2022 AP Comparative Government Exam Guide

Your guide to the 2022 AP Comparative Government exam

Format of the 2022 AP Comparative Government exam

• 55 Questions | 60 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score
• Individual questions (no stimulus): 40–44 questions.
• Set-based questions:
• Quantitative Analysis: 3 sets of questions asking students to analyze a quantitative stimulus (line graphs, charts, tables, maps, or infographics)
• Qualitative Analysis: 2 sets of questions asking students to analyze text-based secondary sources
• The 6 countries addressed in AP Comparative Government and Politics are China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom.

• 4 Questions | 1 Hour 30 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score
• Concept Application: Define or describe a political concept and explain and/or compare political systems, principles, institutions, processes, policies, or behaviors.
• Quantitative Analysis: Analyze quantitative data, identify a trend or pattern, or draw a conclusion from a visual representation and explain how it relates to political systems, principles, institutions, processes, policies, or behaviors.
• Comparative Analysis: Compare political concepts, systems, institutions, or policies in different course countries.
• Argument Essay: Develop an argument in the form of an essay, using evidence from course countries related to the course concepts in the question prompt

Scoring Rubric for the 2022 AP Comparative Government Exam

Courtesy of College Board

Courtesy of College Board

Courtesy of College Board

Courtesy of College Board

When is the 2022 AP Comparative Government exam and how do I take it?

• The AP Comparative Government exam is on May 4, 2022, 12 noon.
• The exam will be a paper test at your school.

How should I prepare for the exam?

Pre-work: set up your study environment

Create a study space.

Organize your study materials.

Plan designated times for studying.

Decide on an accountability plan.

Get support from your peers. 

AP Comparative 2022 study plan

Unit 1: Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments

• 1.0 Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments
• 1.1 The Practice of Political Scientists
• 1.2 Defining Political Institutions 
• 1.3 Democracy vs Authoritarianism
• 1.4 Democratization
• 1.5 and 1.6 Sources of and Changes in Power and Authority
• 1.7 Federal and Unitary Systems
• 1.8 and 1.9 Political Legitimacy and Sustaining It
• 1.10 Political Stability

• Best AP Comp Government Textbooks and Prep Books

Unit 2: Political Institutions

1.  Explaining and comparing parliamentary, presidential, and semi-presidential systems. Your goal at the end of this unit is to be able to explain the different political structures in each of the courses' countries. You are then expected to take that knowledge about each Comp Gov country and use it to compare the courses' countries with one another using the skills 💪🏽 you learned in unit 1.
2. Executive, Legislative, and Judicial 👩‍⚖️ Branches. Once you understand the political systems in each of the Comp Gov countries, College Board expects that you will be able to develop an understanding of not only the various structures of the branches but also an understanding of how those structures are used in each of the course countries to wield and maintain power. 🏋🏿
3. Advantages and Disadvantages of Political Systems. In addition to knowing and applying what you have learned about the political systems and their branches, it is expected that you can take the knowledge and characterize the advantages and disadvantages of having one system over another with regard to stability, legitimacy, and policymaking. 💯

• 2.2 Comparing Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Systems
• 2.3 Executive Systems
• 2.4 Executive Term Limits
• 2.5 Removal of Executives
• 2.6 Legislative Systems
• 2.7 Independent Legislatures
• 2.8 Judicial Systems
• 2.9 Independent Judiciaries

• AP Comparative Government Free Response Help - FRQ
• 2021 AP Comp Gov Multiple Choice Help (MCQ) 

Unit 3: Political Culture and Participation

• 3.1 Civil Society
• 3.2 Political Culture
• 3.3 Political Ideologies
• 3.4 Political Beliefs and Values
• 3.5 Nature and Role of Political Participation
• 3.6 Forces that Impact Political Participation
• 3.7 Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
• 3.8 Political and Social Cleavages
• 3.9 Challenges of Political and Social Cleavages

• AP Comparative Government Self-Study and Homeschool

Unit 4: Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations

• 4.1 Electoral Systems and Rules 
• 4.2 Objectives of Election Rules 
• 4.3 What are Political Party Systems?
• 4.4 Understanding the Role of Political Party Systems
• 4.5 Impact of Social Movement and Interest Groups on Governments
• 4.6 Pluralist and Corporatist Interests in Government

• AP Comparative Gov Cheat Sheet and Review Chart

Unit 5: Political and Economic Changes and Development

• Political responses to global market forces
• The effects of economic liberalization policies
• How governments adapt social policies to address political, cultural, and economic changes
• Rapid industrialization and its impacts
• The causes and effects of demographic changes

• AP Comparative Government and Politics: 5.1 Impact of Global Economic and Technological Forces
• AP Comparative Government and Politics: 5.2 Political Responses to Global Market Forces
• AP Comparative Government and Politics: 5.3 Challenges from Globalization
• AP Comparative Government and Politics: Unit 5 - Political and Economic Changes and Development

• AP Comparative Government and Politics: Unit- 5 - Political and Economic Changes and Development Practice Test
• Unit 5 - "Political and Economic Changes and Development" Flashcards