Score improvement depends on your starting point and study consistency, but students typically see meaningful gains—often 1-2 score points—when they work with a tutor to strengthen weak areas and develop effective test-taking strategies. For students in Denver, personalized 1-on-1 instruction helps you move beyond surface-level memorization to develop the comparative analysis skills the exam rewards. The key is identifying whether you struggle with specific countries, comparative frameworks, or test pacing—then targeting those gaps systematically.

Students often struggle with three main areas: (1) keeping six countries' systems straight and avoiding confusion between similar institutions, (2) understanding how to make effective comparisons rather than just describing individual systems, and (3) managing the multiple-choice section's demanding pace while maintaining accuracy. Many students also find the free-response questions challenging because they require you to synthesize information across countries and apply concepts to new scenarios—skills that benefit greatly from targeted practice and feedback.

Effective strategies include: creating comparison matrices for each country to organize information visually, practicing active reading of multiple-choice questions to identify what's being asked before diving into answer choices, and using the "process of elimination" strategically on harder questions. For free-response questions, many high-scorers outline their answer first—identifying the countries and concepts they'll discuss—before writing. Working through practice tests under timed conditions helps you develop pacing habits so you don't rush through easier questions or run out of time on complex ones.

Most students benefit from 3-4 months of consistent preparation, dedicating 5-7 hours per week to review, practice, and tutoring sessions. If you're starting closer to exam day, intensive tutoring can help you prioritize the highest-impact topics and study methods. For students in Denver preparing for May exams, starting in January or February gives you time to build foundational knowledge, practice with full exams, and refine your weaknesses before test day.

Look for tutors with strong knowledge of comparative political systems and proven experience helping students prepare for this specific exam. The best tutors understand both the content (the six countries and their institutions) and the exam format—they can teach you how to structure comparative essays, manage multiple-choice timing, and avoid common traps. When you connect with a tutor through Varsity Tutors, you'll get matched with someone who has demonstrated expertise in AP Comparative Government and Politics and can tailor their approach to your specific strengths and gaps.

Practice tests are essential—they're your best tool for identifying weak areas, building test-day stamina, and getting comfortable with the exam's format and pacing. Taking at least 3-4 full practice exams under timed conditions reveals patterns in your mistakes (Are you misunderstanding concepts? Misreading questions? Running out of time?). A tutor can review your practice test results with you, pinpoint exactly where you're losing points, and help you develop targeted strategies to improve those specific areas before exam day.

Your first session typically focuses on assessment and goal-setting. A tutor will ask about your current understanding of the six countries, identify which topics feel strongest and weakest, and discuss your target score. If you've taken practice tests, the tutor will review those results to pinpoint patterns in your mistakes. From there, you'll develop a personalized study plan that addresses your specific gaps and aligns with your timeline before the exam.