Compare the application of the rule of law in two different AP Comparative Government and Politics course countries.
Respond to parts A, B, and C.
A.
Describe the concept of the rule of law.
B.
Describe how the rule of law is applied in two different AP Comparative Government and Politics course countries.
C.
Explain how the application of the rule of law described in (B) influences political stability in each of the two countries.
What the Comparative Analysis FRQ asks
The Comparative Analysis question is FRQ 3 on the AP Comparative Government exam. It names a political concept, asks you to describe it in two course countries, and then explain or compare how each country handles it.
The concept, institution, or policy the prompt names
1 pt
B
Part B: Two countries
A specific example of it in each of two course countries
2 pts
C
Part C: Explain
How or why each country handles it, one point per country
2 pts
How Comparative Analysis FRQ practice works
Each question follows the exam’s format, from the full prompt to a score on every part.
1
Read the full question
All three parts, A through C, laid out the way the exam shows them.
2
Write on a 20-minute timer
The time to plan for on exam day. Pause it or turn it off, and your response saves as you go.
3
Submit for a score out of 5
Your response is scored against the scoring guidelines written for that question. Your first score is included.
Feedback on every part
A summary at the top tells you what to work on next. Below it, each part shows whether you earned the point and what the scoring guidelines were looking for.
Earned the point. You correctly described a characteristic of a rentier state by noting that the state receives compensation (revenue) from external actors for access to natural resources.
Part B: 0/1 point
Did not earn the point. You stated that Nigeria "privatises" its oil industry. This is factually incorrect in the context of the course; while Nigeria partners with foreign companies, the state maintains ownership and control through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and joint ventures, rather than a fully privatized system.
Part B: 1/1 point
Earned the point. You correctly described state management in Russia by identifying that the state nationalizes or controls the oil and gas industries (via state-owned enterprises).
Detailed feedback on a practice Comparative Analysis FRQ
Questions about the Comparative Analysis FRQ
How many responses can I get scored?
You can read every question without a plan. Your first scored response is included. A plan unlocks unlimited scoring.
Which countries can I use?
Any two of the six course countries: China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Use the same two in Parts B and C.
Why are Parts B and C worth 2 points each?
Each part earns one point per country. An accurate answer for one country still earns its point if the other one misses.
Are these real College Board questions?
No. We wrote them in the AP format, with the same three parts, and wrote scoring guidelines for each one.
Can I write my answer by hand?
Yes. Switch the editor to handwrite, write on paper, and add a photo of your page.
More AP Comparative Government practice
Conceptual Analysis FRQ practice
Conceptual Analysis questions with all four parts, A through D.
