Last Updated: January 4, 2025
The AP Comparative Government and Politics exam consists of two sections: multiple choice and free response. The exam is scored on a scale of 1 - 5, with a 5 being the highest possible score.
The scores in this calculator are estimates based on previous scoring curves. The actual scoring curve may vary year to year.
Instructions
Enter your scores for each section using the sliders below to calculate your estimated AP score.
Section I: Multiple Choice
Section II: Free Response
Concept Application
Quantitative Analysis
Comparative Analysis
Argument Essay
PREDICTED AP® SCORE
0 | Score range: 1 - 5
SECTION SCORES
Multiple Choice Score
0 / 60
Free Response Score
0 / 60
Combined Composite Score
0 / 120
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The AP Comparative Government and Politics exam consists of two main sections:
| Section | Question Type | Time | Questions | Exam Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section I | Multiple Choice | 60 minutes | 55 questions | 50% |
| Section II | Free Response | 1 hour 30 minutes | 4 questions | 50% |
Total exam time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Section I: Multiple Choice
40-44 individual questions
3 sets of quantitative analysis questions (using graphs, charts, tables, etc.)
2 sets of qualitative analysis questions (using text-based sources)
Covers six core countries: China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom
Section II: Free Response
Concept Application: Define/describe political concepts and explain/compare political systems
Quantitative Analysis: Analyze data and draw conclusions from visual representations
Comparative Analysis: Compare political concepts across different course countries
Argument Essay: Develop an argument using evidence from course countries
The AP Comparative Government exam uses a weighted scoring system that combines your performance on both sections equally. The multiple-choice section accounts for 50% of your score, and the free-response section makes up the other 50%.
Your raw scores from each section are converted into a composite score, which is then converted to the final AP score of 1-5. The distribution of scores from the most recent exam was:
| AP Comparative Government Score | Percentage of Students |
|---|---|
| 5 | 16.0% |
| 4 | 24.8% |
| 3 | 32.1% |
| 2 | 15.1% |
| 1 | 11.9% |
A score of 3 or higher is generally considered passing, though many top colleges only award credit for scores of 4 or 5. For college admissions purposes, a 4 or 5 is considered a strong score.
To earn a high score (4 or 5), students typically need to demonstrate:
Strong understanding of comparative political concepts
Ability to analyze and interpret data
Skills in comparing political systems across different countries
Clear and well-supported argumentative writing
Deep knowledge of the six core countries studied
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