AP® Comparative Government can be one of the most challenging AP® classes. It requires you to know and understand the structure of governments in different countries and be able to compare and contrast those governments based on concepts and theories introduced in the class. As a result, there is a lot of material to learn, and also plenty of material for the test to draw questions from. To help out, we’ve compiled this ultimate list of AP® Comparative Government tips to help you ace the class and the exam.
AP® Comparative Government Course Study Tips
There are many ways that you can study for AP® Comparative Government, and each student needs to find the strategy that works best for them. Making sure your approach to AP® Comparative Government suits your learning style is one of the best ways to ensure you get the score you want.
The first way to organize AP® Comparative Government studying is to work from the countries outward. You can make a notecard or page of notes that lists the basic aspects of each government you study. When doing this, make sure to be using terms from the class and use them consistently so that when you move on to comparing the governments and writing about them, you are already set up for easy references. Organizing by country will help you keep the details about each country straight so that you can easily compare and contrast them.
Another way that you can organize your AP® Comparative Government review is by the concept. In this model, you would take each concept in the class and explain how it works in each country. For example, when studying the role that religion has in government, you would note that Iran has a theocratic structure while China has no religious component to its government, with a country like the U.K., which nominally has a national religion but also practices religious tolerance, falling somewhere in the middle. Organizing by concept will let you understand all the different ways countries and concepts relate.
It is important to note that these two methods of organizing your notes are not exclusive. In fact, a well-prepared student may decide to use both methods to make their own AP® Comparative Government study guide.
In addition to the notes that you get from your teacher, you should also review the CollegeBoard’s course description. The course description comes with a complete overview and outline that will not only help you set up your notes but also assist you in making sure that you know everything that can be covered on the test, ensuring that your study plan is set up in the most optimal way.
AP® Comparative Government Multiple Choice Tips
The AP® Comparative Government exam is broken into two sections: a multiple-choice section, and a free response section. Each section is worth 50% of the final exam score, so it’s important to make sure that you cover both of them adequately if you want to get a five on the exam. Thankfully, there are plenty of tips when it comes to handling AP® Comparative Government multiple-choice questions.
Process of Elimination
One of the best tips out there for AP® Comparative Government is to use the process of elimination to help you narrow down your answer choices. Look for answer choices that are true for other countries, but not the one listed in the question, as well as answer choices that define a theory, but not the one the question is asking you to answer. Because there is so much information covered in AP® Comparative Government, it is easy to get confused between countries or concepts, so seeking to eliminate incorrect answers first will help you get the correct answer faster.
Thematic Grouping
Another great AP® Comparative Government tip is to organize the countries, and your study of them, thematically. For example, India and the U.K. both have parliamentary democracies, and so they are likely to share several key traits in the structure and style of their governments. Understanding relationships like this will allow you to reinforce your knowledge if you encounter a question that you aren’t quite sure of.
Expand Your Knowledge Base
While your teacher knows a lot, it never hurts to add more sources of information to your test prep. Getting information from another source may allow you to see it presented in a different way that makes more sense to you. There are many articles and resources available online that will give you sample questions, as well as helping you determine where your knowledge gaps are. For example, you may take an online test and find out that you sorely need to review the structure of the Russian government, which is a valuable insight.
Follow Current Events
One of the most interesting things about AP® Comparative Government is that you can see how what you learn influences the world all the time. Following current events will give you context for some of the more abstract concepts in the class while providing you with examples that will help clarify different subjects. For example, anyone who followed the news on the British referendum on leaving the E.U. will always know what a referendum is, and gain a better understanding of how that particular government works.
Make Your Own Test
Another strategy that many students find helpful is to take the notecards they have already prepared for vocabulary words and shuffle them to produce a random test question. This works best if the cards explaining concepts and the cards explaining countries are separate. For example, you might flip over the social media card and the country Iran. If you can explain how social media influences politics and policy-making in Iran, as well as how Iran’s government influences the use of social media in that country, then you are well on your way to answering any multiple-choice question the test can throw at you.
Make Charts
Some students learn best visually, with charts and graphics. For those students, a good multiple-choice study method is to make a chart for each concept presented in the class and then list each country with an explanation of how the concept in question relates to that country. This strategy is a great way to visually organize all of the information that you get in the class so that it can be understood, processed, and utilized correctly.
Find a Friend
One of the best parts about taking AP® Comparative Government is the fact that it gives you an easy way to meet new people. See if there is anyone in your school or social circle from the countries you are studying, and ask if you can study with them. Explain the structure of their government as you understand it and see what corrections they make. It may be that something was lost in translation or that your understanding was slightly off. This method lets you test what you’re taught with real-world knowledge while giving you access to someone your age to help explain away confusions in your understanding.
Work Old Tests
Sometimes the best way to get a feel for a test is to practice with previous versions of that test. The CollegeBoard has a few multiple-choice sections released for public use. Going over these is particularly important for AP® Comparative Government because it lets you see the way that concepts are applied to countries in the multiple-choice section. This observation helps you narrow down your studying so that you get the most out of your valuable prep time.
Practice Your Timing
Although there are several challenging aspects about the AP® Comparative Government multiple-choice section, one of the most common problems students have is timing. As a result, it is a good idea to practice timing yourself so that you don’t spend too long on any one question and run out of time. Give yourself a timed matching exercise to make sure you can quickly and correctly assign all aspects of a government to the right countries. Also, include concepts and definitions to ensure you can rapidly identify different concepts so that you don’t have to spend time trying to remember the difference between a constitutional republic and a constitutional monarchy.
Trust Yourself
One of the most important AP® Comparative Government tips is to trust yourself. If you’re reading this, you’ve probably devoted a good amount of time to studying for AP® Comparative Government. If that’s the case, then you should try to answer multiple-choice questions before you look at the answers. This will help prevent you from getting tempted by attractor answers that are wrong but seem to fit. This is especially important with AP® Comparative Government given how much information there is and how many different ways that information can be applied. Instead, you should answer the question and then select the answer that most closely resembles the answer in your head.
AP® Comparative Government Free Response Tips
While the multiple choice section can be intimidating, the free-response section of the AP® Comparative Government class can be downright frightening. You will be expected to use your own words to demonstrate that you not only understand the material presented in the class, but can apply it in a meaningful way. Given this, it’s no small wonder that so many people want AP® Comparative Government FRQ tips. Thankfully, we have plenty to share.
Keep it Simple
One of the most challenging aspects of any free response question is understanding how to structure your essay. When it comes to AP® Comparative Government, one of the best things you can do is to keep it simple. Questions will be presented in a list-like format, and it is perfectly acceptable to move down the list answering each question in turn. Don’t worry about your paper having a proper structure or thesis statement; what matters is that the information you present is accurate.
Understand what is being Asked
Often students will approach a free response question with an answer that attempts to list everything they know about the concept being asked about. This strategy is incredibly inefficient and should be avoided. Save time – answer only the questions. A quick look at the scoring guidelines from the 2016 exam will demonstrate that the graders are only looking for certain arguments to be made. If you make that argument, you’ll get points, and if you don’t make it, then you won’t. Listing extra arguments does nothing to boost your score and only takes away valuable time.
Follow Current Events
Many free response questions will ask you to not only define something but also to give an example of that thing occurring. One example is from the 2016 exam, which asked students to define a referendum, and then select a referendum from the U.K. and explain its impact. Following current events will ensure that you have examples to talk about that your grader will understand and be aware of. It also means that it will be easier to articulate the impact of the events that you are discussing, as you will have watched them play out in real time.
Keep up the Pace
Sometimes students can become lulled into a false sense of security by the hour and 40 minutes allotted for the free response section of the test. However, these questions are not simple, and you want to make sure that you maintain a steady pace. This is especially true for AP® Comparative Government, as the questions that are weighted most heavily usually come at the end of the test. As a result, spending too much time on early questions has a double effect on your score, because you won’t answer later questions as well, and those questions are worth more points than the earlier ones.
When in Doubt, use Examples
If you are lacking the right words to express the concept you want to talk about, don’t be shy about using examples. Not only do most of the questions instruct graders to give credit for examples, but also you may jog your memory to answer the question more accurately and efficiently. Examples can also be a great way of ensuring that you are talking about the correct concept in the correct country and applying that concept correctly. If the example doesn’t make sense in the context of the concept you are talking about, then you may want to rethink your explanation or your example.
Use Deduction
Despite your best efforts, as well as those of your instructor, the test may ask a question that applies a concept to a country which you hadn’t considered. The most important thing to do here is to stay calm and think about what you know of other countries with similar government systems. There’s a good chance that, unless you explicitly discussed differences, the country that you are being asked about interacts with a concept in a similar way to other countries that have a similar system of government. This method lets you cover for knowledge gaps with logical reasoning.
Outline
One of the best things you can do before you answer any free response question is to outline your answer. It is much easier to change an outline if you realize it is wrong than to go back and erase half of an essay. Outlining will also let you make sure that you’ve covered all the things the question is asking you about.
Match the Prompt
If possible, you should always use wording from the prompt. This tactic will help your grader find your answer in the most efficient manner. At the same time, it will help structure your writing in a way that lets you be sure you are answering the question that was asked. Furthermore, matching the prompt will help you check yourself. If you insert the prompt’s language into your answer and your answer no longer makes sense, then that is a solid indication that you should reconsider what you’ve written down.
Vocab can be Key
If you know some vocabulary words dealing with the concept the question is discussing, don’t be afraid to use them. The important thing is that you use them properly. Doing so will help demonstrate that you have an understanding, if not a mastery, of the concept being discussed. This will make your grader more likely to give you the benefit of the doubt if your answer is on the line between earning points and not earning points.
Practice Makes Perfect
The AP® Comparative Government exam has a wealth of old free response questions publically available. You should work through as many of these as you can, taking special care to grade them according to the scoring guidelines provided. This strategy provides two distinct benefits. First, it lets you practice real life questions so that you can become an expert at answering them. Second, it gives you a greater familiarity with the scoring process so that you can structure your answers in an optimal format and feel confident that you are answering the question in a complete fashion.
Don’t Guess (unless you have to)
Sometimes you will be tempted to use words or phrases that you do not fully understand when answering an AP® Comparative Government FRQ. You should avoid this tactic if at all possible. Using vocabulary words incorrectly demonstrates to the grader that you are guessing, and makes them more likely to err on the side of no credit if your answer is close. Moreover, it wastes precious time that you could spend ensuring you get the highest possible score on other questions.
Don’t Make it Personal
One of the most important things to realize about AP® Comparative Government is that political discussions are always surrounded by controversy. Therefore, it is important that you not let your personal opinions influence your answers, or cause you to write down things other than factual information about the question at hand. For example, responding to a question about the Chinese government with an explanation of why communism is evil will almost certainly result in no credit for your answer.
Tips by AP® Comparative Government Teachers
While tutors and experts are great resources, sometimes the best AP® Comparative Government tips come from the people who have been teaching the class. We’ve put together some of the best AP® Comparative Government tips from teachers so that you can benefit from their unique wisdom.
Action Verbs
One teacher from Georgia has the great advice to pay attention to the action verbs in the questions. Action verbs tell you exactly what kind of task the question is asking you to perform. For example, there’s a difference between defining something, discussing it, and describing it. Understanding the distinction between these tasks is essential to making sure you answer the question the way the test wants you to. The AP® Comparative Government exam makes this easy because most of the action verbs are going to be at the beginning of the free response question you are dealing with. Paying close attention to the specific task that is being asked of you is a great way to ensure you get the highest possible score.
Read Carefully
Another great AP® Comparative Government Tip from that teacher is to read each question carefully. You should pay extra attention to words like NOT and EXCEPT, as these words radically alter the meaning of the question, and missing them can result in wasted time and a lower score.
Manage Your Time
Another teacher stresses the importance of time management. You only have about 50 seconds to answer each multiple choice question, and your timing on the free response section is critical to ensuring that you can give a complete answer to each question. Running out of time and not answering questions is a sure way to lower your score. If you find yourself spending too long on certain questions, try to figure out what it is about those questions that slow you down so you can work on that issue specifically and get your time back to an appropriate pace.
Focus on Your Weaknesses
This advice is incredibly powerful. Frequently students will spend time reviewing the material they are already familiar with as a way to avoid having to interact with material or concepts they find challenging. However, by only focusing on your strengths, you are leaving gaps in your knowledge that will come back to haunt you on the test. If you don’t understand the structure of Russia’s government, all the U.K. studying in the world isn’t going to help you. Be honest about your weakness and concentrate on shoring them up, instead of avoiding them and hoping you won’t suffer any consequences.
Mark Your Test Book
Don’t be afraid to write in your test booklet. When using the process of elimination on multiple-choice questions, cross out the answers you’ve determined to be wrong. If a free response question asks you to use two out of three countries, then circle the two you are going to use. This helps prevent confusion and keeps you focused on the task at hand.
Treat the Test Like a Checklist
Many of the free response questions will ask you to perform multiple tasks. Sometimes students can lose track of one of the tasks and accidentally miss it, resulting in a lower score. If you are dealing with a question that involves multiple tasks, check off each one as you complete it so that you can keep track of what you have and haven’t done. This tip combines nicely with the strategy of outlining, so you can test your outline to make sure that you have answered all the parts of the question.
Don’t Waste Time
Sometimes students will finish a test section with time left over. While you might be tempted to put your head down and rest, you shouldn’t. Any time you have left at the end of a section should be spent reviewing your answers to ensure that you are happy with all of them. To make this even more effective, you can note which multiple choice questions you’re less than 100% sure about and go directly back to them, or you can spend more time developing and explaining your answer to an AP® Comparative Government FRQ. No matter what, the important thing to remember is that you have a set amount of time to take the test, so you should use all of the time given to ensure you get the best score possible, anything else is just wasted time.
How can I Apply all these AP® Comparative Government Tips?
While this may seem like an overwhelming number of tips, they can be implemented in your AP® Comparative Government review easily. The important thing to remember is that you’ll get the best score if you answer all the questions, so when you are looking over your AP® Comparative Government Study Guide you should keep the following things in mind:
Weaknesses Come First
It does no good to focus on reviewing material you already know; make sure that you focus on the areas where you’re weakest so that you can experience improvement. Ignoring problem areas will mean that you aren’t going to do as well on the test as you would like, and also wastes your time studying things that you already know.
Time is Everything
Not just on the test, but also in your prep, make sure you manage your time. Come up with a study plan that effectively covers the areas that you have trouble with, and gives you enough prep time to work through those issues. All students know that the exam is timed, but many don’t think about the fact that you have a limited amount of prep time as well, so it’s important to get the most possible out of that time.
Practice
Studying is important but taking the test is the best practice you can have. Be sure to take advantage of any practice tests you can get your hands on. When you run out of material provided by the CollegeBoard, look to other online resources that will provide you with a wide range of questions to help improve the areas where you need it the most.
Current Events
More than any other AP® course, AP® Comparative Government has a strong relationship to current events happening around the world. Following current events will not only provide you with examples for free response questions but will also give you a real-life example of the important concepts and government structures you are learning about to help you better understand the way that those concepts and structures work.
Keep Reading
In addition to your teacher and the CollegeBoard, there are many other places that you can go to get AP® Comparative Government tips and advice. Examples of these resources include this one-month study guide, which will provide you with all the help you need for the multiple choice section.
As you can see, there are many AP® Comparative Government tips that you can use to help boost your AP® Comparative Government review to the next level. The most important thing is that you make an honest assessment of what you are good at, where you are the weakest, and then develop and execute a plan to overcome those weaknesses. Make sure you use all the resources available to you, and you’ll find that getting the score you want is within your grasp.
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