THE AP EXAM
Structure and Strategies
Multiple choice Practice answering multiple choice
questions. See websites for practice tests.
Macroeconomics:
http://www.education.com/studyhelp/article/ap-microeconomics-practiceexam-1/
Microeconomics:
http://www.education.com/studyhelp/article/ap-macroeconomics-practiceexam-1/
Multiple choice section
60 questions
70 minutes
Worth 66.6%
Multiple Choice: Tips
1. 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!
1. 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.
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. Don’t second guess yourself!
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!!!!
choices
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
$100,000
$90,333
$10,000
$9,000
$1,000
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!
Choices
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Prices
Decrease
Decrease
Increase
Increase
Increase
Quantity sold
decrease
increase
decrease
increase
not change
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: https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse
/ap-macroeconomics/exam-practice
Microeconomics:
https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/apmicroeconomics/exam-practice
•
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
• 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.
Free Response Tips
1.
Do not restate the question.
2. Use correct terminology.
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
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.
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.
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
7. The questions are
written in logical order
Complete them in this order!
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!)
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
RR, OMO,
market, investment money multiplier,
demand and real
bond market
interest rates, forex
market,
determinant of
exchange rates
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
Money market,
money demand,
bond market,
OMO
Forex markets,
impact
of exchange rates
on
AD/AS,
determinants
of exchange rates
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
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
Macroeconomics topics
7:30 – 10:30
Percentage of
test
8-12%
12-16%
10-15%
15-20 %
20-30%
5-10%
10-15%
Topic
Basic economic concepts
Measuring econ. performance
National income and Price determination
Financial sector
Inflation, unemployment and stabilization
policies
Economic growth and productivity
International trade and finance
Microeconomics Topics
11:30 - 2:30
% of test
Topic
8-14%
Basic concepts
50-70%
Nature and function of
product markets
Factor markets
10-18%
12-18%
Market failure and
role of government