United States · ExamWhat does the CLEP American Government exam cover?
| Area | Share |
|---|---|
| Institutions and policy processes: presidency, bureaucracy, Congress, federal courts | 30-35% |
| Political parties and interest groups | 15-20% |
| Political beliefs and behavior | 15-20% |
| Constitutional underpinnings of American democracy | 15-20% |
| Civil liberties and civil rights | 10-15% |
What the questions ask you to do
More than half (55-60%) test what you know about US government and politics. About a third (30-35%) ask you to explain how political processes and structures work, and 10-15% ask you to read simple data, like a chart or table.
Preparing for the US government CLEP test
College Board has free sample questions for this exam and sells the American Government Examination Guide as a $10 PDF. Our free practice test has 2 American Government questions with explained answers, one on institutions and one on the Constitution.
Sources: College Board. Checked October 2026.
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
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