The College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) Government and Politics exam is designed to test students’ knowledge of American government and politics. The exam is divided into two sections: a multiple-choice section and a free-response section. The free-response section consists of three essay questions, or Free Response Questions (FRQs).
The FRQs are worth 50% of the exam score, so it is important to be well-prepared for them. In this article, we will provide you with an overview of the FRQs and offer some tips on how to prepare for them.
FRQ Overview
The AP Government and Politics FRQs are designed to test your understanding of the following key concepts:
- The structure and function of the American government
- The rights and responsibilities of citizens
- The political process
- The influence of public opinion and the media
The FRQs are typically divided into three parts:
- Part A: This part is worth 2 points and requires you to define a key term or concept.
- Part B: This part is worth 4 points and requires you to analyze a political cartoon, graph, or chart.
- Part C: This part is worth 4 points and requires you to write an essay that demonstrates your understanding of a particular topic.
Tips for Preparing for the FRQs
Here are some tips on how to prepare for the FRQs:
- Start early. The best way to prepare for the FRQs is to start early. This will give you plenty of time to review the material and practice writing essays.
- Review the course material. Make sure you are familiar with all of the key concepts that are covered on the exam. This includes the structure and function of the American government, the rights and responsibilities of citizens, the political process, and the influence of public opinion and the media.
- Practice writing essays. The best way to improve your essay writing skills is to practice. Try to write an essay on each of the key concepts that are covered on the exam. This will help you to get comfortable with the format of the FRQs and to develop your own writing style.
- Get feedback on your essays. Once you have written a few essays, ask your teacher or a tutor to review them. This will help you to identify any areas that need improvement.
- Take practice exams. The College Board offers several practice exams that you can take to help you prepare for the actual exam. These exams will give you a good sense of the difficulty of the FRQs and the types of questions that you can expect to see on the exam.
- Stay up-to-date on current events. The AP Government and Politics exam often includes questions about current events. Make sure you are staying up-to-date on the news so that you can be prepared to answer these questions.
- Be confident. The most important thing is to be confident on test day. If you have prepared well, you should be able to do well on the FRQs.
FRQ Topics
The following is a list of potential FRQ topics. This list is not exhaustive, but it does provide a good overview of the topics that you can expect to see on the exam.
- The structure and function of the American government
- The rights and responsibilities of citizens
- The political process
- The influence of public opinion and the media
- Current events
Table 1: Key Terms and Concepts
| Key Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Constitution | The supreme law of the United States |
| Bill of Rights | The first ten amendments to the Constitution, which guarantee basic rights and freedoms |
| Separation of powers | The division of government power among three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial |
| Checks and balances | The system of checks and balances that prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful |
| Federalism | The system of government in which power is divided between the national government and the state governments |
Table 2: Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens
| Right | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Freedom of speech | Respect the rights of others |
| Freedom of religion | Tolerate the beliefs of others |
| Right to bear arms | Use firearms responsibly |
| Right to vote | Participate in the political process |
| Right to a fair trial | Respect the law |
Table 3: The Political Process
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Nomination | The process of selecting candidates for office |
| Campaign | The process of persuading voters to support a candidate |
| Election | The process of choosing a candidate for office |
| Governance | The process of carrying out the duties of office |
Table 4: The Influence of Public Opinion and the Media
| Public Opinion | Media |
|---|---|
| Influences government policy | Shapes public opinion |
| Can be manipulated by the media | Can bias reporting |
| Is important for a democracy | Can be a source of disinformation |
By following these tips and reviewing the information in this article, you can improve your chances of doing well on the AP Government and Politics FRQs.
