May 2 at 12 PM

Basics for the AP Test Format: Objective section multiple choice questions (70 minutes) point value: 2/3 Free-response section - Two essays graded on a 1-5 scale (50 minutes)point value: 1/3

Basics for the AP Test Content: 13 major content areas a. History and Approaches 2-4% b. Research Methods 8-10% c. Biological Bases of Behavior 8-10% d. Sensation and Perception 6-8% e. States of Consciousness 2-4% f. Learning 7-9% g. Cognition 8-10% h. Motivation and Emotion 6-8% i. Developmental Psychology 7-9% j. Personality 5-7% k. Testing and Individual Differences 5-7% l. Abnormal Psychology 7-9% m. Treatment of Psychological Disorders 5-7% n. Social Psychology 8-10%

Details on the Objective Section: Overall the multiple choice questions approximately fit the categories as given: 40% factual 40% interpretive 10% application 10% other The questions get progressively more difficult and are NOT grouped by category. Each question is worth 1 point. If a question is incorrectly answered, no points are deducted. If the question is not answered, no points are deducted. Any statistic questions only require simple calculations.

AP Psychology Test Tips 1. The multiple-choice focuses mostly on vocabulary Make a list of the people and terms you need to review the most 2. The first few multiple-choice questions are easy Beware of becoming overconfident 3. Take approximately 42 seconds per multiple- choice question Be conscious of your time 4. Go through all the questions you know, then go back to the ones you do not know If you can eliminate 1/2 of the answers, it is okay to guess

AP Psychology Test Tips 5. There are 100 points possible for the multiple- choice portion Total scores on the multiple-choice section will be based on the number of questions answered correctly. Wrong answers get no points, unanswered get no points. 6. There are 50 points possible for the Free Response portion Never leave an FRQ blank; there is no penalty for incorrect answers 7. Approximate score breakdown out of the 150 total is as follows: A 5 equals approximately 70% correct or 105 points A 4 equals approximately 60% correct or 90 points

AP Psychology Free Response Questions Directions: Read each question Outline the answer/brainstorm Identify names, concepts, and studies that could be used to support the answer (Academically write everything you know about it). Remember : READ-DO-DEFINE-APPLY Divide answers and remember context DO NOT contradict – DO demonstrate knowledge of concepts

AP Psychology Free Response Questions The free response sections are worth 33 1/3 percent of the total grade. You have 50 minutes to read, plan, and answer two questions. The key to successfully answering these questions is to completely define the terms using appropriate psychological terminology and then critically apply each term. DO NOT write in lists and DO NOT define in the word-dash- definition format. Write in sentences! While grammar and spelling do not count, students should make a serious effort at producing a quality piece of writing to ensure their points are completely understood by the reader. However, an opening paragraph with a thesis statement is not necessary. Make connections, give examples, and APPLY the information, much like the multiple choice application questions do. Students are strongly encouraged to visit the for more information on exam content, multiple-choice questions, free-response questions, scoring guidelines, and grade distributions from previous years.

Details on the Free-Response Questions: The questions will always be mainstream or integrative type questions. In other words, the essay questions will be concerned with very important central topics or they will involve integrating information from several chapters. They may involve looking at behavior from more than one perspective or involve some critique or analysis.

FRQ You must answer the question in essay form; sentences should be complete and tables or graphs should NOT be used. The question should NOT be restated since this only wastes time. Ask yourself “What does this question ask?”, “what am I supposed to include in an answer to this question?” TRY TO GUESS THE RUBRIC BEFORE YOU EVEN START WRITING!! Prepare an outline—you can do this in the instruction book. -this will help you settle down emotionally, organize your answer and make it “reader-friendly”. It will also generate RETRIEVAL CUES so you might remember something new and it allows you time to think through your answer (after this it’s easy, you just have to fill in your outline.) Do NOT write an introduction or conclusion. This is a waste of time, as it adds nothing to your response and does not earn points. Be as precise as possible. The first sentence should begin to answer the question. Write in simple sentences. Style doesn’t get you points, clarity does.

If you have a difficult time explaining a concept, follow up with an example. Use names or studies to clarify when possible. It will demonstrate an understanding that you might not have communicated otherwise. Don’t worry if you don’t remember an answer to a portion of the question. Remember, the object is to accumulate as many points as possible. Don’t worry about something you don’t know. Do your best on what you do know so that you can earn all of the points that you deserve. The questions do not call for personal opinions to be stated; however, please refer to prior knowledge or analogies, provided they do not detract from the prompt. Underline vocabulary you use. Do not bullet or letter your sections, just use new paragraphs with each new concept.

AP Psychology Free Response Questions Readers who grade the AP free response sections are working from a rubric. They are looking for key terms and the correct application of those terms Some students find it helpful to take two minutes and make a small chart or brief outline to ensure all the terms are defined and applied and the question is answered completely. Should a student forget the meaning of a term, it is OK to make an educated guess. However, the key is to make an educated guess.

Previous Topics 1992 (3 content areas) Question #1 – Learning Question #2 – Psychohterapy and Perspectives (explanations)

Previous Topics 1993 (4 content areas) Question #1 – Research Design and Memory (9pts) Design and describe an experiment to measure the relationship between rehearsal/ repetition of a list of words and later recall of that same list of words. In your answer you should formulate a hypothesis and include a description of each of the following. A. Population B. Subject selection C. Independent variable D. Dependent variable E. Experimental group F. Control group G. Potential confounding variable H. A method of reducing experimental bias

Previous Topics Question #2 – Psychotherapy and Learning (10pts) Describe the therapeutic procedure called systematic desensitization. Select a specific disorder for which this therapy is effective and explain how the basic phenomena listed below play a part in successful treatment A. Anxiety hierarchy B. Relaxation C. Generalization D. Extinction

Previous Topics 1994 (4 content areas) Question #1 – Scientific Research Design (12pts) Design an experiment to determine weather a new drug that is supposed to reduce hyperactivity in children actually does. Your essay should include and identification and description of all the components of your experimental design, including sampling, independent and dependent variables, controls, and the method that you would employ to evaluate the outcome. Question #2 – Learning, Memory, and Social Psychology (11pts) One of the most useful generalizations in psychology is that “behavior is adaptive.” Explain this generalization and then identify each of the following and describe how each could be adaptive. A. Repression B. Conformity C. Imprinting D. Displaced Aggression E. Loss of information form short term memory

Previous Topics 2005 Question #1 – Perception, Cognition, Social Psychology, Development, Scientific Data Collection, and Memory (8pts) Describe a specific example that clearly demonstrates an understanding of how each of the following concepts can lead to an inaccurate perception, cognition, or conclusion. Each example must include an explanation of the relationship between the concept and the inaccuracy. Afterimage effect Available heuristics Ethnocentrism Groupthink Lack of object permanence Nonrandom assignment of research participants Optimistic explanatory style Proactive interference Question #2 – States of Consciousness, Development, Mental Disorders (9pts) Psychologists conduct research to investigate controversial issues. Consider the following: The value of diagnostic labeling Children’s acquisition of language Explanation of hypnosis A. Describe the opposing points of view on each psychological issue listed above. Your description must provide one argument on each side of the controversy. B. For each issue, choose one point of view to support. Using evidence from the psychological research, justify why you think this point of view is correct.

Previous Topics

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