You have four weeks until the AP US Government and Politics exam. This plan gives you structured breathing room to master 5 CED units, 9 required foundational documents, 15 SCOTUS cases, and the 4 FRQ types. Follow the weekly breakdowns below; aim for 5–7 focused hours per week (1–1.5 hrs per day).
Weekly Overview
| Week | Primary Focus | Secondary Focus | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unit 1 (Foundations), 4 FDs | Unit 2 preview | Quiz: 20 MCQs on Constitution |
| 2 | Unit 2 (Branches), 3 FDs + 5 SCOTUS cases | Unit 3 preview | 1 concept-application FRQ |
| 3 | Unit 3 (Civil Liberties), 2 FDs + 10 SCOTUS cases | Unit 4 preview | 1 SCOTUS-comparison FRQ |
| 4 | Unit 4–5 (Ideologies, Participation), FRQ mastery | Full review | 1 mock exam (55 MCQ + 4 FRQ) |
Week 1: Foundations of American Democracy
Daily breakdown
| Day | Topic | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Articles of Confederation | 45 min | Read article; note 3 weaknesses; why it failed |
| Tue | Constitution structure | 45 min | Separation of powers chart; list 5 checks |
| Wed | Federalist No. 10 & 51 | 60 min | Read key passages; define republic, faction, separation of powers |
| Thu | Brutus No. 1 + federalism overview | 60 min | Anti-Federalist critique; dual vs cooperative federalism |
| Fri | Marbury v. Madison + McCulloch v. Maryland | 60 min | Two cases; write: why each mattered |
| Sat | Practice: 20 MCQs + 1 concept-application FRQ | 90 min | Under timed conditions |
| Sun | Review + rest | 30 min | Skim weak spots; prepare for Week 2 |
Deliverables
- Knowledge check: Can you explain why Articles failed without notes?
- Case mastery: Marbury v. Madison = ? McCulloch v. Maryland = ?
- FRQ 1 attempt: Define "separation of powers," apply to a scenario, propose outcome.
💡 Week 1 focus: Understand WHY the Constitution was written; don't memorize dates. Know that Federalists wanted strong central government; Anti-Federalists didn't.
Week 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government
Daily breakdown
| Day | Topic | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Congress: enumerated powers, Senate confirmation | 45 min | List Congress's top 5 powers; explain Senate role |
| Tue | President: appointment, veto, treaty, C-in-C | 60 min | Compare presidential power vs Congressional check |
| Wed | Judiciary: Marbury + judicial review | 60 min | Why Marbury mattered; what is judicial review? |
| Thu | Federalist No. 70 + executive energy | 45 min | Read passage; why does strong executive matter? |
| Fri | 5 SCOTUS cases: Marbury, McCulloch, Lopez, Citizens United + 1 more | 75 min | Case-outcome chart; constitutional principle per case |
| Sat | Practice: 25 MCQs + 1 quantitative FRQ | 90 min | Read chart of vetoes/overrides; draw conclusions |
| Sun | Review + lightweight | 30 min | Confirm you can name 5 checks among branches |
Deliverables
- Branches chart: For each branch, list 3 powers and 3 checks against it.
- 5 SCOTUS cases: Case name → constitutional issue → ruling (1 sentence each).
- FRQ 2 attempt: Analyze voting/veto data; explain why Congress rarely overrides.
⚠️ Week 2 focus: Master the real-world mechanics of checks and balances. The exam loves "Congress could do X, but President can do Y."
Week 3: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Daily breakdown
| Day | Topic | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Bill of Rights: 1st & 2nd Amendment cases | 60 min | Schenck, Tinker, NY Times v. US, Engel, Wisconsin v. Yoder |
| Tue | 14th Amendment: equal protection, due process | 45 min | Selective incorporation; why it matters; 3 examples |
| Wed | Brown v. Board + Gideon + McDonald | 75 min | Three foundational civil rights cases; ruling + reasoning |
| Thu | Baker v. Carr + Shaw v. Reno | 60 min | Voting rights; one-person-one-vote; racial gerrymandering |
| Fri | SCOTUS case gallery: all 10 (Weeks 2 + 3) review | 60 min | Chart: case name → constitutional principle → ruling |
| Sat | Practice: 30 MCQs + 2 comparison FRQs | 90 min | (1) Brown vs. Gideon; (2) your choice vs. required |
| Sun | Review + lightweight | 30 min | Self-quiz: can you label 8 cases correctly? |
Deliverables
- 10 SCOTUS cases: Full chart (add to Week 2 chart; total 15 by end of Week 3).
- Civil Rights timeline: Document how each case expanded rights (1950s onward).
- FRQ 3 attempts (×2): Compare required vs. non-required cases; name shared constitutional issue.
💡 Week 3 focus: This is the "why cases matter" week. Know not just the ruling but HOW it changed law and whose rights it protected.
Week 4: Ideologies, Participation, and FRQ Mastery
Daily breakdown
| Day | Topic | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Political ideologies: Liberal, Conservative, Libertarian, Communitarian | 60 min | Chart: ideology → economic policy → social policy |
| Tue | Political socialization + polling | 45 min | How beliefs form; interpret a sample poll |
| Wed | Elections, Electoral College, voting behavior | 60 min | Voter turnout patterns; why Electoral College matters |
| Thu | Parties, interest groups, campaigns, media | 60 min | Iron triangle; lobbying; campaign finance; Citizens United |
| Fri | Full review: all 5 units + 15 SCOTUS + 9 FDs | 90 min | Create a master study guide (1 page per unit) |
| Sat | Mock Exam 1: 55 MCQ + 4 FRQs (timed 2.5 hrs) | 150 min | Full exam; score & reflect |
| Sun | Mock Exam 2: 55 MCQ + 4 FRQs (timed 2.5 hrs) | 150 min | Full exam; score & identify weak units |
Deliverables
- Ideology chart: For each ideology, list 3–4 signature policy positions.
- Master study guide: 1 page summarizing each of 5 units.
- Scored mock exams: Identify which questions you missed; review that unit.
- Practice FRQ set: Write at least 2 argumentative essays (40 min each), full cite.
🎯 Week 4 focus: Synthesis. You're now connecting all 5 units. Practice the 4 FRQ types until they feel automatic.
FRQ Practice Progression
Week 2: Concept Application (FRQ 1) + Quantitative (FRQ 2). Week 3: SCOTUS Comparison (FRQ 3) + one Argumentative (FRQ 4). Week 4: 2+ full 4-FRQ sets under timed exam conditions.
9 Required Foundational Documents
Spread learning across Weeks 1–3:
| Document | Unit | Key Ideas | Exam Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Declaration of Independence | 1 | Natural rights, consent of governed | 3–5 Qs |
| Articles of Confederation | 1 | Weaknesses (no tax, weak executive) | 2–4 Qs |
| Constitution | 1 | Separation of powers, checks & balances, federalism | 5–8 Qs |
| Federalist No. 10 | 1 | Republic > democracy, controlling factions | 3–5 Qs |
| Brutus No. 1 | 1 | Anti-Federalist critique; central power tyranny | 2–3 Qs |
| Federalist No. 51 | 1 | Separation of powers, ambition checks ambition | 2–3 Qs |
| Federalist No. 70 | 2 | Energetic executive; unity in presidency | 1–2 Qs |
| Federalist No. 78 | 2 | Judiciary independence, lifetime tenure | 1–2 Qs |
| Letter from Birmingham Jail | 3 | Civil disobedience, moral vs. legal law | 2–4 Qs |
15 Required SCOTUS Cases (Distributed across 3 weeks)
Week 2 (3 cases): Marbury v. Madison, McCulloch v. Maryland, US v. Lopez. Week 2–3 (1–2 cases: Citizens United v. FEC (campaign finance, 1st Amendment). Week 3 (10 cases): Schenck v. US, Brown v. Board, Baker v. Carr, Engel v. Vitale, Gideon v. Wainwright, Tinker v. Des Moines, NY Times v. US, Wisconsin v. Yoder, Shaw v. Reno, McDonald v. Chicago.
Plus Roe v. Wade (reproductive liberty, 14th Amendment).
Before the exam week
Review the last-minute checklist the night before. Skim the quick tables; do not learn new material.
Final score boundaries (out of 120 points)
- 5: ~67+ (56%)
- 4: ~57–66 (48%)
- 3: ~47–56 (39%)
- 2: ~37–46 (31%)
- 1: below ~37 (below 31%)
You only need ~56% to earn a 5. Trust your prep.
Ready? Jump to Week 1: Foundations →. Start with the Articles of Confederation today.