Effective AP U.S. Government Exam Review Strategies
Sprint to the Finish – Review
Strategies for the AP U.S.
Government Exam
About Me
•
Has taught in inner city, large suburban, and
small private schools
•
Teacher at Holy Family High School
•
AP US Government teacher for more than 20
years
•
Member of the curriculum redesign committee
for 6 years
•
AP US Government Reader for 7 years
•
Current Exam leader for AP Comparative
Government
•
Consultant for both AP US and AP Comparative
Government
About Me
•
Has taught in a variety of schools -
including inner city middle school
and suburban high school
•
Teacher at Cherry Creek High School
•
AP U.S. and Comparative
Government
•
AP Exam Question Leader, U.S.
Government
•
Former Chair, AP U.S. Government
Test Development Committee
•
Author, Teacher’s Edition to
accompany
American Government:
Stories of a Nation for the AP Course
American Government: Stories of a Nation
for the AP Course
How to organize your review
●
You may review units in any order.
●
The largest percentage of questions comes from Unit 2,
consider reviewing it last.
●
Consider skipping most recently taught unit.
●
Students can take “unprotected” practice tests at home.
●
Consider devoting one review session to the Foundational
Documents and one to Required Supreme Court cases (or
give students a quiz).
Finding Time to Review
•
Review during the two week period leading up to the exam.
•
Finish review before AP exams start.
•
Review for semester-long courses most likely will have to be done
outside of class.
•
During lunch
•
During access/home room/study hall
•
After school
•
Saturday sessions
•
Virtual sessions
•
Year-long courses
•
During class, plan for this ahead of time.
Using the Essential Knowledge (EK) column
•
If it is in the EK column - it is fair game for a question.
Using the Essential Knowledge (EK) column
●
If it is in the EK column - it is fair game for a question.
Using the Essential Knowledge (EK) column
●
If it is in the EK column - it is fair game for a question.
How to use the EK column to review
●
Assign students different EKs to develop their own
questions and quiz each other.
●
Create a class Google Presentation (maybe a Quizlet) to
present a review of each EK.
●
Have students create EK Flash Cards.
●
Test key vocabulary from the EK column.
○
We have provided a full vocabulary list, as well as tests
and keys for each unit.
Strategies for Multiple-choice
●
Strategies for “set” questions:
○
Read the text/infographic carefully.
○
Pay attention to labels, axes, source notes.
○
The first question in the set is usually simple
comprehension.
○
Additional questions in the set are application and/or
analysis.
Strategies for multiple choice
●
Strategies for grid questions
○
Read down the 1st column and eliminate wrong
answers.
○
Read down the 2nd column and eliminate wrong
answers.
○
There should be only 1 choice left, BUT if there is more
than one, make sure the pairing is correct.
Example of a Grid Question
Free-Response Question 1–Scenario
●
Read the scenario carefully.
●
Read the prompts carefully.
●
All FRQs are weighted equally in a student’s final
score.
●
Do not underestimate the importance of the scenario
question as it is a way to earn easy points.
Free-Response Question 1–Scenario
Free-Response Question 2–Quantitative Analysis
•
Read the title of the graphic.
•
Read the axes.
•
Pay attention to key notes.
•
Look for trends/patterns in data.
Free-Response Question 3–SCOTUS
Comparison
●
Students should memorize the facts, issue,
holding/decision, and rational for each required case.
●
Students should memorize the constitutional clause(s) at
issue in each required case.
●
Don’t play guessing games with the non-required cases.
Free-Response Question 4–Argumentative
Essay
•
Everything hinges on THESIS STATEMENTS!
•
Thesis statements should include a “because”
statement.
•
The line of reasoning must include one of the provided
Foundational Documents.
•
Refutation, Concession, Rebuttal (RCR) must have two
components
•
Statement of RCR
•
Response to RCR
Available practice exams
●
The Course and Exam Description (CED) has a full-length
practice exam.
●
A full-length practice exam is available as part of
American
Government: Stories of A Nation for the AP Course
.
●
The AP U.S. Government and Politics Practice Exam and
Notes (on AP Audit page -- NOT FOR PUBLIC
DISSEMINATION!).
Other resources for review
●
C-SPAN’s Cram for the Exam
○
Saturday, May 4, from 9:00 to 10:00 Eastern Time
○
https://www.c-span.org/classroom/
●
Bill of Rights Institute Webinars
○
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/engage/students-
programs-events/ap-prep-webinars/#government
Questions?
This comprehensive guide provides valuable insights and strategies for reviewing effectively for the AP U.S. Government exam. From organizing your review sessions to utilizing essential knowledge columns, this resource offers practical tips from an experienced teacher with over 20 years of experience.
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Presentation Transcript
Sprint to the Finish Review Strategies for the AP U.S. Government Exam
About Me Has taught in inner city, large suburban, and small private schools Teacher at Holy Family High School AP US Government teacher for more than 20 years Member of the curriculum redesign committee for 6 years AP US Government Reader for 7 years Current Exam leader for AP Comparative Government Consultant for both AP US and AP Comparative Government
About Me Has taught in a variety of schools - including inner city middle school and suburban high school Teacher at Cherry Creek High School AP U.S. and Comparative Government AP Exam Question Leader, U.S. Government Former Chair, AP U.S. Government Test Development Committee Author, Teacher s Edition to accompany American Government: Stories of a Nation for the AP Course
American Government: Stories of a Nation for the AP Course
How to organize your review You may review units in any order. The largest percentage of questions comes from Unit 2, consider reviewing it last. Consider skipping most recently taught unit. Students can take unprotected practice tests at home. Consider devoting one review session to the Foundational Documents and one to Required Supreme Court cases (or give students a quiz).
Finding Time to Review Review during the two week period leading up to the exam. Finish review before AP exams start. Review for semester-long courses most likely will have to be done outside of class. During lunch During access/home room/study hall After school Saturday sessions Virtual sessions Year-long courses During class, plan for this ahead of time.
Using the Essential Knowledge (EK) column If it is in the EK column - it is fair game for a question.
Using the Essential Knowledge (EK) column If it is in the EK column - it is fair game for a question.
Using the Essential Knowledge (EK) column If it is in the EK column - it is fair game for a question.
How to use the EK column to review Assign students different EKs to develop their own questions and quiz each other. Create a class Google Presentation (maybe a Quizlet) to present a review of each EK. Have students create EK Flash Cards. Test key vocabulary from the EK column. We have provided a full vocabulary list, as well as tests and keys for each unit.
Strategies for Multiple-choice Strategies for set questions: Read the text/infographic carefully. Pay attention to labels, axes, source notes. The first question in the set is usually simple comprehension. Additional questions in the set are application and/or analysis.
Strategies for multiple choice Strategies for grid questions Read down the 1st column and eliminate wrong answers. Read down the 2nd column and eliminate wrong answers. There should be only 1 choice left, BUT if there is more than one, make sure the pairing is correct.
Free-Response Question 1Scenario Read the scenario carefully. Read the prompts carefully. All FRQs are weighted equally in a student s final score. Do not underestimate the importance of the scenario question as it is a way to earn easy points.
Free-Response Question 2Quantitative Analysis Read the title of the graphic. Read the axes. Pay attention to key notes. Look for trends/patterns in data.
Free-Response Question 3SCOTUS Comparison Students should memorize the facts, issue, holding/decision, and rational for each required case. Students should memorize the constitutional clause(s) at issue in each required case. Don t play guessing games with the non-required cases.
Free-Response Question 4Argumentative Essay Everything hinges on THESIS STATEMENTS! Thesis statements should include a because statement. The line of reasoning must include one of the provided Foundational Documents. Refutation, Concession, Rebuttal (RCR) must have two components Statement of RCR Response to RCR
Available practice exams The Course and Exam Description (CED) has a full-length practice exam. A full-length practice exam is available as part of American Government: Stories of A Nation for the AP Course. The AP U.S. Government and Politics Practice Exam and Notes (on AP Audit page -- NOT FOR PUBLIC DISSEMINATION!).
Other resources for review C-SPAN s Cram for the Exam Saturday, May 4, from 9:00 to 10:00 Eastern Time https://www.c-span.org/classroom/ Bill of Rights Institute Webinars https://billofrightsinstitute.org/engage/students- programs-events/ap-prep-webinars/#government
