The Basics
The most obvious difference between the two AP Government offerings is that one focuses solely on the United States and one compares governments globally.
AP United States Government and Politics (AP US Gov.) explores multiple facets of the United States’ government and political history. Students learn through hands-on work with analytical data and primary text resources. Themes range from constitutionalism to competition in policy making to civic involvement.
AP Comparative Government and Politics (AP Comp. Gov.), on the other hand, explores multiple pre-selected countries for comparison: China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom. While similar techniques for learning are used as in AP US Gov., the themes differ. Set in a broader global context, AP Comparative Government explores topics such as power and authority, democratization, and the political systems of different countries.
Set in a broader global context, AP Comparative Government explores topics such as power and authority, democratization, and the political systems of different countries.
AP US Gov vs AP Comparative Gov: Exam Format
The exam format is different for each course, and you may consider your own testing talents when you choose between the courses.
It is worth noting that while many AP courses modified their exams during the pandemic, the core exam structures for AP Government courses have remained largely consistent.
AP United States Government and Politics Exam
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Multiple Choice:
55 questions in 1 hour 20 minutes. [50% of score]
Approximately 30 of these questions are standalone.
The remaining questions respond to three sets of data and text, including:
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- Quantitative analysis (numbers)
- Qualitative analysis (text)
- Visual analysis (graphs, charts, etc.)
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Free Response:
4 questions in 1 hour 40 minute. [50% of score]
Sections include:
- Concept Application (responding to a political scenario)
- Quantitative Analysis (drawing a conclusion from a visual representation and relating it to a political principle)
- SCOTUS Comparison (comparing a required Supreme Court case to a non-required Supreme Court case)
- Argument Essay (basing argument on foundational texts and class concepts)
AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam
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Multiple Choice:
55 questions in 60 minutes. [50% of score]
40-44 of these questions are standalone.
The remaining questions respond to five sets of data, including:
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- 3 sets Quantitative—graphs, maps, charts, etc.
- 2 sets Qualitative—text-based secondary sources.
- Free Response:
4 questions in 1 hour 30 minutes. [50% of score]
Sections include:
- Concept Application (responding to a political scenario)
- Quantitative Analysis (drawing a conclusion from a visual representation and relating it to a political principle)
- Comparative Analysis (comparing policies and concepts from at least 2 course countries)
- Argument Essay (basing argument on primary sources and class concepts)
AP US Gov vs AP Comparative Gov: Exam Difficulty & Statistics
AP US Government
- 314,825 students took the AP US Gov. exam in 2019.
- Of those students who took the exam, 55.1% scored a 3 or higher.
- The mean score was a 2.73.
- 12.9% scored a 5 (15.5 in 2020).
AP Comparative Government
- 23,522 students took the AP Comp. Gov. exam in 2019.
- Of those students who took the exam, 66% scored a 3 or higher.
- The mean score was a 3.2.
- 22.4 scored a 5 (24.4 in 2020).
As you can see, students generally found the AP Comparative Government exam slightly easier, with roughly a 10% higher passing rate.
However, AP US Gov is often considered an easier course workload but a more difficult exam, which creates an interesting contrast between the two classes.
*All statistics are sourced from College Board 2019 & 2020 score distributions
Additional Course Facts
- Both AP Gov. courses are most often taken in a student’s senior year. A small group elected to take them in junior year and these are likely students who wanted to take both.
- Some colleges will accept a passing AP score as college credit, which can decrease college costs.
- AP Comp. Gov. was only offered at 1,565 high schools in 2019, which is far lower than the 9,733 high schools that offered AP US Gov.
Which AP Government Course Should You Take?
Either AP Gov. course is an excellent investment for any student, but especially for those interested in careers in government, politics, law, and non-profit or social work. If you are lucky enough to attend a school that offers both AP US Gov. and AP Comp. Gov and can choose between them, consider whether you would prefer a wider, more global perspective on politics or a more detailed focus on US politics.
FAQs
Is AP US Gov harder than AP Comparative Gov?
AP US Gov is often considered easier in terms of coursework but slightly harder in terms of exam difficulty. AP Comparative Gov tends to have higher pass rates.
Which AP Government class should I take?
Students interested in American politics should take AP US Government, while students interested in global politics and political systems may prefer AP Comparative Government.
Do colleges prefer AP US Gov or AP Comparative Gov?
Most colleges value both courses equally. The choice should depend on your interests and your school’s available AP offerings.
Can you take both AP US Gov and AP Comparative Gov?
Yes. Some students take both courses, typically in their junior and senior years, to gain a broader understanding of political systems.