Yes. AP US Government tutors work through all five units of the College Board curriculum: Foundations of American Democracy, Interactions Among Branches of Government, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, American Political Ideologies and Beliefs, and Political Participation. Tutors can adjust pacing based on your school's schedule and focus extra time on units where you're struggling. Whether you need foundational concept review or deep-dive preparation on specific topics like federalism or the legislative process, personalized instruction adapts to your needs.

Free response essays are often where students lose points—they require not just content knowledge but also clear argument structure and evidence selection. Tutors teach you the AP rubric requirements, help you practice outlining essays under time pressure, and provide feedback on your writing before test day. You'll work through past FRQ prompts, learn how to identify what each question is really asking, and develop strategies for organizing complex political concepts into compelling, evidence-backed arguments in 15 minutes or less.

The AP US Government exam gives you 3 hours for 55 multiple choice questions (80 minutes) and 4 free response questions (100 minutes), so timing is tight. Tutors help you develop a pacing strategy: typically spending 1-1.5 minutes per multiple choice question and about 20-25 minutes per FRQ including reading and planning time. Practice tests under timed conditions are essential—they help you identify whether you're rushing through questions carelessly or spending too long on difficult concepts. Your tutor can pinpoint your pacing weaknesses and help you build speed without sacrificing accuracy.

Start by taking a full-length practice test and reviewing which questions you missed—look for patterns in content areas (like Congress, the presidency, or court cases) or question types (like scenario-based questions or data interpretation). Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can analyze your practice test results, pinpoint exactly where your understanding breaks down, and create a targeted study plan. Rather than re-reading chapters, you'll focus on the specific concepts, cases, and frameworks that are holding back your score.

Absolutely. Much test anxiety comes from uncertainty about content or question formats—when you're confident in your knowledge and familiar with how AP questions work, anxiety naturally decreases. Tutors build confidence through repeated practice with real AP questions, timed practice tests, and review of your mistakes so you understand why you got things wrong. You'll also learn test-day strategies like how to manage difficult questions, when to skip and come back, and how to stay calm when you encounter unfamiliar scenarios.

Varsity Tutors matches you with expert tutors who have strong backgrounds in AP US Government—whether they're former teachers, political science majors, or tutors with years of AP exam prep experience. You can discuss your specific goals (score target, areas of weakness, timeline) during an initial conversation, and we'll connect you with someone who fits your learning style and schedule. Most students start with a single session to see if the fit is right, then build from there.

Ideally, you should begin focused AP prep 2-3 months before the May exam—that gives you time to cover all five units, take multiple practice tests, and refine weak areas without cramming. If you're starting later or struggling with the material, tutoring can accelerate your progress by targeting exactly what you need rather than reviewing everything. Even 4-6 weeks of consistent tutoring combined with your own practice can yield meaningful score improvements if you're strategic about where you focus.