AP Comparative
Government
Comparative analysis of 6 countries: UK, Mexico, Russia, Iran, China, Nigeria. Your child will take 55 MCQ + 4 FRQ (3 hours), a great complement to US Government — especially suited for International Relations, Political Science applications.
Before you start, understand how the College Board scores.
AP Comparative Government has a balanced structure between MCQ (55 questions, 50% of score) and FRQ (4 questions, 50% of score). The FRQ section comes in 4 distinct types: Conceptual, Quantitative, Comparative, Argument. Understanding the structure helps your child allocate study time to the right priorities.
2024 distribution of score 5/5
According to College Board data, only 16.8% of students worldwide score a 5 in AP Comparative Government. Our students achieve a score-5 rate 1.5-2x higher than this thanks to in-depth case studies of all 6 countries and full practice of all 4 FRQ types.
MCQ — Multiple choice
55 questions · 60 min
FRQ — Free response
4 questions · 90 min
Total exam
2 hr 30 min
5 units following the College Board CED 2024.
Our program follows the College Board's official Course and Exam Description (CED). 5 units from Political Systems & Regimes to Political & Economic Changes — woven together with 6 case studies throughout. Click each unit for details.
Unit details
Refer to the College Board's official Course and Exam Description for the full list of topics.
This is 1 of the 5 units of AP Comparative Government. Our team guides students to continuously link theoretical concepts to the 6-country case studies — never studying topics in isolation.
Unit details
Refer to the College Board's official Course and Exam Description for the full list of topics.
This is 1 of the 5 units of AP Comparative Government. Our team guides students to continuously link theoretical concepts to the 6-country case studies — never studying topics in isolation.
Unit details
Refer to the College Board's official Course and Exam Description for the full list of topics.
This is 1 of the 5 units of AP Comparative Government. Our team guides students to continuously link theoretical concepts to the 6-country case studies — never studying topics in isolation.
Unit details
Refer to the College Board's official Course and Exam Description for the full list of topics.
This is 1 of the 5 units of AP Comparative Government. Our team guides students to continuously link theoretical concepts to the 6-country case studies — never studying topics in isolation.
Unit details
Refer to the College Board's official Course and Exam Description for the full list of topics.
This is 1 of the 5 units of AP Comparative Government. Our team guides students to continuously link theoretical concepts to the 6-country case studies — never studying topics in isolation.
Full program: ~21 weeks (16-23 weeks depending on level) · Materials: AP Classroom + Gia Sư AP internal materials · Source: Official College Board CED
Target score distribution for our Comp Gov students — May 2026.
Our program target: 75%+ of students achieve a 5, 95%+ achieve a 4-5. Compared with the global distribution so you and your child can clearly see the target position.
Gia Sư AP target — Comparative Government (2026 season)
Global average
Five skills our team helps your child master.
The College Board scores based on 5 core skills ("Disciplinary Practices") throughout the course and exam — from Concept Application to Argumentation. Our program ensures students master all 5.
Apply political concepts
One of the 6 core skills the College Board evaluates throughout the course.
Compare countries
One of the 6 core skills the College Board evaluates throughout the course.
Analyze quantitative data
One of the 6 core skills the College Board evaluates throughout the course.
Read texts
One of the 6 core skills the College Board evaluates throughout the course.
Develop arguments
One of the 6 core skills the College Board evaluates throughout the course.
Apply political-science principles
One of the 6 core skills the College Board evaluates throughout the course.
Sample question — Comparative Analysis.
This is the "Conceptual Analysis" or "Country Context" FRQ format in Section II. Students must compare two of the 6 countries on a specific political dimension.
Compare the electoral systems of the United Kingdom (UK) and the Russian Federation (Russia). Answer all three parts below:
- Describe the electoral system of the UK (1 point) and Russia (1 point).
- Explain the difference between "free and fair elections" in the UK and "electoral authoritarianism" in Russia (1 point).
- Analyze the impact of this difference on the political legitimacy of the two regimes (2 points).
Part A — Describe (2 points):
• UK: First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) — elections for the House of Commons; 650 single-member districts; the candidate winning a plurality in a constituency wins the seat.
• Russia: A mixed-member system — 225 FPTP seats + 225 proportional representation seats for the Duma. The President is elected through a two-round system.
Part B — Explain (1 point):
The UK has genuine electoral competition with independent media, multiple parties (Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem, SNP) and an independent election commission. Russia has United Russia dominance, restricted opposition (e.g., Navalny barred from running), state-controlled media, and election irregularities documented by the OSCE.
Part C — Analyze (2 points):
The difference produces two different degrees of legitimacy: the UK government has high legitimacy because outcomes reflect the will of the voters, leading to long-term political stability. The Russian government uses "electoral legitimacy as façade" — elections legitimize Putin's power but rely on output legitimacy (economy, security) rather than input legitimacy (fair elections).
→ Our team's tip: for Comp Gov FRQs, always use specific evidence (party names, specific election years, % vote) — don't answer in generalities. Each part should connect back to a key course concept.
9 Comp Gov tutors — carefully selected by our team.
Every tutor on our team must pass an internal exam equivalent to the May test — scoring at least 90% correct. All have solid Political Science / International Relations / Public Policy backgrounds.
Tutors are being selected
Our team is currently selecting and verifying AP Comp Gov tutor profiles — all with solid Political Science backgrounds and 1-on-1 teaching experience with Vietnamese students. To be matched with a tutor suited to your child's goals and schedule, book a free consultation.
Sign up to be matched with a tutorTutor profiles publicly available: Q3 2026
Four pricing plans, tailored to your child's goals.
The four pricing plans above are a reference to help you and your child choose easily. Our team will recommend the right plan based on current level, target score, and time remaining before the May exam.
* Tuition does not include VAT.
* Tuition is for reference and may be adjusted based on target score.
* Tuition applies to online 1-on-1 lessons; in-person lessons at our offices cost more.
Our Comp Gov students are now at top universities worldwide.
Below are recent students who completed the AP Comp Gov program with us and are now studying at top universities worldwide — primarily in International Relations, Political Science, Public Policy.
Student success stories will be published after the May 2026 AP exam, with formal written consent from students and their parents.
Questions parents and students often ask.
The most common questions parents and students ask. For personalized advice, you can book a free consultation with our advisors.
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