Success on the AP Psychology Exam

Knowledge
Need to know the material of a typical Introduction

to Psychology course at the college level.

Typical college course meets for 15 weeks, 3 times
a week for 45 class hours.

Success on the AP Psychology Exam

Understanding of the AP Psychology Test
Knowing the basic elements of the AP Psychology

test including:
Number of questions in the total test
Number of questions from each individual unit
Types of questions possible
How the questions are arraigned?
How is the test scored?
Penalty for guessing

Success on the AP Psychology Exam

Motivation
Drive to do well on the test

Reasons for a 5

Time/Work
Willingness to put in the time and effort needed to succeed

Confidence
Feeling you are prepared and have the skills needed to pass

the test.

Success on the AP Psychology Exam

Result

Confidence

Time/Effort

Motivation

Understanding
of the Test

Knowledge

Success on the AP Psychology Exam

Motivation

Time/Effort
Confidence

X
X
X
X

Result

Understanding
of the Test

Knowledge

Success on the AP Psychology Exam

Understanding
of the Test

Motivation

Time/Effort
Confidence

Result

Knowledge

Success on the AP Psychology Exam

X
X
X
X
Confusion

Motivation

Time/Effort
Confidence

Result

Understanding
of the Test

Knowledge

Success on the AP Psychology Exam

X
X
X
X
Confusion

X
X
X

Motivation

Time/Effort
Confidence

Result

Understanding
of the Test

Knowledge

Success on the AP Psychology Exam

X
X
X
X
Confusion

X
X
X
Inefficiency

Time/Effort
Confidence

Result

X
Motivation

Understanding
of the Test

Knowledge

Success on the AP Psychology Exam

X
X
X
X
Confusion

X
X
X
Inefficiency

X
X

Understanding
of the Test

Motivation

Time/Effort

Confidence

Result

Knowledge

Success on the AP Psychology Exam

Confusion

Inefficiency

Half an
Attempt

Understanding
of the Test

Motivation

Time/Effort

Confidence

Result

Knowledge

Success on the AP Psychology Exam

Confusion

Inefficiency

Half an
Attempt

Understanding
of the Test

Motivation

Time/Effort

Confidence

Result

Knowledge

Success on the AP Psychology Exam

Confusion

Inefficiency

Half an
Attempt
No Attempt

Understanding
of the Test

Motivation

Time/Effort

Confidence

Result

Knowledge

Success on the AP Psychology Exam

Confusion

Inefficiency

Half an
Attempt
No Attempt

X
X

Understanding
of the Test

Motivation

Time/Effort

Confidence

Result

Knowledge

Success on the AP Psychology Exam

Confusion

Inefficiency

Half an
Attempt
No Attempt

X
X

Panic

Understanding
of the Test

Motivation

Time/Effort

Confidence

Result

Knowledge

Success on the AP Psychology Exam

Confusion

Inefficiency

Half an
Attempt
No Attempt

Panic
X

Understanding
of the Test

Motivation

Time/Effort

Confidence

Result

Knowledge

Success on the AP Psychology Exam

Confusion

Inefficiency

Half an
Attempt
No Attempt

Panic
X

Success

Test Taking Strategies

General Tips for Test Taking

Multiple Choice Section

Free Response

Questions

General Tips for Test Taking

Know the structure of the test
Multiple Choice Section - 100 questions

A-E
Column format
Questions taken
from every unit
on a percentage
basis

AP Psychology Exam Structure

Methods, Approaches and History
Research Methods
Biological Bases of Behavior
Sensation and Perception
States of Consciousness
Learning
Cognition
Motivation and Emotion
Developmental Psychology
Personality
Testing and Individual Differences
Abnormal Psychology
Treatment of Psychological Disorders
Social Psychology

2-4%
6-8%
8-10%
7-9%
2-4%
7-9%
8-10%
7-9%
7-9%
6-8%
5-7%
7-9%
5-7%
7-9%

AP Psychology Exam Structure

Methods, Approaches & History/Research
Biological Bases of Behavior
Cognition
Abnormal Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Learning
Motivation and Emotion
Sensation and Perception
Social Psychology
Personality
Treatment of Psychological Disorders
Testing & Individual Differences
States of Consciousness

8-12%
8-10%
8-10%
7-9%
7-9%
7-9%
7-9%
7-9%
7-9%
6-8%
5-7%
5-7%
2-4%

General Tips for Test Taking

Know the structure of the test
Free Response Section - 2 questions

No choice
Multiple parts

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
Punishment
Proactive interference
Endorphins
Vestibular system
Divergent thinking
Introversion

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
Cerebellum
Observational learning
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
Predictive validity
Semantic memory

General Tips for Test Taking

Make good use of your time and be aware of

time restraints
Multiple Choice - 70 minutes (100 questions)
Free Response - 50 minutes (2 questions)
Bring a watch to the test
Directions on exam
(see next slide)

General Tips for Test Taking

Make good use of your time and know your time

restraints
Use your time effectively, working as quickly as
you can without losing accuracy. Do not spend
too much time on any one question. Go on to
other questions and come back to the ones you
have not answered if you have time. It is not
expected that everyone will know the answers to
all of the multiple-choice questions.

General Tips for Test Taking

Read the directions carefully
Mark the one best answer
Mark all correct answers
AP Psychology test says:

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.

General Tips for Test Taking

Know how the test is

graded
Multiple Choice

2/3 of overall grade

100 Points
Free Response

1/3 of overall grade

50 Points
150 Total Points

General Tips for Test Taking

Is there a penalty for guessing?
1.25 points off for each incorrect answer
1 point off if the question is left blank

General Tips for Test Taking

About Guessing
Many students wonder whether or not to guess the
answers to questions about which they are not
certain. In this section of the exam, as a correction
for random guessing, one-fourth of the number of
questions you answer incorrectly will be subtracted
from the number of questions you answer correctly.
If you are not sure of the best answer but have some
knowledge of the question and are able to eliminate
one or more of the answer choices, your chance of
answering correctly improved, and it may be to
your advantage to answer such a question.

Guessing on the AP Psychology Exam

Why you should guess on the AP Psychology Exam
Jim answers 70 questions and is unsure about the other 30.
If he leaves the 30 questions blank, he gets 70 points.

70 (0)( ) = 70

If he guesses at the 30 questions, he is likely to get 1 in 5,

or 6, correct and 24 incorrect.

76 (24)( ) = 70
No difference. He breaks even.
If he can eliminate one incorrect choice and guess at the

30 questions, he is likely to get 1 in 4, or 7.5, correct. To

be safe, lets call it 7.
77 (23)( ) = 71.25 He comes out 1.25 points ahead.

Guessing on the AP Psychology Exam

Why you should guess on the AP Psychology Exam
If he can eliminate two incorrect choices and guess at the

30 questions, he is likely to get 1 in 3, or 10, correct.

80 (20)( ) = 75
He comes out 5 points ahead.
If he can eliminate three incorrect choices and guess at the

30 questions, he is likely to get 1 in 2, or 15, correct.

85 (15)( ) = 81.25 He comes out 11.25 points ahead.

General Tips for Test Taking

Section I: Multiple Choice
[

_____

Number Correct

- (1/4 X _____ )] X 1.000 =

Number Wrong

__________

Multiple-Choice Score
(If less than zero, enter zero)

Notes: If any questions are thrown out the 1.0 will change to
reflect that change.
1999 two questions 1.0204
2007 one question 1.0101

General Tips for Test Taking

Section II: Free Response (Assumes two 8 point and
8 point question)
(3.1250 X _______) + (2.500 X ________ ) =
Question 1
(Out of 8)

Question 2
(Out of 10)

_____

Free Response
Score

Note: The numbers will change dependent on how many

points each question in a given year is worth.

General Tips for Test Taking

Section III: Composite Score

______________ + ___________ = _______________

Multiple Choice Free Response Composite Score
Score
Score

Section IV: Final Score

General Tips for Test Taking

Section I: Multiple Choice
[

74
_____

Number Correct

- (1/4 X

5
20
_____

)] X 1.000 =

Number Wrong

69
__________

Multiple-Choice Score
(If less than zero, enter zero)

Notes: If any questions are thrown out the 1.0 will change to
reflect that change.

General Tips for Test Taking

Section III: Composite Score

69.00 + ___________ = _______________

______________
Multiple Choice Free Response Composite Score
Score
Score
Section IV: Final Score

General Tips for Test Taking

Section II: Free Response (Assumes two 8 point and
8 point question)

18.75
6
(3.1250 X _______)
+
Question 1
(Out of 8)

15
6 )
(2.500 X ________
Question 2
(Out of 10)

33.75
_____

Free Response
Score

Note: The numbers will change dependent on how many

points each question in a given year is worth.

General Tips for Test Taking

Section III: Composite Score

69.00

33.75

102.75
_______________

______________ + ___________ =
Multiple Choice Free Response Composite Score
Score
Score
Section IV: Final Score (20o4 exam)
AP Grade

5
4
3
2
1

Composite Score Range

103 - 150
84 - 102
65 - 83
45 - 64
0 - 44

General Tips for Test Taking

Dont waste time with extremely difficult

questions
Don't waste time pondering difficult-toanswer questions excessively. If you have no
idea at all, just guess (if there is no penalty
for doing so) and go on. If you need to
devote a good deal of time to the question,
skip it and mark it so you can return to it
later if time permits.

General Tips for Test Taking

Are charts, graphs, drawings, etc.

on the test?
Are there names on the test?

General Tips for Test Taking

Keep to the level of the test
Adopt the appropriate level of sophistication

for the test. Don't read things into

questions. Sometimes students make things
more complex that they were intended to be.
Often, simple-looking questions are just
what they appear to be.
AP Psychology test goes from
easiest questions to hardest
questions.

General Tips for Test Taking

Ask questions if you can
Unless it is explicitly forbidden, don't

hesitate to ask the examiner to clarify a

question when necessary. Many examiners
will graciously provide a great deal of useful
information.
AP Psychology test
cannot ask any
questions.

General Tips for Test Taking

If possible, review your answers
If you complete all of the questions and still

have some time remaining, review the test.

Make sure that you have recorded your
answers correctly, especially when using a
scanner sheet. If you were unsure of some
answers, go back and reconsider them.