AP Psychology Review

Success on the AP Psychology Exam Understanding of the AP Psychology Test Understanding of the AP Psychology Test Types of questions possible Types of questions possible How the questions are arraigned? How the questions are arraigned? How is the test scored? How is the test scored?

Three Areas to Consider General Tips for Test Taking General Tips for Test Taking Multiple Choice Section Multiple Choice Section Free Response Questions Free Response Questions

General Tips for Test Taking Multiple Choice Section questions Multiple Choice Section questions Column format Column format Questions taken from every unit. Questions taken from every unit. Five answer Five answerPossibilities: A., B., C., D., E

AP Psychology Exam Structure History and Approaches 2-4% Research Methods8-10% Biological Bases of Behavior8-10% Sensation and Perception6-8% States of Consciousness2-4% Learning7-9% Cognition8-10% Motivation and Emotion6-8% Developmental Psychology7-9% Personality5-7% Testing and Individual Differences5-7% Abnormal Psychology7-9% Treatment of Psychological Disorders5-7% Social Psychology8-10%

Values of combined units History, Approaches and Research Methods10-14%10-14% Biological Bases of Behavior8-10%14-18% Sensation and Perception6-8% States of Consciousness2-4%2-4% Learning7-9%15-19% Cognition8-10% Motivation and Emotion6-8%6-8% Developmental Psychology7-9% 7-9% Personality5-7%10-14% Testing and Individual Differences5-7% Abnormal Psychology7-9% Treatment of Psychological Disorders5-7%20-26% Social Psychology8-10%

Great, Good News! You can miss a lot of questions and still get a 5 on the AP Exam.

Great, Good News! You can miss a lot of questions and still get a 5 on the AP Exam.

Example of the Good News: If you get a 70%, which is the same as getting 105 points out of a150… you get a 5 on the test!

Another good news example If you a 60%, which is the same as earning 90 points out of a possible 150… youll get a four on the AP exam

More Good News! Every question is only worth 1 point Even the extremely hard ones are only worth one point, just like the extremely easy ones.

And the news just keeps getting better… There is no penalty for a wrong guess !

This means you will fill in every bubble on your answer sheet. The law of averages is on your side here, and you are going to guess on every question you dont know.

Guessing Strategy In order to avoid wasting valuable time during the test, follow an exact procedure for guessing.

Mathematicians have analyzed loads of tests and determined that it does not matter whether or not you follow a pattern when guessing on a multiple choice test. So… in order to save time, you are always going to guess option (A) when making a guess.

Guessing Procedure When you have decided to guess… 1.Circle the item number in your booklet so you can come back to it later if you have time. 2. Fill in the (A) bubble on your answer sheet.

Bring a watch to the test! You wont be able to use your phone.

General Tips for Test Taking Do not waste your time Do not waste your time reading the directions. Instead know them in advance. Here they are for the multiple choice: Each of the questions or incomplete statements below is followed by five suggested answers or completions. Select the one that is best in each case and then fill in the corresponding oval on the answer sheet. Each of the questions or incomplete statements below is followed by five suggested answers or completions. Select the one that is best in each case and then fill in the corresponding oval on the answer sheet.

There is an order of difficulty for the multiple choice section Questions Go slow on the things you know

As the question number increases, so does the difficulty Questions Start making educated guesses on questions that are difficult for you.

The Difficult Questions are at the End. Questions 66 – 100 Be quick to skip these questions or make a guess.

Tips for Multiple Choice Questions Anticipate the answer As you read the stem of each multiple choice question, anticipate the answer before looking at the options. If the answer you anticipated is among the options, it is likely to be the correct one.

Tips for Multiple Choice Questions Underline key terms and ideas: When Shelly first had cable television service installed, PBS was on channel 9. Her cable company then switched PBS to channel 16. Shelly now has trouble remembering that PBS is on channel 16 and that PBS is on channel 16 and not on channel 9. not on channel 9. This memory problem represents ? This memory problem represents ? (AP Psychology Exam 2004 #86)

Tips for Multiple Choice Questions Anticipate the answer, and underline key terms: When Shelly first had cable television service installed, Public Broadcasting (PBS) was on channel 9. Her cable company then switched PBS to channel 16. Shelly now has trouble remembering that PBS is on channel 16 and not on channel 9. This memory problem represents (A)memory decay (B)retrograde amnesia (C)reconstruction errors (D)retroactive interference (E)proactive interference (AP Psychology Exam 2004 #86)

Tips for Multiple Choice Questions Stick to the subject matter Watch for answers that have nothing to do with the subject matter of the course or have nothing to do with the subject matter of the particular unit the question is testing.

Tips for Multiple Choice Questions Keep your eye out for help within other questions on the test.

Tips for Multiple Choice Questions Watch for Qualifiers Watch for Qualifiers Qualifiers: often, sometimes, perhaps, may, generally, some, seldom, usually, ordinarily, etc. Options that use qualifiers tend to be correct. (Hes watching for Qualifiers )

100% words: never, none, no, every, always, all, only, entirely, necessarily, completely, totally, etc. Options that represent broad, sweeping are almost always wrong. Watch out for extreme, all or nothing language:

Be on the lookout for the following: An incorrect option that is highly implausible. For example: For example: The part of the brain responsible for higher order thinking is the: A. cerebrum B. pupil C. repression D. pituitary gland E. mania

Be on the lookout for: Sometimes the correct option is more detailed, Sometimes the correct option is more detailed, or more specific than the other options. Sometimes the correct option is longer than all the other options. Sometimes the correct option is longer than all the other options.

Common Flaws in Multiple Choice Items There is a resemblance between the stem and correct option but not the incorrect options. There is a resemblance between the stem and correct option but not the incorrect options. Skinner and the other behaviorists would promote which of the following therapies? A. psychoanalysis B. humanistic therapy C. behavioral therapy D. Gestalt therapy E. cognitive therapy

Tips for Multiple Choice Questions Eliminate implausible answers Learn how to quickly eliminate options that are highly implausible. Many questions have only two plausible options, accompanied by "throwaway" options for filler. Eliminate them and your choice is easier. your choice is easier.

Eliminate Implausible Answers Example: Example: Who of the following teaches AP Who of the following teaches AP Psychology at Clayton High School? Psychology at Clayton High School? (A) The smartest person in the world. (B) Abraham Lincoln (C) Moses (D) Homer Simpson (E) Buddha

Free Response Section Test Structure 2 Free Response (Essay) Questions 2 Free Response (Essay) Questions Required to do both Required to do both

Free Response Section Time Structure 50 minutes to complete both essays 50 minutes to complete both essays Can break up your time on the essays any way you want Can break up your time on the essays any way you want Watch your time. Dont get caught short on essay #2 Watch your time. Dont get caught short on essay #2

Free Response Section Scoring Essays are 1/3 of the overall score Essays are 1/3 of the overall score Each essay 1/6 of the overall score Each essay 1/6 of the overall score Each essay will have a specific number of points (6-12) Each essay will have a specific number of points (6-12) Points are then mathematically changed to equal 25 for a perfect essay Points are then mathematically changed to equal 25 for a perfect essay

Free Response Section Style of the Questions One essay tends to be unit based One essay tends to be unit based One essay tends to go across units One essay tends to go across units Questions tend to be relatively specific Questions tend to be relatively specific Application questions with listing of terms Application questions with listing of terms

Free Response Question 2009 #1 1. Dimitri and Linda are trying to learn a new routine to compete successfully in a dance competition. Give an example of how each of the following could affect their performance. Definitions without application do not score. Extrinsic motivation Extrinsic motivation Punishment Punishment Proactive interference Proactive interference Endorphins Endorphins Vestibular system Vestibular system Divergent thinking Divergent thinking Introversion Introversion 7 points

Free Response Question 2009 #2 2. James is in a drivers education course preparing to take his driving test. The course includes both book work and driving on the road to prepare students for a written test and a road test. (a) Describe how each of the following might influence his ability to drive a car during the road test. Definitions without application do not score. Cognitive map Cognitive map Cerebellum Cerebellum Observational learning Observational learning Human factors Human factors (b) Describe how each of the following are related to the results of the written test. Definitions without application do not score. Reticular formation Reticular formation Predictive validity Predictive validity Semantic memory Semantic memory 7 points

Free Response Section Scoring Points are given for correct responses Points are given for correct responses Points are not removed unless you contradict yourself Points are not removed unless you contradict yourself Points are not removed for Handwriting/ Spelling/Grammar issues Points are not removed for Handwriting/ Spelling/Grammar issues

Free Response Section Helpful Hints – Before Writing Helpful Hints – Before Writing Read both essays Read both essays Think through your answer before you start writing. Prewrite!!! Think through your answer before you start writing. Prewrite!!! Try to determine the point values for the question Try to determine the point values for the question Write an outline/notes on the essay question sheet Write an outline/notes on the essay question sheet If you are not sure take a logical guess. If you are not sure take a logical guess.

Free Response Section Writing the Essays Writing the Essays Format of the Answer Format of the Answer Write your answers in essay form. Write your answers in essay form. DO NOT outline, write bullets, etc. DO NOT outline, write bullets, etc. Follow the format of the the question. Follow the format of the the question. Use paragraphs to separate the different sections Use paragraphs to separate the different sections Underline key points and concepts Underline key points and concepts Define and give examples Define and give examples

Free Response Section Writing the Essays Writing the Essays Do not worry if you cannot answer all of the question. Do not worry if you cannot answer all of the question. Try to avoid compound or complex sentences. Style does not get you points. Try to avoid compound or complex sentences. Style does not get you points. Avoid circular definitions. Avoid circular definitions. Be complete but to the point. Be complete but to the point. DO NOT restate the question. DO NOT restate the question.

Free Response Section Writing the Essays Writing the Essays Introductions and conclusions are NOT needed. Introductions and conclusions are NOT needed. DO NOT concept bomb the answer. DO NOT concept bomb the answer. Answer the question, dont try to be cute. Answer the question, dont try to be cute. Define any concepts in the question. Define any concepts in the question.