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
X
Understanding
of the Test
Knowledge
Success on the AP Psychology Exam
X
X
X
X
Confusion
X
X
X
Motivation
Time/Effort
Confidence
Result
X
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
X
Understanding
of the Test
Knowledge
Success on the AP Psychology Exam
X
X
X
X
Confusion
X
X
X
Inefficiency
X
X
X
Understanding
of the Test
Motivation
Time/Effort
Confidence
Result
Knowledge
Success on the AP Psychology Exam
X
X
X
X
Confusion
X
X
X
Inefficiency
X
X
Half an
Attempt
X
X
X
Understanding
of the Test
Motivation
Time/Effort
Confidence
Result
Knowledge
Success on the AP Psychology Exam
X
X
X
X
Confusion
X
X
X
Inefficiency
X
X
Half an
Attempt
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Understanding
of the Test
Motivation
Time/Effort
Confidence
Result
Knowledge
Success on the AP Psychology Exam
X
X
X
X
Confusion
X
X
X
Inefficiency
X
X
Half an
Attempt
No Attempt
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Understanding
of the Test
Motivation
Time/Effort
Confidence
Result
Knowledge
Success on the AP Psychology Exam
X
X
X
X
Confusion
X
X
X
Inefficiency
X
X
Half an
Attempt
No Attempt
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Understanding
of the Test
Motivation
Time/Effort
Confidence
Result
Knowledge
Success on the AP Psychology Exam
X
X
X
X
Confusion
X
X
X
Inefficiency
X
X
Half an
Attempt
No Attempt
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Panic
Understanding
of the Test
Motivation
Time/Effort
Confidence
Result
Knowledge
Success on the AP Psychology Exam
X
X
X
X
Confusion
X
X
X
Inefficiency
X
X
Half an
Attempt
No Attempt
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Panic
X
Understanding
of the Test
Motivation
Time/Effort
Confidence
Result
Knowledge
Success on the AP Psychology Exam
X
X
X
X
Confusion
X
X
X
Inefficiency
X
X
Half an
Attempt
No Attempt
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
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 driver’s 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)( ¼) = 70
 If he guesses at the 30 questions, he is likely to get 1 in 5,
or 6, correct and 24 incorrect.
 76 – (24)( ¼) = 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, let’s call it 7.
 77 – (23)( ¼) = 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)( ¼) = 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)( ¼) = 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
 Don’t 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.