Score improvement depends on your starting point and study consistency. Many students who work with tutors improve by 1-3 points on the AP scale (1-5), though some see larger gains by focusing on weak country units or improving free-response writing. The key is identifying which countries or concepts you struggle with most—tutors can create targeted practice plans to address those gaps before test day in May.

Students often struggle with distinguishing between similar political systems (like Russia and China's authoritarian structures) and remembering country-specific details under timed conditions. The free-response questions also trip up many test-takers because they require you to apply concepts across multiple countries and explain your reasoning clearly. Pacing is another common issue—students may spend too much time on one country case study and rush through others.

On the multiple-choice section (50% of the exam), read questions carefully to identify what comparison or concept is actually being tested before jumping to answers. For the free-response section (50%), budget your time: spend 5-7 minutes planning each response to ensure you address all parts of the prompt. Tutors can help you practice organizing your thoughts quickly and using country examples as evidence, which significantly boosts free-response scores.

Aim to complete at least 3-4 full-length practice tests under timed conditions in the weeks leading up to the May exam. After each test, review your wrong answers to identify patterns—are you missing questions about a specific country, or do you struggle with certain question types? Tutors can help you analyze practice test results and create focused review sessions on your weakest areas rather than re-studying material you already know.

Varsity Tutors connects San Jose students with expert tutors who specialize in AP Comparative Government and Politics. When you get matched with a tutor, you can discuss your current AP score (or practice test results), which countries feel most confusing, and your target score. Tutors can then customize lessons to focus on your priorities, whether that's mastering one country's system, improving free-response writing, or building test-taking confidence.

Your first session is typically a diagnostic conversation where you and your tutor discuss your current understanding of the course material, any practice test scores, and your goals for the AP exam. You might take a quick assessment or review a past free-response attempt to identify specific weak spots. From there, your tutor will outline a personalized study plan with a realistic timeline to address gaps before test day.

Ideally, start tutoring by February or March to have 2-3 months before the May AP exam. This gives you enough time to work through all six countries systematically and complete multiple practice tests with feedback. If you're starting later, tutors can focus on your weakest areas and test-taking strategies to maximize your score in the time you have remaining.