1. Structure and Strategies
THE AP EXAM
Structure and Strategies

2. Multiple choice Practice answering multiple choice questions
Multiple choice Practice answering multiple choice questions. See websites for practice tests.
Macroeconomics:
Microeconomics:

3. Multiple choice section
60 questions
70 minutes
Worth 66.6%

4. Multiple Choice: Tips
Break down the question as you are reading it. Questions will be long – stop as you are reading to jot down notes, draw a graph or process the information!
Write in the test booklet to help you process your thinking!
3. Pick out the words you recognize! Ignore the one’s you don’t.

5. 4. BEFORE LOOKING AT CHOICES, think about answer, look at your graphs
4. BEFORE LOOKING AT CHOICES, think about answer, look at your graphs. 5. Last, look at the answers. Find the best one that fits with your thinking, or key words. If you find one that matches your thinking or the graphs you drew, PICK IT

6. 6. Don’t second guess yourself!

7. Example
If a commercial bank has no excess reserves and the reserve requirement is 10%, what is the value of new loans this bank can issue if a new customer deposits $10,000?
Solve first, then find answer!!!!

8. choices
A. $100,000
B. $90,333
C. $10,000
D. $9,000
E. $1,000

9. Example:
If labor costs rise in the automobile industry, which of the following will happen to car prices and the quantity of cars sold?
Draw a graph before looking at choices!

10. Choices Prices Quantity sold Decrease decrease Decrease increase
Increase decrease
Increase increase
Increase not change

11. Free Response
Look at previous FRQ questions and practice them. Grade yourself based on the rubric given.
Sites to visit to see past FRQs and grading rubric:
Macroeconomics: 
Microeconomics:

12. Free response section Free Response Questions (60 Minutes) 3 Questions
1 Long Response Questions
2 Short Response Questions
10 Minute organization time
50 Minute response time
33.3% of score

13. You will receive a booklet with the questions in it – this is for all of your notes. You will need to transfer your answers into the answer booklet.
BLUE OR BLACK PENS MUST BE USED.

14. 2. Use correct terminology.
Free Response Tips
1. Do not restate the question.
2. Use correct terminology.

15. 3. If the question requires you to draw a graph, you must do so to receive full credit.
Even if a graph is not required, it may be to your advantage to draw one anyway
There are no points off for wrong answers; just points given for correct answers

16. 4. Label graphs clearly, correctly, and fully.
label each axis and identify each curve on the graph. Changes in curves should be indicated clearly with arrows or with some clear sequencing, such as showing a change in aggregate supply with AS and AS' or AS1 and AS2.

17. 5. Use the same outline numbers or letters from the question in your answer
This helps the faculty consultant know where
to look for specific answers to specific parts
of the question. It also helps you remember to
include all parts of the question in your
answer.

18. 6. Many free-response questions are divided into parts such as (a), (b), (c), and (d), with each part calling for a different response
Credit for each of these parts is awarded independently, so you should attempt to answer them all. If the answer to a later part of a question depends on the answer to an earlier part, you may still be able to receive full credit for the later part, even if the earlier answer is wrong

19. 7. The questions are written in logical order
Complete them in this order!

20. 8. Emphasize the line of reasoning that generated your answer.
If you make an assertion such as "the price increased," explain why the price increased.
Example: Price and quantity decrease (No credit) Aggregate demand decreases, so price and quantity decreases (use word to explain too!)

21. Past FRQ topics: Macro Year Question 1 Question 2 Question 3 2011
Phillips Curve (SR and LR), AD/AS, fiscal policy, OMO, money market, SR to LR in AD/AS
Loanable funds market, investment demand and real interest rates, forex market, determinant of exchange rates
RR, OMO,
money multiplier,
bond market
2011 form B
AD/AS, determinants of AD, Phillips Curve (SR and LR), automatic fiscal policy, loanable funds market with crowding-out, SR to LR in the AD/AS model
Money market, money demand, bond market, OMO
Forex markets, impact
of exchange rates on
AD/AS, determinants
of exchange rates

22. Past FRQ topics: Micro Year Question 1 Question 2 Question 3 2011
Monopoly, profit maximization, efficiency, elasticity, price discrimination
Perfect competition, labor market, marginal cost, PC labor market, MRC and MRP
Market failure, negative
externalities, lump-sum tax
2011 form B
Perfect competition in the short-run and long-run
Market failure, positive externalities, price ceiling, subsidies
Labor market, monopsony,
MRC and MRP,
minimum wage

23. Section 1 is 66.6% of your grade, Section 2 is 33.3%
Scoring
Section 1 is 66.6% of your grade, Section 2 is 33.3%
Total Percent
AP Grade
70% and above 5
56-69% 4
48 –55% 3
38 –47% 2
37% and below 1

24. Macroeconomics topics 7:30 – 10:30
Percentage of test
Topic
8-12%
Basic economic concepts
12-16%
Measuring econ. performance
10-15%
National income and Price determination
15-20 %
Financial sector
20-30%
Inflation, unemployment and stabilization policies
5-10%
Economic growth and productivity
International trade and finance

25. Microeconomics Topics 11:30 - 2:30
% of test
Topic
8-14%
Basic concepts
50-70%
Nature and function of product markets
10-18%
Factor markets
12-18%
Market failure and role of government