Score improvement depends on your starting point and commitment level. Students who work with a tutor typically see gains of 1-2 points on the 5-point AP scale, with the most significant improvements coming from targeted practice on the free-response questions and deeper understanding of comparative frameworks. Consistent study with personalized 1-on-1 instruction helps you identify knowledge gaps specific to each country's system and strengthen your analytical writing.

Many students struggle with keeping six different political systems straight and remembering specific details about each country's institutions and policies. The free-response questions require you to compare systems effectively—simply describing one country isn't enough. Additionally, understanding abstract political concepts like legitimacy, sovereignty, and state capacity, and then applying them across different cultural and historical contexts, challenges students who prefer memorization over analysis.

The exam is 2 hours and 45 minutes long, split into two sections. Section I includes 55 multiple-choice questions (1 hour 20 minutes), testing your knowledge of all six countries and comparative concepts. Section II has four free-response questions (1 hour 25 minutes): a concept application question, a quantitative analysis question, a comparison question, and an argument essay. The free-response section typically accounts for 50% of your score, so strong analytical writing is essential.

Create organized comparison charts for each country's key institutions, processes, and policies so you can quickly reference information during practice. Take full-length practice tests under timed conditions to build pacing skills and get comfortable with the free-response format. Focus heavily on the comparative analysis questions—practice writing responses that explicitly compare two or more countries rather than just describing them individually. Working through released AP exams and recent sample questions helps you understand what the exam board is looking for.

Free-response success comes from clear structure and explicit comparisons. Start by identifying exactly what the question is asking—whether it wants you to compare, explain, or apply a concept. Use specific examples from the six countries to support your points, and make your comparisons direct: instead of describing Britain's system then Russia's system separately, explain how they differ on a specific dimension. Practice timed writing so you can develop a strong argument in 15-20 minutes, and have a tutor review your responses to identify where you're missing analytical depth or evidence.

Read each question carefully to identify whether it's testing factual knowledge about a specific country or your understanding of comparative concepts. For questions about specific institutions or policies, eliminate answers that describe a different country's system. When questions ask you to apply a concept like legitimacy or accountability, think about how that concept works differently across the six countries. If you're unsure, use process of elimination and make an educated guess—there's no penalty for wrong answers.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who can help you organize the six countries' systems into memorable frameworks, ensuring you retain key details. A tutor can review your practice free-response essays and provide targeted feedback on your comparative analysis and evidence use. They can also help you identify which countries and concepts you find most confusing, create a customized study schedule leading up to the exam, and build your confidence through timed practice and test-taking strategy coaching.