Download Preparing for the AP Psychology Exam

How to prepare for the AP Psychology Exam and System Test
The AP Psychology Test has 2 parts: a multiple-choice section and an essay section. You will have 2 hours in which to
complete the test.
The exam is scores range from 1 to 5. 2/3 of your score will come from the multiple-choice section and 1/3 from the
FRQ section. Below are the major content areas covered by the AP Psychology exam, as well as approximate
percentages of the multiple-choice section that are devoted to each area:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
History and Approaches (2-4%)
a. Logic, Philosophy, and History of Science
b. Approaches
i. Biological
ii. Behavioral
iii. Cognitive
iv. Humanistic
v. Psychodynamic
vi. Sociocultural
Methods (6-8%)
a. Experimental, Correlational, and Clinical
Research
i. Correlational (e.g. observational,
survey, clinical)
ii. Experimental
b. Statistics
i. Descriptive
ii. Inferential
c. Ethics in Research
Biological Bases of Behavior (8-10%)
a. Physiological Techniques (e.g. imaging,
surgical)
b. Neuroanatomy
c. Functional Organization of Nervous System
d. Neural Transmission
e. Endocrine System
f. Genetics
Sensation and Perception (7-9%)
a. Thresholds
b. Sensory Mechanisms
c. Sensory Adaptation
d. Attention
e. Perceptual Processes
States of Consciousness (2-4%)
a. Sleep and Dreaming
b. Hypnosis
c. Psychoactive Drug Effects
Learning (7-9%)
a. Biological Factors
b. Classical Conditioning
c. Operant Conditioning
d. Social Learning
e. Cognitive Processes in Learning
Cognition (8-10%)
a. Memory
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
b. Language
c. Thinking
d. Problem Solving and Creativity
Motivation and Emotion (7-9%)
a. Biological Bases
b. Theories of Motivation
c. Hunger, Thirst, Sex, and Pain
d. Social Motives
e. Theories of Emotion
f. Stress
Developmental Psychology (7-9%)
a. Life-Span Approach
b. Research Methods (e.g. longitudinal, crosssectional)
c. Heredity-Environment Issues
d. Developmental Theories
e. Dimensions of Development
i. Physical
ii. Cognitive
iii. Social
iv. Moral
f. Sex Roles, Sex Differences
Personality (6-8%)
a. Personality Theories and Approaches
b. Idiographic and Nomothetic Research
i. Idiographic – investigating
individuals in personal, in-depth
detail to achieve a unique
understanding of them
ii. Nomothetic – investigating large
groups of people in order to find
general laws of behavior that apply
to everyone
c. Assessment Techniques
d. Self-concept, Self-esteem
e. Growth and Adjustment
Testing and Individual Differences (5-7%)
a. Standardization and Norms
b. Reliability and Validity
c. Types of Tests
d. Ethics and Standards in Testing
e. Intelligence
f. Heredity/Environment and Intelligence
g. Human Diversity
Abnormal Psychology (7-9%)
How to prepare for the AP Psychology Exam and System Test
XIII.
a. Definitions of Abnormal
b. Theories of Psychopathology
c. Diagnosis of Psychopathology
d. Anxiety Disorders
e. Somatoform Disorders
f. Mood Disorders
g. Schizophrenic Disorders
h. Organic Disorders
i. Personality Disorders
j. Dissociative Disorders
Treatment of Psychological Disorders (5-7%)
a. Treatment Approaches
XIV.
i. Insight Therapies:
Psychodynamic/Phenomenological
Approaches
ii. Behavioral Approaches
iii. Cognitive Approaches
b. Modes of Therapy (e.g. individual, group)
c. Community and Preventive Approaches
Social Psychology (7-9%)
a. Group Dynamics
b. Interpersonal Perception
c. Conformity, Compliance, Obedience
d. Attitudes and Attitude Change
e. Organizational Behavior
f. Aggression/Antisocial Behavior
Multiple Choice Test-Taking Tips: The multiple-choice portion contains 100 five-choice (A-E) questions. You will have 70
minutes to complete this. This test does have a guessing penalty. You lose points (1/4 of a point each) for wrong
answers. However, whenever you can eliminate one or more of the answer choices, you should guess.
1. Try to answer the questions before you look at the choices.
2. Read all of the answer choices.
3. Narrow down the possible answer.
4. If you are unsure of an answer, guess if you can eliminate at least one of the answer choices.
5. Guess smart
a. Use common sense.
b. Use your knowledge of the psychological perspectives (sometimes language used can give you a clue
about the right answer; each perspective uses certain terms). Example: behaviorist terminology
(reinforcement and punishment)
c. Avoid extreme answer choices. Choices that contain words like all or never or everyone are rarely
correct.
d. Be wary of answer choices that are very similar to one another. Remember, you’re looking for the best
answer. If some of the choices are so similar that one cannot be better than the other, neither can be
the correct answer.
6. Budget your time. You have roughly 2/3 of a minute for each question. If you find yourself confused, skip the
question and come back to it once you have completed the section. If you are debating among several answer
choices, choose one temporarily, but mark the question so that you will remember to review it once you have
finished the other questions.
Assuming your essays are average, you need to earn approximately 60 points on the multiple-choice section to earn a
“3,” 70 points to earn a “4,” and 80 points to earn a “5.”
Essay Writing Tips: The essay section contains 2 questions, and you must answer them both. You will have 50 minutes
to complete this portion of the exam. It is imperative that you budget your time wisely. The free-response questions
evaluate mastery of scientific research principles and your ability to make connections among constructs from different
psychological domains. You may be asked to analyze a general problem in psychology (e.g., depression, adaptation)
using concepts from different theoretical frameworks or sub-domains in the field, or you may be asked to design,
analyze, or critique a research study.
1. Remember to think before you start writing and feel free to jot down a few notes. Use 2-3 minutes to organize
your thoughts about each essay, but be careful not to spend so much time that you feel rushed later.
2. Do not write your answer in outline form. While readers do not give points for the use of full sentences, proper
paragraph form, and so on, they are not allowed to give any points for an essay written as an outline. Write
your essay in sentences and paragraphs. Do not label parts of your essay with letters; use paragraphs to show
where you move from one point to the next.
How to prepare for the AP Psychology Exam and System Test
3. Make sure you cover everything the question asks in the order that it asks. Picture the likely rubric in your mind
and answer each part of the question in a clear, organized way.
4. Structure your essay so that it clearly shows you answered all parts of the question. Each paragraph should
begin with a topic sentence that indicates which part of the question you are answering.
5. Do not create a lengthy introduction and conclusion. Don’t waste time repeating the question. The reader
knows it well enough by now.
6. Try to write as clearly as you can in the time you have. Undecipherable handwriting will not help you get a
better score. If you need to add text in the middle of your response, clearly indicate where the additional text
should go.
7. Use all your time. If you have extra time, use it to go back and make sure you said what you wanted to, add
more examples for clarification, and rewrite any confusing sections.
8. Keep it simple.
9. Use psychological terms. Readers are looking for psychological knowledge, not what these terms mean in other
contexts. In all cases, use the term, define it clearly, and give an example if possible.
10. Make sure your context is clear.
11. If you feel clueless about a part of an essay, do not despair. Do your best – write something, if at all possible.
You might hit on what the rubric asks for. If not, you will not be penalized for trying. Do not worry – missing
one part of the essay question will not doom your score.
Remember to apply some of what you learned about psychology:
 It’s better to space out your studying over many days than to cram for the same amount of time at the end.
 Studying is important, but so is sleep.
 According to the Yerkes-Dodson Law, a moderate level of arousal will help you perform well on the test.
Although you don’t want to be so anxious that you can’t focus, you will want to “psych” yourself up for the test.
Some Helpful Web-sites:
 www.appsychology.com (Click on the tab labeled “Want to Score? (a 5)”
 https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-psychology/exam-practice
 https://www.learnerator.com/ap-psychology
 http://www.barronsbooks.com/ap/psych/
 http://www.varsitytutors.com/ap_psychology-practice-tests (check out the app in your app store)
 http://www.appracticeexams.com/ap-psychology
Other Resources:
 Your old notecards and Prezi-notes (My Prezi site: https://prezi.com/user/lbnt_yppfdwj/ )
 Exam Prep Books:
o Cracking the AP Psychology Exam, 2016 Edition
o Barron’s AP Psychology, 7th Edition
o 5 Steps to a 5 AP Psychology 2016
 Video Programs:
o Discovering Psychology with Dr. Philip Zimbardo: http://learner.org/resources/series138.html
o Crash Course Psychology with Hank Green:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtOPRKzVLY0jJY-uHOH9KVU6
Important Dates:
 AP Psychology Troup County School System Exam: April 25, 26, and 27 (Multiple-choice on the 25th and 26th and
the FRQ’s on the 27th)
 AP Psychology Exam: May 2nd 12:00pm @ West Georgia Tech