<p>I will be taking AP Gov next semester, but I know some people who are taking it this semester. Unless there is something I'm missing, isn't it a huge disadvantage to have the class first semester when there are students who will have the class fresh in their minds for the AP test?</p>
<p>At my school, seniors take AP Gov first semester, then take AP Econ second semester. It would be somewhat of a disadvatage, but you do get the extra month or so due to the month of school after the AP test.</p>
<p>My school teaches AP Gov for the whole year (the second semester being an honors course), and a small bit of economics after the AP test. We obviously don't have any type of block schedule.</p>
<p>I think it would be a disadvantage for the second semester class because you only have roughly 2.5 months or so to study for the AP exam. The course must go faster.</p>
<p>As long as you take good notes the whole year and review them before May you will be fine.</p>
<p>Government is not the hardest of AP courses. If our school system had a block schedule I would put something of a harder nature (Hard Science or American/Euro) in my second semester.</p>
<p>From my experience with the AP Government test one would be able to get a 4/5 just by knowing the key concepts [I was surprised Gerrymandering was on there] and a few notable court cases. For most questions (even the free response) you could write a serviceable answer just by having good background knowledge and watching Political TV or better yet listening to Political Radio.</p>
<p>I was in the same situation last year. I had gov first semester and econ second. I was worried that I'd forget it all too, but I was totally fine (I got a 5). Just be sure to review a few weeks before the test. Plus, those who take it second semester had like about a month less than the first semester class did, so actually that worked out to our advantage.</p>
<p>At my school AP Gov is the first 10 weeks of the first semester, and AP Econ is the second ten weeks. The only AP classes in the second semester are Physics, Chem, and Bio (2 semester classes).</p>
<p>at my school gov is in 10th grade usually, but for a whole year. i remember first weeks up until april was mad cramming in info for ap exam. the only nice thing was easy A after ap. if you take a couple practice tests online and maybe read a little through an ap book you will be in fine shape for the test in may. Actually, it may be to your advantage given your situation cuz by taking the class for a whole year we ended up learning tons of useless info that was not on the ap test.</p>