The exam consists of two main sections: multiple-choice questions and free-response questions.

Multiple-Choice Questions: This section includes 55 multiple-choice questions that assess students' knowledge of the government and politics of the United States. This section accounts for 50% of the total exam score.

Free-Response Questions: This section includes four free-response questions, which may include a mix of short-answer questions, analytical essays, and data interpretation questions. Students are required to construct well-reasoned arguments and support them with relevant evidence. This section accounts for 50% of the total exam score.

The exam covers various topics, including constitutional underpinnings of U.S. government, political beliefs and behaviors, political parties, interest groups, institutions of national government (such as Congress, the presidency, the bureaucracy, and the federal courts), public policy, civil rights, and civil liberties.