5 Last-Minute AP® U.S. Government Exam Review Ideas to Get Students Ready for the Test

During the summer of 1776, delegates from the thirteen American colonies met in Philadelphia to rebel against the Crown of England and declare independence. The Declaration of Independence, arguably one of the most important documents in the history of democracy, required a committee of five appointed individuals to write it, and they did so over a period of seventeen days. For seventeen days, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Robert Livingston meticulously prepared the documents that would forever change the course of American history.

AP^® U.S. Government teachers may not need to prepare for a war-inducing revolution, but they do need to plan for a rigorous test review. They are aware that a valuable content spiral establishes a solid learning foundation and enables students to develop as they learn more. Every course topic must be reviewed during the final weeks of spiraling through the course material. Educators take great care in planning for the AP United States Government exam because they are aware of how challenging it is. In fact, according to the College Board’s^® score distribution report for the 2022 AP exams, less than half (48.6%) of students who took the AP U.S. Government test passed with the needed score of 3 or higher.¹

Student Score Distributions on AP exams (2022) 

In order to give their students the best opportunity to perform well on the test, AP government teachers must carefully plan a difficult AP U.S. Government exam review. To make that process a little simpler, we have provided five suggestions for an AP Gov last-minute review that can be incorporated into any content spiraling plan.

Tip 1: Break Curriculum into Smaller, Doable Parts

In the last few weeks of AP U.S. Government test preparation, the primary objective is to revisit and review all the potentially tested course content in a cyclical manner. However, limited time can pose a challenge to cover all the necessary material thoroughly to ensure students’ readiness for the assessment. This is where “chunking” comes in as a valuable test preparation technique. It involves breaking down the study material into manageable and digestible chunks. A study from the Educational Psychology Review² highlights the effectiveness of this approach, enabling students to grasp and retain the information more effectively and thereby enhancing their preparedness for the assessment.

In essence, dividing information into manageable chunks enables students to gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter, leading to increased confidence. Instead of trying to cover everything in a single AP U.S. Government exam review session, teachers can break down the course content unit into smaller sections or concepts. This approach allows students to concentrate on one topic at a time, enhancing their memory retention and comprehension of the material. By focusing on individual subjects separately, students can better absorb and recall what they have learned, fostering a more effective learning experience.

To prepare their students for the AP United States Government test, AP Government teachers can utilize the technique of “interleaving,” which involves covering multiple related topics simultaneously. Studies demonstrate that when teachers intertwine apparently distinct subjects, students develop the ability to distinguish between them and effectively identify shared characteristics. By integrating these test-taking strategies into their lesson plans, teachers can enhance their students’ sense of preparedness for the AP U.S. Government exam. Through the implementation of interleaving, students acquire a better understanding of the subject matter, enabling them to excel in the assessment.

Our choice for an AP U.S. Government exam review guide: Ms. Julie Strong

Ms. Julie Strong’s AP U.S. Gov Exam Review Stuff is our pick for the best guide instructors can use when planning for their AP U.S. Government exam review.

Why We Chose It:

• Content organization: Provides clear sections on different exam topics, including foundational documents, political process, the presidency, Congress, federal bureaucracy, and more.
• Exam resources: Includes practice exams, review packets, and vocabulary lists to enhance exam preparation.
• Supreme Court focus: Highlights landmark Supreme Court cases and their significance in relation to civil rights, civil liberties, and the U.S. Court System.
• Constitutional knowledge: Covers the U.S. Constitution, its amendments, and key constitutional principles for a solid foundation in American democracy.

Tip 2: Practice with Released Exam Questions

Teachers can greatly help their students prepare for the AP U.S. Government exam by offering practice sessions using past exams. This practice is likely to improve student performance significantly. Research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln³ shows that practicing with realistic test questions, particularly those from released exams, led to an average score increase of 15%. On the other hand, studying with unrelated questions resulted in a smaller improvement of only 6% in test results. Therefore, prioritizing the use of released exams is a valuable strategy to enhance student readiness and achieve success in the exam.

Our choice for released exam questions: The College Board secure released exams

When it comes to accessing released AP exams, The College Board is our top recommendation as they are the primary source. Although students don’t have direct access to these exams, AP teachers can incorporate them into their AP Gov final review. Additionally, these exams, along with other recently released questions, are conveniently available in AP Classroom.⁴ AP U.S. Government instructors seeking more information about the released exams can refer to the AP Classroom User Guides, which offer valuable insights and guidance. It’s a fantastic resource that supports instructors in delivering a comprehensive exam preparation experience.

Why We Chose It:

• These questions are trustworthy and genuine as they are taken directly from previous years’ exams.
• They closely adhere to the current format and structure of the AP United States Government exam, including the number, type, and time constraints of the questions.
• The previous exam questions cover a diverse range of topics and incorporate different question types to ensure comprehensive coverage.
• These questions are thoughtfully designed to span a range of difficulty levels, catering to both simpler and more challenging concepts.

Tip 3: Multiple-Choice Practice Makes Perfect

Of course, practicing with multiple-choice questions is a fundamental aspect of preparing for the AP U.S. Government exam. As AP United States Government teachers guide their students through the review material, it’s important to incorporate a daily routine of completing at least two multiple-choice questions. Utilizing exit tickets or bellringers that feature multiple-choice questions can provide students with valuable opportunities to review crucial concepts that may appear on the test. By engaging in regular practice, students can strengthen their knowledge and enhance their readiness for the AP U.S. Government exam.

Through consistent practice with multiple-choice questions, students can cultivate the habit of utilizing annotations, recognizing contextual clues, and eliminating obviously incorrect answers. This habit will bolster their efficiency and accuracy when taking tests. Engaging in regular practice with multiple-choice questions not only enhances test-taking skills but also fosters improved time management and a greater familiarity with the test’s pace. By honing these abilities, students can approach the AP U.S. Government exam with confidence and perform at their best.

Our choice for multiple-choice practice: UWorld

We highly recommend UWorld’s Learning Tools for AP Courses as the top choice for practicing multiple-choice questions. It’s an excellent resource to incorporate into your AP Gov last-minute review.

Incorporating multiple-choice questions into your AP U.S. Government review, especially during the final weeks, is a fantastic idea. UWorld’s multiple-choice questions offer students outstanding explanations that greatly enhance their understanding.

With the help of adaptive learning technology, UWorld tailors each lesson to meet students’ specific comprehension levels. This personalized approach ensures that students receive practice that aligns with their individual needs and abilities.

The beauty of UWorld is that it can be utilized throughout the entire year. Students can regularly engage with the resource to review their learned material, identify areas of strength and growth, and expand their knowledge and skills in preparation for the AP U.S. Government exam.

Furthermore, during the final weeks of AP U.S. Government test preparation, UWorld provides a quick and efficient way for students to revisit key ideas and practice multiple-choice questions. It streamlines the review process and helps solidify their understanding of important concepts.

Why We Chose It:

• Students receive instant feedback and a detailed breakdown of correct and incorrect responses, which helps them grasp AP U.S. Government concepts and refine their problem-solving abilities.
• The resource offers a vast collection of multiple-choice practice questions that comprehensively cover all subjects tested in the AP United States Government exam. Students can engage with numerous practice questions to thoroughly review and master each topic.
• To replicate the time constraints of the AP U.S. Government exam, the practice questions are timed. This feature allows students to familiarize themselves with the exam’s time limitations and enables teachers to assess their students’ performance within the given timeframe.
• Teachers have the flexibility to personalize practice sessions by selecting specific subjects and question types. This customization empowers teachers to focus their AP U.S. Government test review on the areas where their students require the most support, ensuring comprehensive exam preparation.

Tip 4: Greater Understanding with Justifications – Studying for FRQs

One noticeable difference between education today and education a few decades ago is the increased emphasis on the importance of true comprehension. Teachers play a vital role in facilitating deep understanding by going beyond simply providing answers. When preparing for the AP U.S. Government test, it is crucial to offer students ample opportunities to justify their responses. According to a study published in the Journal of Computer-Assisted Learning⁵, students who had to provide justifications for their answers demonstrated a stronger grasp of the material compared to those who only provided answers. Including written explanations in the learning process can enhance students’ clarity of understanding and improve long-term retention.

Engaging students in the practice of justifying their answers in writing also equips them for free-response questions. Additionally, providing online examples of exceptional free-response question (FRQ) responses can greatly support students in performing well on the AP United States Government exam. By examining sample questions, teachers and students can collaboratively generate ideas and develop effective FRQ answers.

Our choice for additional FRQ practice: CrackAP

CrackAP is a great place to practice FRQs for the AP U.S. Government test because it has a large number of free-response questions, scoring rubrics, examples of good essays, and tips and strategies to help students get better at analyzing primary and secondary sources.

Why We Chose It:

• Extensive FRQ coverage: The resource offers a wide range of FRQ practice questions that cover all the topics tested in the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam, allowing teachers to ensure comprehensive review in a short amount of time.
• Quick access and convenience: Teachers planning an AP Gov last-minute review can easily access the FRQ practice questions from the provided link, saving time and enabling efficient exam preparation.
• Authentic exam simulation: The FRQs provided closely resemble the format and complexity of the actual AP U.S. Government and Politics exam, giving students a realistic practice experience and preparing them for the exam’s demands.
• Targeted review: Teachers can select specific FRQs from the resource to focus on areas where their students need the most improvement, providing tailored practice opportunities and enhancing overall performance in a time-efficient manner.

Tip 5: Repetition with Flashcards

When going through previous course material and studying important vocabulary terms, repetition is a valuable tool for retaining content. Flashcards enable active learning, and repeated retrieval practice enhances long-term memory. As stated by the Central Penn College Learning Center, “Flashcards help students engage in active recall, where they actively participate in learning by stimulating their memory and forming lasting connections with the material.”⁶

To prepare for the AP U.S. Government exam, teachers should cover a range of ideas and significant vocabulary words with their students. By incorporating flashcard-based activities, students can stay engaged and motivated during concept review in class. Regular use of flashcard-based exercises in AP United States Government classes promotes effective retention of essential course material, whether students study flashcards independently or engage in group review activities.

Our recommendation for AP United States Government flashcards: UWorld

We highly recommend the UWorld flashcards feature as an excellent resource for AP U.S. Government. It’s our top choice for students looking to enhance their understanding and excel in the subject. With UWorld flashcards, students can create their own customized slide shows and focus on specific topics. It’s an effective and user-friendly tool for studying for the AP U.S. Government exam, thanks to its easy-to-use interface and flexible flashcard feature.

Teachers can also assign various review activities that involve the use of paper flashcards. Here are some ideas to help you make the most of them during your AP Gov final review.

Bonus Tip: Prepare Students with Test Day Reminders

This last piece of advice might sound more like general test-taking guidance rather than a last-minute tip specifically for AP U.S. Government review. However, it’s important to discuss what students should do and bring on the day of the exam. Every year, there are students who forget to bring a pencil, turn off their phones, or even show up late for their Advanced Placement exams. But here’s an interesting finding from a study conducted by The College Board⁷: students who arrived on time and had all the necessary supplies for their AP exam scored an average of 20 points higher compared to those who were late or forgot their materials. So, it’s crucial to go through a preparation checklist for the AP U.S. Government exam with your students and ensure they have all the required supplies on test day.

Checklist of Reminders for AP United States Government Students

The Day Before the AP U.S. Government Exam:

The Day of the AP U.S. Government Exam:

Key Takeaways

Teachers aiming to provide their students with top-notch AP Gov final review shouldn’t overlook the significance of the final weeks leading up to the exam. AP U.S. Government instructors can leverage the five suggestions in this article to assist their students in gaining confidence and preparedness for their exams.

Learn more about how we strive to support AP teachers who want to make a difference in the lives of their students with our Learning Tools for AP Courses.

References

1. Student Score Distributions* AP exams – May 2022. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-score-distributions-by-subject-2022.pdf 
2. Rohrer, D. (2012, July 28). Interleaving helps students distinguish among similar concepts – educational psychology review. SpringerLink. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10648-012-9201-3 
3. The effects of age and professional expertise on … – Wiley Online Library. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/acp.1467 
4. Formative assessment. AP For All. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://apforallnyc.com/formative-assessment/ 
5. Let me explain! the effects of writing and … – Wiley Online Library. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcal.12608 
6. Libguides: Learning Center – Study Skills: Flashcards. Flashcards – Learning Center – Study Skills – LibGuides at Central Penn College. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://guides.centralpenn.edu/c.php?g=695569&p=4999857
7. Source: College Board. (2021). AP Exam Score Distributions. Retrieved from https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/2021-ap-student-score-distributions_1.pdf