Rules for Taking AP Exams

The Multiple Choice Test

  1. Do not panic if you come across some difficult questions. The test is designed to include some very tough questions in order to differentiate between the more well prepared students and the less prepared students.
  1. Use at least two “go throughs” on the test.

·  On the first run, answer only the questions that you definitely know and skipping all Graph / Data questions.

·  On the second run, go back and answer the questions you skipped on the first pass. Continue skipping all Graph / Data questions.

·  If there is time, go back a third time and try to answer the Graph / Data questions.

  1. Circle any EXCEPT questions in order to remind yourself that you are looking for a false statement for the answer. Remember, you are allowed to write on the AP exams.
  1. DO NOT change an answer unless you are certain that it is correct. Make sure that all erasures are clear.

·  On your first pass through the test, mark all answers lightly.

·  On the second pass, as part of checking your answers, darken the answers.

  1. There is no penalty for guessing, so narrow it down and take a guess.
  1. Be mindful of the time. You only have 45 minutes to answer 60 questions. By making multiple passes, you will be given the opportunity to answer more questions correct.

The Free Response Question

  1. On the AP Exam, you will have 100 minutes to answer 4 Free Response questions. You do not have to answer the questions in order, do the easy questions first and then come back to the difficult questions. You can write your answers in the booklet out of order, just be sure to label the question number at the top of the each page you write on.
  1. Attack the question! Analyze the question to determine what it is asking for and how many points the Rubric / Question is worth. By analyzing the question in this manner, you are able to make sure that you have successfully answered every part of the question.

·  Underline the verbs in the question that tell you what to do.

·  Tailor your answer to what is called for by the verbs.

·  Example: Identify, asks for a simple listing, whereas, discuss, explain, or describe, require an elaboration.

  1. Jot down the letter for each part of the answer, and then do what that part of the question asks for. If part of the question asks you to identify something that can be accomplished in a sentence or two. If the question uses discuss, explain or, describe, you will be required to write much more.

·  With verbs such as discuss, explain, or describe, it is important to avoid MINIMALISM (not writing enough). It is crucial that you include enough support information to support your answer.

·  Use examples whenever possible. This demonstrates a higher level of knowledge and gives the reader another chance to give you points.

  1. General Guidelines:

·  Skip lines between answers for each part of the question.

·  Use a BLUE pen.

·  Write on one side of the page only. Writing on the back of the page makes the answers difficult to read.

  1. If there is an actual question such as, “Does Congress exercise effective oversight over the bureaucracy?” be sure to answer it. Typically you will be required to back up your answer with a certain number of supporting points.
  1. If the question calls for you to do something, such as “Explain three reasons for…” or “Discuss two reasons why…” number your responses to make your answer easier for the reader to grade.
  1. Unless there is an actual question, you do not need to include a thesis. Most free response items already include the thesis in the question. You do not need an introduction or conclusion either. You get ZERO points for these.

·  Put your effort into answering the prompt (AP= Answer the Prompt)

  1. Goals:

·  Your primary goal is to SCORE points rather than write a formal essay.

·  By closely analyzing the question, you should be able to determine how many points are available for each prompt. Score as many of the points as you can, even if you cannot answer every part of the question, answer the parts you can.

·  You are not expected to earn perfect scores on each of the free response questions. Earn as many points as you can.


Sample Free Response Question

The United States Constitution has endured for more than two centuries as the framework of government. However, the meaning of the Constitution has been changed both by formal and informal methods.

A.  Identify two formal methods for adding amendments to the Constitution

B.  Describe two informal methods that have been used to change the meaning of the Constitution. Provide one specific example for each informal method you described.

C.  Explain why informal methods are used more often than the formal amendment process.

Sample Answer

A.

1- Congress can propose an amendment with a 2/3 vote in both houses, and the proposed amendment can then be ratified by ¾ of the state legislatures.

2- Congress can propose an amendment with a 2/3 vote in both houses, and the proposed amendment can be approved by ratifying conventions in ¾ of the states.

B.

1- Judicial Interpretation: As a framework for government, the wording of the Constitution can be vague, and requires clarification. This clarification can be performed by court decisions. In effect, the Supreme Court can be a “constitutional convention in continuous session.” For example, when the Supreme Court struck down school segregation in the Brown v. Board case, it was clarifying the meaning of the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause. Although the wording of the 14th Amendment itself did not change with this court decision, the meaning of the amendment changed.

2- Congressional Elaboration: Again, the Constitution is broadly worded, and needs, “filling in” from time to time. Congress can accomplish this by simply passing laws. For example, the Judiciary Act of 1789 laid the foundation of our Federal Court System. Although the wording of the Constitution did not change with the passage of this law, the creation of lower courts to supplement the Supreme Court changed the meaning of the Constitution.

C.

1- Informal methods are used more often than the formal amendment process simply because of practicalities. The supermajorities that are required to propose and ratify and amendment are difficult to muster. This is demonstrated by the fact that the Constitution has been formally amended only 27 times in more than 200 years. Informal methods such as court decisions and legislation do not require such supermajorities, and are therefore far easier to accomplish.

Free Response Writing Styles

Understand the Instructions and Action Verbs

When writing Free Responses, you will be asked to list, discuss, describe, explain, analyze, etc.; these are not all identical tasks. Most questions will call for more than one task, such as both to identify and explain. You must understand that some tasks are more complex than others. For example, composing a list may not even require a complete sentence, but you may need to write several paragraphs for a satisfactory discussion, including well-developed examples as support, in order to adequately explain some phenomenon. Here are some of the most common action words used in past free-response questions:

·  List/Identify: Listing or identifying is a task that requires no more than a simple enumeration of some factors or characteristics. A list does not require any causal explanations. For example, you might be asked to list or identify three characteristics Presidents consider when making appointments. Such a list, which could be bulleted or numbered, and might include party, race, gender, etc.

·  Define: A definition requires you to provide a meaning for a word or concept. Examples may help to demonstrate understanding of the definition. You may be instructed to note the term's significance as part of the definition.

·  Describe: A description involves providing a depiction or portrayal of a phenomenon or its most significant characteristics. Descriptions most often address "what" questions. For example, if you are asked to describe reasons for the decline in voter turnout, in the description you must do more than simply list facts, you must actually describe the reasons. For example, you may explain that the expansion of suffrage led to decline in overall voter turnout because once voting was made available to more individuals, the overall percentage of those voting declined.

·  Discuss: Discussions generally require that you explore relationships between different concepts or phenomena. Identifying, describing, and explaining could be required tasks involved in writing a satisfactory discussion.

·  Explain: An explanation involves the exploration of possible causal relationships. When providing explanations, you should identify and discuss logical connections or causal patterns that exist between or among various political phenomena.

·  Compare/Contrast: This task requires you to make specific links between two or more concepts or phenomena. You should understand that it is important to note similarities AND differences between the concepts or phenomena under consideration.

·  Evaluate/Assess: An evaluation or assessment involves considering how well something meets a certain standard, and as such generally requires a thesis. It is important to identify the criteria used in the evaluation. If no criteria are explicitly given in the question, you should take care to clearly identify the ones that they choose to employ. Specific examples may be applied to the criteria to support the student's thesis. Evaluation or assessment requires explicit connections between the thesis or argument and the supporting evidence.

·  Analyze: This task usually requires separating a phenomenon into its component parts or characteristics as a way of understanding the whole. An analysis should yield explicit conclusions that are explained or supported by specific evidence and/or well-reasoned arguments.

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