AP United States Government and Politics, one topic at a time
The exam is the morning of Tuesday, May 4, 2027: 55 multiple-choice and 4 free-response questions in 3 hr. Ashore has a short lesson for every topic in all 5 units, each ending with a few questions on what it taught. Practice sets and mock exams for US Government are on the way.
Exam day
May 4
2027 Tuesday · Morning
- 55 multiple choice · 80 min
- 4 free response · 100 min
- Scored 1 to 5
What's on the May 2027 exam
How the exam is split, how long each part runs and what you can use.
How students scored in May 2026
| Scored 5 | Scored 4 | Scored 3 | Scored 2 | Scored 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23% | 28% | 25% | 16% | 8% |
Source: College Board score distributions. Compare all 40 AP exams
AP United States Government and Politics score calculator: enter your section results and see an estimated 1–5 score.
All 5 units
Percentages are the College Board's ranges for how much of the multiple-choice section each unit can be.
Unit 1 · 15–22%
Foundations of American Democracy
Ideals of Democracy · Types of Democracy · Government Power and Individual Rights · Challenges of the Articles of Confederation · Ratification of the U.S. Constitution · Principles of American Government · Relationship Between the States and National Government · Constitutional Interpretations of Federalism · Federalism in Action
Unit 2 · 25–36%
Interactions Among Branches of Government
Congress: The Senate and the House of Representatives · Structures, Powers, and Functions of Congress · Congressional Behavior · Roles and Powers of the President · Checks on the Presidency · Expansion of Presidential Power · Presidential Communication · The Judicial Branch · The Role of the Judicial Branch · The Court in Action · Checks on the Judicial Branch · The Bureaucracy · Discretionary and Rulemaking Authority · Holding the Bureaucracy Accountable · Policy and the Branches of Government
Unit 3 · 13–18%
Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
The Bill of Rights · First Amendment: Freedom of Religion · First Amendment: Freedom of Speech · First Amendment: Freedom of the Press · Second Amendment: Right to Bear Arms · Amendments: Balancing Individual Freedom with Public Order and Safety · Selective Incorporation · Amendments: Due Process and the Rights of the Accused · Amendments: Due Process and the Right to Privacy · Social Movements and Equal Protection · Government Responses to Social Movements · Balancing Minority and Majority Rights · Affirmative Action
Unit 4 · 10–15%
American Political Ideologies and Beliefs
American Attitudes About Government and Politics · Political Socialization · Changes in Ideology · Influence of Political Events on Ideology · Measuring Public Opinion · Evaluating Public Opinion Data · Ideologies of Political Parties · Ideology and Policymaking · Ideology and Economic Policy · Ideology and Social Policy
Unit 5 · 20–27%
Political Participation
Voting Rights and Models of Voting Behavior · Voter Turnout · Political Parties · How and Why Political Parties Change and Adapt · Third-Party Politics · Interest Groups Influencing Policymaking · Groups Influencing Policy Outcomes · Electing a President · Congressional Elections · Modern Campaigns · Campaign Finance · The Media · Changing Media
How you'll study US Government
The lessons are live now. The parts marked Coming soon open later.
A lesson for every topic
Each one explains a single idea step by step, then checks it with a few questions.
- Coming soon
Practice on each topic
Questions build from easy to exam level. Any you miss come back as similar ones 1, 3 and 7 days later.
- Coming soon
Free response
Write under the exam timer, then score each answer point by point, the way an AP reader would.
- Coming soon
Mock exams and a predicted score
Same sections, time limits and calculator rules as the May exam. Every set and mock updates your predicted 1 to 5.
Pricing
Start free, then try everything for a week
One plan opens every lesson and question for every AP course and both SAT sections. The starting check is free, and monthly and 3-month plans start with a 7-day free trial.
Recommended
Free
Find where you lose points and get a plan to test day.
$0
No card needed.
- Starting check and full report
- A study plan to your test date
- One free practice day a week: 3 lessons, 60 questions
Monthly
Every lesson and question, month to month.
$99a month
Billed monthly
$0 today, then $99 a month after 7 days, until you cancel.
Everything in Free, plus:
- Every lesson in every course
- Every practice question, no limits
- Every mistake and flashcard, every day
Every 3 months
A steady term of prep, with the SAT score guarantee.
$66a month
Save 33% vs monthly$199 every 3 months
$0 today, then $199 every 3 months after 7 days, until you cancel.
Everything in Free, plus:
- Every lesson in every course
- Every practice question, no limits
- Every mistake and flashcard, every day
Season pass
Everything through test day, in one payment.
$37a month
Save 63% vs monthly$249 once, early price · $299 from Jan 1
One payment, good through Jun 5, 2027. No trial, and it doesn't renew.
Everything in Free, plus:
- Every lesson in every course
- Every practice question, no limits
- Every mistake and flashcard, every day
- No card for the starting check
- 7-day free trial on monthly and 3-month plans, cancel anytime
- Season pass never renews
- SAT score guarantee on the 3-month plan and season pass
More in economics and government
Start US Government at Unit 1
Free to start, no card. Up to 3 new lessons on your free practice day each week, or every lesson on any paid plan.
Starting check
SAT Math · 1 of 5
Calculator allowed
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