when you make a concession or refutation on a claim you made earlier in your essay, it can potentially come across as a weakening of your thesis if you are not able to position it properly.
The last thing to remember here is to make sure you âclose the loopâ. This is a test taking strategy the College Board promotes across multiple disciplines and with good reason — it challenges a student to demonstrate they can form a coherent argument. Closing the loop in APÂŽ US Government can mean using words like “because” or “therefore” to help bridge two concepts together and solve for the “why” this matters.
5. Practice, practice, and did we say practice?
When you reduce APÂŽ free response sections down to their core, regardless of subject domain, mastering them comes down to two things: knowing how youâre going to be graded, and learning how to craft responses that fit those rubrics.
Sometimes students do the first part well but fail to practice enough at doing the second part, and vice versa.
When you first start out, we recommend trying a set of past released questions and then having a friend grade your responses with the scoring guidelines. See how you would do without any intentional prep. Then, learn from your mistakes, log your mistakes in a study journal, and begin intentionally tackling other years one by one.
After a few times of doing this, youâll begin building your intuition to craft a perfect-score response for your APÂŽ US Government and Politics free responses.
25 APÂŽ US Government and Politics FRQ Tips to Scoring a 4 or 5
Now that weâve gone over the 5-step process to writing good APÂŽ GoPo free responses, we can shift gears to tackle some test taking tips and tricks to maximizing your FRQ scores.
We recommend you review these several weeks, and then days before your exam to keep them top of mind.
- Know which SAQ youâre weakest at. There are always three core question types: concept application, quantitative analysis, and SCOTUS comparison. If youâre weak at one, make sure youâve reviewed all the past released exams for that particular SAQ.
- Make sure you review how issues or ideology can drive partnership on specific issues.
- Focus on applying the political concepts and processes you learned in class to scenarios in context. This is one of the most common mistakes for the SAQs.
- One of the easiest ways to bridge two concepts is to use words like âbecauseâ or âthereforeâ and then proceed to answer the âwhy this mattersâ.
- Focus on what is right instead of what is wrong in your response. These free response questions are often graded based on whatâs right more so than whatâs wrong (which is different from another subject like APÂŽ Biology).
- If youâre not 100% sure about a supporting statement, add a second supporting statement on the topic as backup.
- If youâre offering specificity, make sure to be explicit on what the intent of you introducing that in your response is. For example, if something is being presented to rebuttal something else, explain why or how it does so.
- When it comes to data analysis, you need to make sure you are comfortable interpreting data and applying data to demonstrate how it interacts with the political process.
- In the past, students have not been able to analyze and apply data to course content — they make mistakes in connecting how policy relates to respective parties in the political process.
- When practicing data analysis, itâs important to look at a variety of different types of graphs and focus on identifying the similarities and differences within a set of complex data.
- Data analysis is not just reading graphs, but also reading charts and tables. Donât just think because you got one question reading a graph correctly that youâre good to go for your quantitative analysis SAQ.
- One of the easiest ways to bolster your data analysis skills is by reviewing sources such as the Gallup National Polls or Pew Research findings.
- When it comes to SCOTUS comparison, students often fail to effectively compare the two cases — they do a fine job of recalling the required case, but struggle to connect the required case to the non-required case.
- Remember that the SCOTUS comparison SAQ is typically not going to ask you to discuss the rulings of the required case, but rather the facts of the cases and how it applies to the non-required case.
- Keep an eye out for when youâre asked for the clause from an amendment or the Constitution. This means there will only be one right answer.
- Know the difference between reasoning of a case, the decision, opinions of the case, as well as the cold hard facts. Make flashcards or use Quizlet to help here.
- When youâre asked to compare facts, it means you need to review the facts of both cases, not just one. Even if the facts for the non-required case are included in the prompt, you need to include it in your response for points.
- When it comes to the argumentative essay, students typically fail to explain why the evidence they bring up supports their thesis.
- The second area students struggle is in responding to an alternative perspective (refutation, concession, or rebuttal).
- X is your counterargument or counterpoint
- ABC are your strongest supporting points for your argument.
- And Y is your argument.
- Know your foundational documents cold. Sometimes students mix up these documents. There are four different Federalists to know!
- When looking to get the reasoning point, make sure to explain why the evidence youâre procuring supports your thesis. Donât just restate your thesis or state the evidence without connecting the two.
- When seeking your perspective point (for refutation, concession, or rebuttal), make sure to state the alternative point of view, but also respond to it. Both of these parts are needed.
- Work with a friend through at least three years of APÂŽ GoPo FRQs. Then swap with each other and go through the scoring guidelines together to get consistent exposure to the rubrics.
- By your last two weeks before the exam, you should have clearly identified your 3-5 biggest weaknesses when it comes to FRQs. Devote at least 70% of your time to these areas and the remaining time on general review.
Wrapping Things Up: How to Write APÂŽ US Government and Politics FRQs
Wow! Weâve gone over a ton of things in this APÂŽ US Government and Politics review guide. At this point, you should have everything you need to get started in preparing for your GoPo FRQs.
To summarize, here are a few things to remember:
- Great APÂŽ US Government and Politics free response scores are only made when you know how youâre being graded. Learn the rubrics.
- Have a consistent system for responding to each question. We recommend circling or underlining what youâre being asked, and then adding a tick or star next to the word in the prompt when youâve answered it.
- Know the facts of your foundational documents and required Supreme Court cases cold. Students have missed points in the past by mixing up one with another.
- Practice working with multiple types of data for the quantitative analysis SAQ: this means reviewing charts, graphs, and tables. Focus on being able to interpret the data presented to political concepts or processes.
- Review commonly tested APÂŽ US Government and Politics topics. Review the curriculum and exam description to see the percentage breakdown of different units. Unit 2 on Interactions Among Branches of Government is a very important one to know as it makes up 25-36% of the exam.
- Make sure your thesis includes a clear line of reasoning. Remember the model: Although X, ABC, therefore Y.
- Always âclose the loopâ. Use words such as “because” or “therefore” to bridge two concepts together and solve for the “why” this matters.
We hope you’ve found this exhaustive guide helpful for your APÂŽ US Government and Politics exam review.
If youâre looking for more free response questions or multiple choice questions, check out our website! Albert has hundreds of original standards-aligned practice questions for you with detailed explanations to help you learn by doing.
If you found this post helpful, you may also like our APÂŽ US Government tips here or our APÂŽ US GoPo score calculator here .
We also have an APÂŽ US Government review guide here .
Interested in a school license?â
2 thoughts on “how to answer apÂŽ us government free response questions”.
On the list of required supreme court cases, you guys listed Schneck v United States with the wrong year.
Great catch, Johnny! We’ve updated the list to include the correct date (1919).
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How to Write the AP Lang Argument Essay + Examples
Whatâs covered:, what is the ap language argument essay, tips for writing the ap language argument essay, ap english language argument essay examples, how will ap scores impact my college chances.
In 2023, over 550,148 students across the U.S. took the AP English Language and Composition Exam, and 65.2% scored higher than a 3. The AP English Language Exam tests your ability to analyze a piece of writing, synthesize information, write a rhetorical essay, and create a cohesive argument. In this post, weâll be discussing the best way to approach the argumentative essay section of the test, and weâll give you tips and tricks so you can write a great essay.
The AP English Language Exam as of 2023 is structured as follows:
Section 1: 45 multiple choice questions to be completed in an hour. This portion counts for 45% of your score. This section requires students to analyze a piece of literature. The questions ask about its content and/or what could be edited within the passage.
Section 2: Three free response questions to be completed in the remaining two hours and 15 minutes. This section counts for 55% of your score. These essay questions include the synthesis essay, the rhetorical essay, and the argumentative essay.
- Synthesis essay: Read 6-7 sources and create an argument using at least three of the sources.
- Rhetorical analysis essay: Describe how a piece of writing evokes meaning and symbolism.
- Argumentative essay: Pick a side of a debate and create an argument based on evidence. In this essay, you should develop a logical argument in support of or against the given statement and provide ample evidence that supports your conclusion. Typically, a five paragraph format is great for this type of writing. This essay is scored holistically from 1 to 9 points.
Do you want more information on the structure of the full exam? Take a look at our in-depth overview of the AP Language and Composition Exam .
Although the AP Language Argument may seem daunting at first, once you understand how the essay should be structured, it will be a lot easier to create cohesive arguments.
Below are some tips to help you as you write the essay.
1. Organize your essay before writing
Instead of jumping right into your essay, plan out what you will say beforehand. Itâs easiest to make a list of your arguments and write out what facts or evidence you will use to support each argument. In your outline, you can determine the best order for your arguments, especially if they build on each other or are chronological. Having a well-organized essay is crucial for success.
2. Pick one side of the argument, but acknowledge the other side
When you write the essay, itâs best if you pick one side of the debate and stick with it for the entire essay. All your evidence should be in support of that one side. However, in your introductory paragraph, as you introduce the debate, be sure to mention any merit the arguments of the other side has. This can make the essay a bit more nuanced and show that you did consider both sides before determining which one was better. Often, acknowledging another viewpoint then refuting it can make your essay stronger.
3. Provide evidence to support your claims
The AP readers will be looking for examples and evidence to support your argument. This doesnât mean that you need to memorize a bunch of random facts before the exam. This just means that you should be able to provide concrete examples in support of your argument.
For example, if the essay topic is about whether the role of the media in society has been detrimental or not, and you argue that it has been, you may talk about the phenomenon of âfake newsâ during the 2016 presidential election.
AP readers are not looking for perfect examples, but they are looking to see if you can provide enough evidence to back your claim and make it easily understood.
4. Create a strong thesis statement
The thesis statement will set up your entire essay, so itâs important that it is focused and specific, and that it allows for the reader to understand your body paragraphs. Make sure your thesis statement is the very last sentence of your introductory paragraph. In this sentence, list out the key points you will be making in the essay in the same order that you will be writing them. Each new point you mention in your thesis should start a paragraph in your essay.
Below is a prompt and sample student essay from the May 2019 exam . Weâll look at what the student did well in their writing and where they could improve.
Prompt: âThe term âoverratedâ is often used to diminish concepts, places, roles, etc. that the speaker believes do not deserve the prestige they commonly enjoy; for example, many writers have argued that success is overrated, a character in a novel by Anthony Burgess famously describes Rome as a âvastly overrated city,â and Queen Rania of Jordan herself has asserted that â[b]eing queen is overrated.â
Select a concept, place, role, etc. to which you believe that the term âoverratedâ should be applied. Then, write a well-developed essay in which you explain your judgment. Use appropriate evidence from your reading, experience, or observations to support your argument.
Sample Student Essay #1:
[1] Competition is âoverrated.â The notion of motivation between peers has evolved into a source of unnecessary stress and even lack of morals. Whether it be in an academic environment or in the industry, this new idea of competition is harmful to those competing and those around them.
[2] Back in elementary school, competition was rather friendly. It could have been who could do the most pushups or who could get the most imaginary points in a classroom for a prize. If you couldnât do the most pushups or win that smelly sticker, you would go home and improve yourself â there would be no strong feelings towards anyone, you would just focus on making yourself a better version of yourself. Then as high school rolled around, suddenly applying for college doesnât seem so far away âGPA seems to be that one stat that defines you â extracurriculars seem to shape you â test scores seem to categorize you. Sleepless nights, studying for the next dayâs exam, seem to become more and more frequent. Floating duck syndrome seems to surround you (FDS is where a competitive student pretends to not work hard but is furiously studying beneath the surface just like how a duck furiously kicks to stay afloat). All of your competitors appear to hope you fail â but in the end what do you and your competitorâs gain? Getting one extra point on the test? Does that self-satisfaction compensate for the tremendous amounts of acquired stress? This new type of âcompetitionâ is overrated â it serves nothing except a never-ending source of anxiety and seeks to weaken friendships and solidarity as a whole in the school setting.
[3] A similar idea of âcompetitionâ can be applied to business. On the most fundamental level, competition serves to be a beneficial regulator of prices and business models for both the business themselves and consumers. However, as businesses grew increasingly greedy and desperate, companies resorted to immoral tactics that only hurt their reputations and consumers as a whole. Whether it be McDonaldâs coupons that force you to buy more food or tech companies like Apple intentionally slowing down your iPhone after 3 years to force you to upgrade to the newest device, consumers suffer and in turn speak down upon these companies. Similar to the evolved form of competition in school, this overrated form causes pain for all parties and has since diverged from the encouraging nature that the principle of competition was âfoundedâ on.
The AP score for this essay was a 4/6, meaning that it captured the main purpose of the essay but there were still substantial parts missing. In this essay, the writer did a good job organizing the sections and making sure that their writing was in order according to the thesis statement. The essay first discusses how competition is harmful in elementary school and then discusses this topic in the context of business. This follows the chronological order of somebodyâs life and flows nicely.
The arguments in this essay are problematic, as they do not provide enough examples of how exactly competition is overrated. The essay discusses the context in which competition is overrated but does not go far enough in explaining how this connects to the prompt.
In the first example, school stress is used to explain how competition manifests. This is a good starting point, but it does not talk about why competition is overrated; it simply mentions that competition can be unhealthy. The last sentence of that paragraph is the main point of the argument and should be expanded to discuss how the anxiety of school is overrated later on in life.Â
In the second example, the writer discusses how competition can lead to harmful business practices, but again, this doesnât reflect the reason this would be overrated. Is competition really overrated because Apple and McDonaldâs force you to buy new products? This example couldâve been taken one step farther. Instead of explaining why business structuresâsuch as monopoliesâharm competition, the author should discuss how those particular structures are overrated.
Additionally, the examples the writer used lack detail. A stronger essay wouldâve provided more in-depth examples. This essay seemed to mention examples only in passing without using them to defend the argument.
It should also be noted that the structure of the essay is incomplete. The introduction only has a thesis statement and no additional context. Also, there is no conclusion paragraph that sums up the essay. These missing components result in a 4/6.
Now letâs go through the prompt for a sample essay from the May 2022 exam . The prompt is as follows:
Colin Powell, a four-star general and former United States Secretary of State, wrote in his 1995 autobiography: â[W]e do not have the luxury of collecting information indefinitely. At some point, before we can have every possible fact in hand, we have to decide. The key is not to make quick decisions, but to make timely decisions.â
Write an essay that argues your position on the extent to which Powellâs claim about making decisions is valid.Â
In your response you should do the following:
- Respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible position.Â
- Provide evidence to support your line of reasoning.Â
- Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.Â
- Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.
Sample Student Essay #2:
Colin Powell, who was a four star general and a former United States Secretary of State. He wrote an autobiography and had made a claim about making decisions. In my personal opinion, Powellâs claim is true to full extent and shows an extremely valuable piece of advice that we do not consider when we make decisions.
Powell stated, âbefore we can have every possible fact in hand we have to decideâŚ. but to make it a timely decisionâ (1995). With this statement Powell is telling the audience of his autobiography that it does not necessarily matter how many facts you have, and how many things you know. Being able to have access to everything possible takes a great amount of time and we donât always have all of the time in the world. A decision has to be made with what you know, waiting for something else to come in while trying to make a decision whether that other fact is good or bad you already have a good amount of things that you know. Everyoneâs time is valuable, including yours. At the end of the day the decision will have to be made and that is why it should be made in a âtimelyâ manner.
This response was graded for a score of 2/6. Letâs break down the score to smaller points that signify where the student fell short.
The thesis in this essay is clearly outlined at the end of the first paragraph. The student states their agreement with Powellâs claim and frames the rest of their essay around this stance. The success in scoring here lies in the clear communication of the thesis and the direction the argument will take. Itâs important to make the thesis statement concise, specific, and arguable, which the student has successfully done.
While the student did attempt to provide evidence to support their thesis, itâs clear that their explanation lacks specific detail and substance. They referenced Powellâs statement, but did not delve into how this statement has proven true in specific instances, and did not provide examples that could bring the argument to life.
Commentary is an essential part of this sectionâs score. It means explaining the significance of the evidence and connecting it back to the thesis. Unfortunately, the studentâs commentary here is too vague and does not effectively elaborate on how the evidence supports their argument.
To improve, the student could use more concrete examples to demonstrate their point and discuss how each piece of evidence supports their thesis. For instance, they could discuss specific moments in Powellâs career where making a timely decision was more valuable than waiting for all possible facts. This would help illustrate the argument in a more engaging, understandable way.
A high score in the âsophisticationâ category of the grading rubric is given for demonstrating a complex understanding of the rhetorical situation (purpose, audience, context, etc.), making effective rhetorical choices, or establishing a line of reasoning. Here, the studentâs response lacks complexity and sophistication. Theyâve simply agreed with Powellâs claim and made a few general statements without providing a deeper analysis or effectively considering the rhetorical situation.
To increase sophistication, the student could explore possible counterarguments or complexities within Powellâs claim. They could discuss potential drawbacks of making decisions without all possible facts, or examine situations where timely decisions might not yield the best results. By acknowledging and refuting these potential counterarguments, they could add more depth to their analysis and showcase their understanding of the complexities involved in decision-making.
The student could also analyze why Powell, given his background and experiences, might have come to such a conclusion, thus providing more context and showing an understanding of the rhetorical situation.
Remember, sophistication in argumentation isnât about using fancy words or complicated sentences. Itâs about showing that you understand the complexity of the issue at hand and that youâre able to make thoughtful, nuanced arguments. Sophistication shows that you can think critically about the topic and make connections that arenât immediately obvious.
Now that youâve looked at an example essay and some tips for the argumentative essay, you know how to better prepare for the AP English Language and Composition Exam.
While your AP scores donât usually impact your admissions chances , colleges do care a lot about your course rigor. So, taking as many APs as you can will certainly boost your chances! AP scores can be a way for high-performing students to set themselves apart, particularly when applying to prestigious universities. Through the process of self-reporting scores , you can show your hard work and intelligence to admissions counselors.
That said, the main benefit of scoring high on AP exams comes once you land at your dream school, as high scores can allow you to âtest outâ of entry-level requirements, often called GE requirements or distribution requirements. This will save you time and money.
To understand how your course rigor stacks up, check out CollegeVineâs free chancing engine . This resource takes your course rigor, test scores, extracurriculars, and more, to determine your chances of getting into over 1600 colleges across the country!
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Australian judge extends ban on X sharing video of Sydney bishopâs stabbing
FILE - The opening page of X is displayed on a computer and phone in Sydney on Oct. 16, 2023. An Australian judge on Friday, May 10, 2024, extended a ban on X Corp. sharing videos of an alleged teenage terrorist stabbing a Sydney bishop last month, government lawyers call the social media platformâs free speech argument illusory. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)
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MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) â An Australian judge on Friday extended a ban on X allowing videos of the stabbing of a Sydney bishop in his church last month after government lawyers condemned the social media companyâs free speech argument for keeping the graphic images circulating.
Australian Federal Court Justice Geoffrey Kennett extended his order that X Corp., the company rebranded by billionaire Elon Musk when he bought Twitter last year, block users from sharing videos of the April 15 attack .
The attack led to terrorism-related charges for the alleged attacker, a teenager, and triggered a riot outside the church.
The order has existed since April 22 and Kennett will decide on Monday whether it will continue in its current form.
X is alone among social media platforms in fighting a notice from Australiaâs eSafety Commission, which describes itself as the worldâs first government agency dedicated to keeping people safer online, to take down the video of the attack during an Assyrian Orthodox service streamed online.
A bishop and priest were injured but both survived.
Musk has accused Australia of censorship and has applied to the Federal Court to overturn the eSafety notice. The court will sit on Wednesday to consider setting a hearing date for Xâs application.
X has geoblocked Australian users from the content, but eSafety argues the video can be still accessed from Australia through Virtual Private Networks.
VPNs are services that allow users to access sites in other countries that are blocked in their own nation. The regulator wants a worldwide ban on the video.
An eSafety lawyer, Tim Begbie, described X in court on Friday as a âmarket leader in proliferating and distributing violent content and violent and extremist material.â
Begbie said Australia could not be expected to conform to Xâs âpro-free speech stance.â
âThe fact is that that stance is in large measure illusory. Because X doesnât stand for âglobal removal is badâ in some pure sense,â Begbie said.
Xâs own policies repeatedly refer to circumstances in which the platform will elect to remove content globally, Begbie said.
âThe real position is this: X says that âreasonableâ means what X wants it to mean,â Begbie said.
âGlobal removal is reasonable when X does it because X wants to do it. But it becomes unreasonable when X is told to do it by the laws of Australia,â Begbie added.
X lawyer Bret Walker said X had taken reasonable steps to block the content from Australia but said there had been glitches.
He described eSafetyâs demand for a global ban as astonishing and the notice as invalid.
âYou donât expect to see statutes saying the Australian Parliament will regulate what concerning Australia â that is events in Australia â can be viewed in Russia, Finland, Belgium or the United States,â Walker said.
âNot unless we want to become isolationist to a degree that is unthinkable,â Walker added.
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The Argument Essay differs substantially from the other free-response questions on the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam, but you can and should still follow the Kaplan Method (AP-AP). It is recommended that you take 40 minutes to plan and write your Argument Essay (as opposed to 20 minutes each for the other free-response questions), so ...
Argument Essay: Develop an argument in the form of an essay, using evidence from required foundational documents and course concepts Exam Questions and Scoring Information Note : Some questions and scoring guidelines from the 2023 and earlier AP U.S. Government and Politics Exams may not perfectly align with the course and exam updates that ...
Government and Politics Sample Student Responses and Scoring Commentary Set 1 Inside: ... Argument Essay 6 points ... 2021 AP Exam Administration Sample Student Responses - AP U.S. Government and Politics Free-Response Question 4: Set 1 Author: College Board Subject: 2021 AP Exam Administration: Student Samples and Commentary
Note: Some questions and scoring guidelines from the 2023 and earlier AP U.S. Government and Politics Exams may not perfectly align with the course and exam updates that take effect in the 2023-24 school year. These questions remain available because teachers say that imperfectly aligned questions still provide instructional value.
More from Heimler's History:AP HEIMLER REVIEW GUIDE (formerly known as the Ultimate Review Packet): +AP Gov Heimler Review Guide: https://bit.ly/3rfXr2YCheck...
If you're in APCompGov, you have an hour and 30 minutes It's important to use your time effectively because the FRQ section is worth half of your score. Because of that, you should spend around 25 minutes, give or take a few, on the Argument Free-Response Question. (NOTE: FOR THE 2019-2020 TEST, YOU WILL HAVE 25 MINUTES TO WRITE AND 5 MINUTES ...
Writing Workshop on the Argumentative Essay: This stream explores the Argumentative Essay, looking at the rubric and then using the remainder of the time to practice our skills. đ° Check out these articles: AP US Government Free Response Help - FRQs. FRQ: Conceptual Analysis. FRQ: SCOTUS Application. AP Gov FRQ: Argument Essay Review (2020)
Articulates a defensible claim or thesis that responds to the prompt and establishes a line of reasoning. To earn this point, the thesis must make a claim that responds to the prompt, rather than merely restating or rephrasing the prompt. The thesis may be located anywhere in the response and this point can be earned even if the claim is not ...
Description. This is intended as an end-of-course review activity for practice with the argumentative essay format included on the AP United States Government and Politics exam since the 2018 ...
The newly redesigned AP US Government and Politics exam includes an Argument Essay that is graded based on a six point rubric. In order to gain full credit, the argumentative essay must include a thesis (or claim), two relevant and specific pieces of evidence, an explanation of how the evidence connects with the claim, and acknowledge a counter-argument by refutation, concession, or rebuttal.
In this video I walk you through the process of writing the AP Gov Argument Essay and make sure you know exactly what you need to do your absolute best on th...
Official Sample FRQ. The 2018 official sample test from the College Board includes a full set of AP US Government & Politics free response questions. You need to be prepared for all 4 types: Concept Application, Quantitative Analysis, SCOTUS Comparison, and Argument Essay.
This Argument Essay question expected students to demonstrate an understanding of how outside groups influence federal policy makers to effect changes in policy in the area of civil rights, as well as an understanding of foundational documents related to the concept of competing policy making
AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam Tips. The following strategies for answering the free-response questions will help you on exam day. Answering essay questions generally requires a good deal of training and practice. Students too often begin to write immediately, which can create a string of disconnected, poorly planned thoughts.
The AP Lang Argumentative essay is just that: an essay that makes an argument, so make sure you present your argument right away at the end of your first paragraph. A good test to see if you have a thesis that makes an argument for your AP Lang Argumentative Essay: In your head, add the phrase "I agree/disagree thatâŚ" to the beginning of ...
The expanded powers of the national government benefit policymaking because they can create uniform policies that apply to all the states. - Articles of Confederation: weak national, all states had to agree, almost impossible to amend. - Federalist 10: Factions threaten small republics, strong national prevents singular faction domination.
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. Update: Roe v. Wade.
Here are the four types of FRQs you'll get on the AP Government exam: Concept Application (3 raw points) Quantitative Analysis (4 raw points) SCOTUS Comparison (4 raw points) Argument Essay (6 raw points) The free-response questions will ask you to integrate your knowledge of the various content areas covered by the course.
Scoring Rubric for 2020 Question 1: Argument Essay 7 points Reporting Category. Scoring Criteria Row A; Claim/Thesis (0-1 points) 5.A: 0 points: 1 point: ... AP United States Government and Politics Free-Response Question 4 Scoring Rubric, Effective Fall 2019 Author: College Board Subject:
1. Commit to learning what gets you points on the APÂŽ US Government and Politics exam by reviewing past rubrics and scoring guidelines. 2. Underline or circle every bolded and capitalized word in the question prompt. 3. Plan your response BEFORE beginning to write your response. 4.
2. Pick one side of the argument, but acknowledge the other side. When you write the essay, it's best if you pick one side of the debate and stick with it for the entire essay. All your evidence should be in support of that one side. However, in your introductory paragraph, as you introduce the debate, be sure to mention any merit the ...
AP U.S. Government and Politics Course & Exam Description, and the student responses were collected from actual AP students during a field test of the exam. The students gave permission to have their work reproduced at the time of the field test, and the responses were read and scored by AP U.S. Government and Politics Readers in 2017.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) â An Australian judge on Friday extended a ban on X allowing videos of the stabbing of a Sydney bishop in his church last month after government lawyers condemned the social media company's free speech argument for keeping the graphic images circulating.. Australian Federal Court Justice Geoffrey Kennett extended his order that X Corp., the company rebranded by ...
Government and Politics . Sample Student Responses ... APÂŽ Comparative Government and Politics 2021 Scoring Guidelines . Question 4: Argument Essay 5 points . ... perspective using refutation, concession, or rebuttal. Students were expected to w rite an argumentative essay, demonstrating each of the skills mentioned above. Sample: 4A ...