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AP® Psychology

The ultimate list of ap® psychology tips.

• The Albert Team
• Last Updated On: March 1, 2022

Scoring a 4 or 5 on AP® Psychology can seem daunting. Fortunately, 45.6% of students who sat for the AP® Psychology test scored a 4 or 5 on the exam! That means AP® Psychology is a prime opportunity to boost your confidence and experience in taking AP® exams. Hopefully after reading this list of comprehensive tips, you’ll feel better prepared to rock your AP® Psychology test!

If you’re looking for online AP® Psychology prep , Albert is your go to place. Combining Albert with old school review books is a great option too. Check out this post for the best AP® Psychology review books .

Now to the good stuff… here are 50 AP® Psychology tips.

AP® Psychology FRQ Essay Tips & Advice

1. Underline important clauses : It is easy to overlook a small but important part of an FRQ question. Make sure to use your writing utensil. Underline or circle important phrases in the prompt.

2. Identify the verbs: Look for these cues to as mental reminders of what to include in your response. Verbs that are frequently on the test include; describe, explain, compare, contrast, evaluate, apply, identify, etc. Identifying these cues will allow you to ensure you are addressing every part of the question at hand.

3. Bucket the course : What we mean is you should outline the AP® Psychology course during your review sessions. Break down the important themes in the course and familiarize yourself with mentally cueing these “buckets” whenever you read an AP® Psychology question. You can label certain topic areas to your own liking i.e. Area 1: History & Approaches, Area 2: Research Methods, etc. So if you see a question about William James, you may remember that this question is testing your knowledge of History & Approaches and mentally recall related concepts to different approaches and the history of psychology.

4. Budget your time: with just 50 minutes to answer the two FRQ questions, you need to prepare yourself to answer each question in roughly 25 minutes. A good way to approach the FRQs is to spend the first 3-4 minutes planning your answer before beginning to write for the remainder of the time. Keep your eye on the time and make sure you don’t spend too much time on one essay over another.

5. Put your best foot forward: Cliche, yes. But this is a really important tip to remember. At the end of the day, you may enter the AP® Psychology test and not know every single part of the question you are responsible for. It’s okay! Take a deep breath and recall everything you do know. The name of the game is doing as well as you possibly can, and sharing with the reader/grader what you’ve learned. It is better to put your best foot forward and to try earning as many points as you can than to feel self-defeated and simply not write because you do not know a particular part of the question.

6. Use the proper terminology: When you can recall it, use the appropriate psychological term when responding to the FRQs. It is an AP® Psychology test for a reason!

7. Be specific: One of the areas students struggle with on the AP® Psychology test is being specific enough with their responses. If you survey the sample responses released by the College Board, you will see that many poorly scored responses are ones that lack specificity. Give examples and show that you truly understand what the question is asking.

8. Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication: We get it. You love complex sentences. However, students who are able to write simply and elegantly are often the best writers. When you can, break down your sentences. Write with clarity.

9. Understand the rubric: One of the best parts about taking AP® tests is that you know what will be on test before you take the exam. Print out a copy of the AP® Psychology FRQ rubric and learn it by heart. Once you internalize it, you will start to think about the test from the eyes of the test creator. You will become more aware of whether or not your responses are answering every part of the question being asked.

10. Write in complete sentences: I recommend answering your FRQs in complete sentences with a clear sentence for each part of the question. From example if the question asks you to define and explain, 4 terms, you would have a sentence defining the term and a sentence or two explaining the term. Make sure to clearly denote when you are transitioning from one term or idea to the next by indenting, skipping a line or having a bullet or word appropriately labeling the new section.

11. Read the question: This is very important! Don’t make the mistake of assuming what the rest of a question is asking, writing an entire response, and then realizing you’ve failed to answer the question. When you first open your FRQ packet , read both questions before starting to write . Then, make a decision on which one you feel more comfortable tackling first. This will not only boost your confidence and get you in the flow of writing before you have to tackle the question you have less expertise on.

12. Consider planning before answering: You should set aside a few minutes in the beginning of the free response section to plan your response before jumping in. It is well worth the time. Having a clear road-map of your response allows you to craft a coherent response.

13. Do not contradict yourself: You won’t be docked points for incorrect information, but you also won’t be given points for stating contradictory information. For example, you cannot say that positive reinforcement is rewarding a behavior to increase its frequency and rewarding for a behavior to decrease its frequency so even though you got the correct answer, since you contradicted it later, you would loose the point you had gained.

14. Cut the introduction and conclusion: You do not need an introduction or conclusion since the rubric is graded on your ability to hit specific points of the question. You can lead off with a response to the question. Remember, this is AP® Psychology, not AP® English.

15. Do not restate the question: With only 25 minutes per free response question, there are better uses to your time than restating the question. This goes in line with tip #14 of cutting the introduction and conclusion. However use parts of the question to show where your answers are located, for example, use the bulleted items you need to cover to label each section where the grader will find the answer.

16. Remember UDA: Underline the term or concept being tested, define the term without using the term itself in the definition, and apply the term to an example.

ie. Do not say, “Development psychology is about development…”

AP® Psychology Multiple Choice Review Tips

1. Understand what the question is asking: It seems simple, but sometimes students struggle to figure out what the College Board is actually asking of them. When you read the question, don’t be afraid to circle or underline the keywords in the question so that you can mentally think about what that keyword relates to conceptually.

2. Use POE : Often times you can eliminate an answer choice. POE stands for process of elimination . As you work through the AP® Psychology multiple choice section, make X marks or dashes by answer choices that do not make sense with the question. This helps you in two ways: it makes you logically think about what are feasible answer solutions and it makes reviewing your test at the very end more efficient.

3. Practice progressively: Cramming for the AP® Psychology exam the night before is not an effective method to prepare for the test. Make sure to begin your review several weeks before the exam. Practice a few questions every night and review whether or not you get the questions right or wrong. A good starting block is practicing ten questions a night two months before the exam. Then, ramp up your studying sessions with fifteen a night; before long, you can answer twenty a night. Remember, every 100 questions you practice is the equivalent of having taken one full AP® Psychology multiple choice section.

4. Create flashcards for problem areas: When you are reviewing the practice questions you’ve completed each night, take out five to ten flashcards and create cards for any term or concept that seemed foreign to you. If you progressively build on this stack (it can even be virtual i.e. on Quizlet ), you will have a go-to set of key concepts to review those final nights before the test.

5. Figure out WHY you are getting questions wrong: As important as it is to familiarize yourself with AP® style practice questions, it’s equally as important to figure out the reason why you are getting questions wrong. Figure out how to identify why certain answer choices are right and why other answer choices are incorrect. Always ask yourself, “Why?” when you are feeling uncertain or need to walk yourself mentally through a question.

6. Remember MAPS: Mark the test-maker traps i.e. except, main, best, etc. Answer the question yourself before assessing the answer choices. Use POE (see #2 above) to narrow down the options. Skip the questions you don’t know the answer to until you’ve done a first pass through the rest of the multiple choice section. Put a star or question mark next to questions you are unsure about.

7. Easy, Moderate, and Difficult questions are interspersed throughout the test.  Remember there are 100 questions total and they do not necessarily get harder as you go on. The very last question could be one you totally know!  Try to skip questions and make your way to the end of the exam so don’t miss easy wins.

Overall How to Study for AP® Psychology Tips

1. Master the terminology: Knowing the terms frequently tested on the AP® Psychology exam will go a long way to improving your score. Create ways to remember important names and contributions and ensure that you understand how theories and concepts interact with one another.

2. Group study: Studying for AP® Psychology doesn’t have to be lonely! Tag team with your friends or classmates to prepare for the test. Group studying can be highly effective if everyone goes in with an open mind towards learning. It is a good way to bounce knowledge off of one another, and create a group facilitation effect. Teaching concepts to others is also one of the most effective ways to study.

3. Isolate your weaknesses: If you know something like the back of your hand, then there is no need to spend too much time reviewing it. Instead, focus your efforts on areas that you know you need to improve upon. Often students like studying to feel easy so they only review concepts they already know. While that is OK for confidence building, it isn’t a great strategy for preparing for the full exam.

4. Complete your reading: Often times students think they can just memorize several hundred psychology terms and be okay on the test. The problem is that if you do not complete your reading, you will struggle to apply the terms on the test. Your textbook is one of the best ways to make the connection between terms.

5. Rewrite your notes: A great way to review core concepts is by looking over your notes and identifying what you feel is most important. Then take what you thought was most important and summarize the notes in a more concise way. Isolating important ideas and rewriting them will help you become more familiar with the concepts so that when the test rolls around, you will be able to recall it quickly.

6. Complete test corrections: When you begin your AP® Psychology review, review all of the tests you have taken this year in the class. Look at the questions you got wrong and be able to answer why you got the question wrong. Seeking continuous improvement in your weak areas is the key to great success on the AP® Psychology exam.

7. Understand the test percentages: The test itself has a specific breakdown in terms of the relative frequency of concepts. You can find the outline below. Review this outline before you begin your review so that you can plan how to spend your review time.

Tips Submitted by AP® Psychology Teachers

1. Make a chart for the free response questions so you don’t forget anything and lose valuable points. Thanks for the tip from Cory S. from Laramie Senior High!

2. RELAX . If you are stuck on an question, go back to it. It’s important to answer as many correctly as you can. Thanks for the tip from Jennifer A. from Windsor High.

3. Stress makes people stupid, so relax . If you know your stuff you will be fine and if you don’t, well stressing out about it won’t help. Thanks for the tip from Ron E. from Goshen High.

4. Use the knowledge you are acquiring about your brain and behavior to your academic advantage. Be willing to adjust your studying and learning strategies to incorporate what you’ve learned to use your brain more efficiently. Thanks for the tip from Kristi B. from Traverse City Central High.

5. Be sure to read the essay questions carefully and relate the response to the prompt specifically. Thanks for the tip from Keith M. from Ball High.

6. Create themes for each of the Major Units so as to be well prepared for the two Free Response Questions. Thanks for the tip from Kelly G. from Timberline High.

7. Use flashcards . Know the vocabulary! Thanks for the tip from Michael S. at Roosevelt High and Matt D. from Waupun Junior/Senior High.

8. Know each perspective and the terms associated with each. This has helped students tremendously. Thanks for the tip from Sharon C. from Crestview High.

9. On the FRQ section, answer EVERYTHING , even if you think you don’t know it, try to answer it. It is better that you try and answer it than leave it blank. You never know where you’ll get points from! Thanks for the tip from Kristopher C. from Manvel High.

10. Students must know the language of the field in the multiple choice and they must prove they can apply that language to given scenarios on the AP® Essay portion. I provide several different assessments that include theorist names, schools of thought, and language of the field so they can begin to “thread” theorist to school of thought to its language — because they are going to get those questions in one of those 3 forms. It works very well and always receive great feedback from students, accordingly. Layering the learning generates easier encoding from which to recall. Thanks for the tip from Jody Z. from Hammond High.

11. Use the  Barron’s Review book : read it, annotate, and take the practice quiz-grade that and highlight the answer key in the end of the chapter explain “why I missed the question”. That becomes their “ticket in” to test corrections. That way the students have done some extra study to help clarify the material and are not simply guessing on the questions. Thanks for the tip from Ann F. from Centennial High.

12. Use Four Corner Flashcards.  After making flashcards with traditional main term or concept and definition, I have my students add four other unit terms to the notes card, one in each corner.. I put a list of all important unit terms, researchers and studies in our unit packet. I ask the students to pick four of the terms (different terms for each note card), and place one term in each corner of the note card. After learning the definition, the student has to connect the main term on the card to each of the other four terms and mentally explain in FRQ format how the other four terms relate to the main term on the card. That way, students get practice connecting unit terms and concepts together. I also have them pick their best card and we complete a speed dating activity with each person sharing their card with each other. They only have one minute to share their “Four Corner Card” so two minutes each “date.” Then they switch to another person. After everyone has shared, students share which “date” was best, or which “date” they learned the most from. Thanks for the tip from Mike R. from Verona Area High.

13. Read the question for traps. Then if you pick an answer, stick with it….do not go back and change an answer. I have found that your first instinct is correct MOST of the time. So, unless you are certain of the answer, go with your gut and do not make a change. Review pairs that may be confusing like regression and repression….make sure you know the difference. Use acronyms when you study like SAME….Sensory Afferent…..Motor, Efferent. Thanks for the tip from Jamie H from North Davidson High.

14. Be absolutely familiar with the six major fields of study in psychology : Behaviorism, Psychoanalytic, Humanism, Cognitive, Biological, and Social learning. Key words on many multiple choice questions will help you determine the answer if you understand everything about these disciplines and the people responsible for them. An example would be “unconscious “– Psychoanalytic or Freud and ” perception “–Cognitive or Bandura. Thanks for the tip from Terry M.

15. Take at least four practice AP® exams and then do an item analysis on what sections you are weak in. Then focus on those sections. Thanks for the tip from Domenic M. from Avon Grove High.

16. Create personal examples for each of the key terms, concepts or theories. There are A LOT of them throughout the course and attaching meaning to each will trigger your memory (Hint, hint– Elaborative rehearsal!!). Thanks for the tip from Maggie M. from Villa Joseph Marie High.

17. My MOST important tip on the day of the exam , 5 -10 minutes before entering the exam room, Power Pose – If you haven’t watch Amy’ Cuddy’s TED Talk . Thanks for the tip from Tammy D. from Lexington High.

18. During the free response, always remember to apply the term back to the situation given.  Thanks for the tip from Diane L. from Elwood.

19. Organize your note cards and outlines BEFORE you start studying. Otherwise it can be very overwhelming. Thanks for the tip from Julianne H. at Stratford High.

20. Study interconnected concepts and themes between units.  Do not focus so much on each term from the textbook. Memorization is most effective when students make meaningful and personal connections – build their schema. Thanks for the tip from Steve K. from Hillcrest High.

Are you a teacher or student? Do you have an awesome tip? Let us know!

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Ultimate Guide to the AP Psychology Exam

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The AP Psychology exam is one of the most popular APs among traditional students and self-studiers alike. Although many students enroll in the class, this particular exam is also well-suited to self-studying due to its heavy emphasis on vocabulary and highly specific theory. If you are interested in taking the AP Psychology exam, whether you have taken the class or have self-studied, read on for a breakdown of the test and CollegeVine’s advice for how to best prepare it.

When is the AP Psychology Exam?

On Tuesday, May 12, at 12 pm, the College Board will hold the 2020 AP Psychology Exam. For a comprehensive listing of all the AP exam times, check out our post, 2020 AP Exam Schedule: Everything You Need to Know .    

About the AP Psychology Exam

The AP Psychology course explores concepts, theories, and behaviors associated with the field and research areas of psychology. Successful students will become familiar with the history of the field, past and current research methods, and the biological and emotional bases for behavior. Because psychology is a rapidly-changing field, students should ensure that they prepare for the test with the most current materials available. 

The AP Psychology exam tests your mastery of both skills and concepts. During the course, you will develop three skills critical for passing the exam. Those skills and the weight they’re given on the AP Psychology exam are: 

The concepts tested on the AP Psychology exam are broken into nine units, focusing on the core principles, theories, and processes of the discipline. Below is a suggested structure of the nine units from the College Board along with the weight each unit is given on the AP Psychology exam: 

AP Psychology Exam Content

The AP Psychology exam is one of the shortest AP exams, clocking in at just two hours, and comprises two sections. The first section features multiple-choice questions and the second section is made up of free response questions. 

Section 1: Multiple Choice 

1 hour 10 minutes | 100 questions | 66.7% of score

Section one takes one hour and 10 minutes, contains 100 multiple-choice questions, and accounts for 66.7% of your total score. You’ll encounter two distinct types of multiple-choice questions: you’ll either be asked to define and explain content from the course topics or apply skills of concept understanding, data analysis, and scientific investigation. 

Example of a multiple-choice question asking you to define a course topic:

The answer to the multiple-choice questions above is B.

Example of a multiple-choice question asking you to apply a course concept: 

Section 2: Free Response

50 minutes | 2 questions | 33.3% of score

The second section takes 50 minutes, contains two free response questions, and accounts for 33.3% of your score. The first of the free response questions tests your grasp of the first course skill, concept understanding, and tasks you with explaining behavior and applying theories and perspectives to real-world situations. The second of the free response questions requires you to demonstrate possession of all three course skills with an emphasis on scientific investigation. On the second free response question, you’ll analyze research studies—including reviewing and interpreting quantitative data. 

Example of a concept understanding free response question: 

Example of a scientific investigation multiple-choice free response question: 

AP Psychology Score Distribution, Average Score, and Passing Rate

In 2019, 64.5% of students who took the AP Psychology exam received a score of 3 or higher. 20.5% of students received the top score of 5, while 22% scored a 1 on the exam. 

Keep in mind that credit and advanced standing based on AP scores varies widely from college to college. While a 3 is generally considered passing, you may need a 4 or 5 to receive credit. Some schools don’t grant credit at all, and only use AP exams for placement. You can find regulations regarding which AP exams qualify for course credits or advanced placement at specific colleges on the College Board’s website . 

A full course description that can help to guide your studying can be found in the College Board AP Psych course description .  If you’re curious about other score distributions, see our post Easiest and Hardest AP Exams .

Best Ways to Study for the AP Psychology Exam

Step 1: assess your skills.

Take a practice test to assess your initial knowledge of the material. Although the College Board’s AP Psychology website provides a number of sample test questions, it does not provide a complete sample test. There are, however, four complete practice tests with scoring guides provided on the College Board AP Psychology teacher website—from 1994 , 1999 , 2012 , and 2016 . You can also find a practice test in many of the commercial study guides, and some even include a diagnostic test to act as your initial assessment.

Once you have taken some kind of formative assessment, score it to identify the areas you already understand and those in need of improvement. It can be helpful to have a teacher or friend score your free response essays, as these are more subjective than the multiple-choice section. From an accurate practice test, you will get a better idea of where to focus your studying efforts.

Step 2: Study the Theory

In order to ace the AP Psychology exam, you will need to master the basic history of psychology along with the fundamental theories and approaches covered in the nine course units. 

You will likely need some study resources to help you as you tackle this content. The Myers’ Psychology For AP textbook is said to be the most comprehensive guide, as it is designed specifically for the AP class. Some criticize it for having too much information and for being particularly expensive, but it does cover all of the theory necessary to study for the exam in-depth. For information that is presented more concisely, you might consider Barron’s AP Psychology 8th Edition study guide. There are also accompanying Barron’s AP Psychology flashcards available.

In addition, there are tons of study resources available online, including many from AP teachers who have posted comprehensive outlines and study guides. There is also a great 40-episode YouTube series focused on the AP Psychology Exam. 

Additionally, a convenient way to study is to use one of the recently-developed apps for AP exams. Make sure you read reviews before choosing one, as their quality varies widely. The Brainscape AP Psych app and Varsity Tutors app are free, and both have positive reviews.

Step 3: Practice Multiple-Choice Questions

Once you have your theory down, test it out by practicing multiple-choice questions. You can find these in most study guides or through online searches. You could also try taking the multiple-choice section of a practice exam. Many sample questions with answers and explanations can be found in the official course description . Varsity Tutors offer numerous free AP Psychology diagnostic tests which contain an abundance of multiple-choice questions to practice with. Study.com also provides a free 50-question practice test . Try to keep track of which concepts and vocabulary are still tripping you up, and go back over this material.

Step 4: Practice Free Response Questions

On the AP Psychology exam’s free response section, you should be prepared to make practical use of your theory. Familiarize yourself with how to apply the most common principles from the field, and know how to effectively design or evaluate a research study.

To effectively master the free response section of your AP Psychology exam, you should have a good understanding of what task verbs you will commonly encounter, and precisely what each is asking you to do. The College Board provides the following definitions for the most commonly encountered directives on this exam:

• Identify requires that students name or point out psychological concepts as they pertain to the question.
• Show or describe require students to detail the essential characteristics or examples of a particular concept, theory, or phenomenon.
• Explain , discuss , and relate require that students make logical and coherent connections among the prompt (or premise), question, and psychological concepts.

Before you begin writing, make a brief, strong outline. It will not count toward your score, but it will help to organize your thoughts. Try to include specific examples from your studying and make sure to clearly introduce them in your writing. Common ways to successfully highlight specific examples include “For example,” or “One example of this is…”

The best way to prepare for the free response prompts is to practice them and study the scoring examples provided by the College Board. The College Board has the free response questions used on the AP Psychology exam dating back to 1999 posted on their website. These authentic student responses with real scoring explanations should give you a good idea of how the free response questions are scored, and where points are commonly lost.  

Step 5: Take Another Practice Test

As you did at the very beginning of your studying, take a practice test to evaluate your progress. You should see a steady progression of knowledge you’ve accumulated, and it’s likely that you will see patterns identifying which areas have improved the most and which areas still need improvement. If you have time, repeat each of the steps above to incrementally increase your score.

Step 6: Exam Day Specifics

If you’re taking the AP course associated with this exam, your teacher will walk you through how to register. If you’re self-studying, check out our blog post How to Self-Register for AP Exams .

For information about what to bring to the exam, see our post What Should I Bring to My AP Exam (And What Should I Definitely Leave at Home)?

Balancing challenging coursework like AP classes, time-consuming extracurricular activities, and social obligations is stressful—don’t let college admissions stress you out even more! CollegeVine’s free chancing engine takes the mystery out of admissions, letting you know your odds of acceptance at over 500 schools, and giving you advice to improve your profile. Sign up for your CollegeVine account today to get a boost on your college journey!

For more guidance about the AP exams, check out these other informative articles: 

2020 AP Exam Schedule

How Long is Each AP Exam?

Easiest and Hardest AP Exams

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Interested in the scientific study of behavior and mental processes? The AP ® Psychology Exam is a college-level exam administered every year in May upon completion of an Advanced Placement Psychology course taken at your high school. If you score high enough, your  AP score  could earn you  college credit !

Check out our AP Psychology Guide for the essential info you need about the exam:

• Exam Overview

Sections & Question Types

• How to Prepare

What's on the AP Psychology Exam?

The College Board requires your AP teacher to cover certain topics in the AP Psychology course. As you complete your Psych review, make sure you are familiar with the following topics:

• Scientific Foundations of Psychology: Introducing Psychology; Research Methods in Psychology; Defining Psychological Science: The Experimental Method; Selecting a Research Method; Statistical Analysis in Psychology; Ethical Guidelines in Psychology
• Biological Bases of Behavior: Interaction of Hereditary and Environment; The Endocrine System; Overview of the Nervous System and the Neuron; Neural Firing; Influence of Drugs on Neural Firing; The Brain; Tools for Examining Brain Structure and Function; The Adaptable Brain; Sleep and Dreaming
• Sensation and Perception: Principles of Sensation; Principles of Perception; Visual Anatomy; Visual Perception; Auditory Sensation and Perception; Chemical Senses; Body Sense
• Learning: Introduction to Learning; Classical Conditioning; Operant Conditioning; Social and Cognitive Factors in Learning
• Cognitive Psychology: Introduction to Memory; Encoding; Storing; Retrieving; Forgetting and Memory Distortion; Biological Bases of Memory; Introduction to Thinking and Problem Solving; Biases and Errors in Thinking; Introduction to Intelligence; Psychometric Principles and Intelligence Testing; Components of Language and Language Acquisition
• Developmental Psychology: The Lifespan and Physical Development in Childhood; Social Development in Childhood; Cognitive Development in Childhood; Adolescent Development; Adulthood and Aging; Moral Development; Gender and Sexual Orientation
• Motivation, Emotion, and Personality: Theories of Motivation; Specific Topics of Motivation; Theories of Emotion; Stress and Coping; Introduction to Personality; Psychoanalytic Theories of Personality; Behaviorism and Social Cognitive Theories of Personality; Humanistic Theories of Personality; Trait Theories of Personality; Measuring Personality
• Clinical Psychology: Introduction to Psychological Disorders; Psychological Perspectives and Etiology of Disorders; Neurodevelopmental and Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders; Bipolar, Depressive, Anxiety, and Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders; Trauma- and Stressor- Related, Dissociative, and Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders; Feeding and Eating, Substance and Addictive, and Personality Disorders; Introduction to Treatment of Psychological Disorders; Psychological Perspectives and Treatment of Disorders; Treatment of Disorders from the Biological Perspective; Evaluating Strengths, Weaknesses, and Empirical Support for Treatments of Disorders
• Social Psychology: Attribution Theory and Person Perception; Attitude Formation and Attitude Change; Conformity, Compliance, and Obedience; Group Influences on Behavior and Mental Processes; Bias, Prejudice, and Discrimination; Altruism and Aggression; Interpersonal Attraction

Read More: Review for the exam with our AP Psychology Crash Courses

The AP Psych exam is 2 hours long and has two sections: a multiple-choice section and a a free-response section. 

Multiple-Choice Questions

The AP Psychology multiple-choice questions test the following skills:

• Concept Understanding
• Data Analysis
• Scientific Investigation

Free-Response Questions

The AP Psych FRQs consists of two questions:

• Question 1 is about Concept Application, assessing a student’s ability to explain and apply theories and perspectives in authentic contexts
• Question 2 is about Research Design, assessing a student’s ability to analyze psychological research studies that include quantitative data.

For a comprehensive content review, check out our book,  AP Psychology Premium Prep

What’s a good AP Psychology Score?

AP scores are reported from 1 to 5. Colleges are generally looking for a 4 or 5 on the AP Psychology exam, but some may grant credit for a 3. Here’s how students scored on the May 2020 test:

Source: College Board

How can I prepare?

AP classes are great, but for many students they’re not enough! For a thorough review of AP Psychology content and strategy, pick the  AP prep option  that works best for your goals and learning style. 

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AP Psychology Exam: Study Plan and Resources

The AP Psychology exam is an opportunity for high school students to demonstrate their understanding of key concepts in psychology and potentially earn college credit. To excel on the exam, it's crucial to have a well-structured study plan and access to quality study resources. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you prepare effectively for the AP Psychology exam:

Creating Your Study Plan:

1. know the exam format:.

  - Familiarize yourself with the format of the AP Psychology exam. It consists of two sections: a multiple-choice section and a free-response section.

2. Set Clear Goals:

  - Define your goals for the exam, such as the score you aim to achieve. Having clear objectives will guide your study plan.

3. Create a Study Schedule:

  - Develop a study schedule that covers all the topics outlined in the AP Psychology curriculum. Allocate more time to challenging areas or topics you're less familiar with.

4. Break It Down:

  - Divide your study plan into manageable chunks. Assign specific topics or units to each study session to ensure comprehensive coverage.

5. Consistency Is Key:

  - Dedicate consistent daily or weekly study time. Regularity in your study routine will help you retain information effectively.

Top Resources for AP Psychology:

1. textbooks:.

  - "Psychology" by David G. Myers: This widely used textbook offers comprehensive coverage of AP Psychology topics. Make sure you have access to the most recent edition.

2. Online Courses:

  - Khan Academy: Khan Academy offers free online courses on psychology that align with the AP curriculum. Their interactive lessons and quizzes can be valuable study tools.

  - Coursera and edX: These platforms offer psychology courses from top universities, providing in-depth knowledge on specific topics that can complement your AP preparation.

3. Review Books:

  - "Barron's AP Psychology" and "Princeton Review's Cracking the AP Psychology Exam" are popular review books that provide practice questions and content review.

4. Flashcards:

  - Create or use flashcards to memorize key terms, concepts, and theories. Apps like Quizlet offer pre-made sets for AP Psychology.

5. Practice Tests:

  - Use official AP Psychology practice exams available on the College Board website. These exams closely resemble the real test and provide valuable practice.

  - Consider other practice test books like "5 Steps to a 5: AP Psychology" and "Barron's AP Psychology" for additional practice questions.

6. Online Resources:

  - Websites like AP Central (College Board's official AP resource) and AP Psychology Community provide sample questions, exam tips, and valuable insights from experienced AP Psychology teachers.

  - Psychology Today and American Psychological Association (APA) offer articles and resources that can help you understand real-world applications of psychology concepts.

Effective Study Strategies:

1. active learning:.

  - Engage actively with the material. Summarize, teach, or discuss topics with classmates to reinforce your understanding.

2. Practice Multiple-Choice Questions:

  - Regularly practice multiple-choice questions to improve your test-taking skills and knowledge retention.

3. Free-Response Practice:

  - Work on timed free-response questions to get comfortable with the format. Practice effective essay-writing skills and include relevant examples and terminology.

4. Mind Maps and Diagrams:

  - Use visual aids like mind maps, concept maps, and diagrams to organize complex information and relationships between concepts.

5. Mnemonics:

  - Create mnemonic devices to remember lists, theories, or key terms.

6. Study Groups:

 - Join or form a study group with peers. Discussing concepts and teaching each other can deepen your understanding.

7. Self-Assessment:

  - Periodically assess your progress with practice tests and quizzes. Identify areas where you need improvement and adjust your study plan accordingly.

Exam Day Preparation:

1. review your notes:.

  - On the day of the exam, review your notes and key concepts briefly but avoid cramming. Focus on building confidence in your knowledge.

2. Get a Good Night's Sleep:

  - Ensure you get adequate sleep the night before the exam to stay alert and focused during the test.

3. Bring Required Materials:

  - Check the College Board's website for the list of items you need to bring to the exam, such as a valid ID, No. 2 pencils, and a calculator (if allowed).

4. Manage Your Time:

  - During the exam, allocate time wisely. Don't spend too much time on a single question. Move on and return if needed.

5. Stay Calm:

  - Maintain a calm and positive mindset. Anxiety can affect your performance. Trust your preparation and stay confident.

By following this study plan and utilizing these resources, you can enhance your preparation for the AP Psychology exam. Remember that success comes from consistent effort, active learning, and effective test-taking strategies. Good luck with your AP Psychology exam!

In conclusion, preparing for the AP Psychology exam requires a well-structured study plan and access to quality study resources. This comprehensive guide has provided you with strategies to create an effective study plan, top resources for AP Psychology, and study strategies to maximize your preparation.

Remember that success on the AP Psychology exam is not solely about memorizing facts but understanding the underlying concepts and applying them to real-world scenarios. Active learning, practice tests, and self-assessment are key components of your preparation.

As you progress in your studies, stay focused, maintain a consistent study schedule, and use the resources available to you wisely. With dedication and a positive mindset, you can excel on the AP Psychology exam and earn college credit for your efforts. Best of luck in your AP Psychology journey!

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Advanced Placement (AP)

The AP Psychology exam has one of the lower average scores of all AP exams. However, if you know how to prepare, it can actually be one of the easier AP exams to take. Reading this guide will make you an expert on the AP Psych free-response section. By the end of this article, you'll know exactly what the format of the free-response section is, what types of questions you'll be asked, what graders will be looking for in your answers, and the best tips for studying for AP Psych FRQ. 

What’s the Format of the AP Psychology FRQ Section?

The AP Psychology free-response section is the second and final section of the AP Psych exam. You'll answer free-response questions after the multiple-choice section ends. The AP Psych FRQ section lasts 50 minutes and consists of two questions.

The first AP Psych FRQ is known as a Concept Application question. It often focuses on terminology and explaining examples of different psychological concepts. The second is known as a Research Design question and typically includes a chart or graph you need to analyze.

On the official AP Psychology exam website , it states that you'll be asked to do two main things during the free-response section:

• Explain behavior and apply theories using concepts from different theoretical frameworks or subdomains in the field of psychology.
• Analyze psychological research studies, including analyzing and interpreting quantitative data.

Each free-response question is worth 7 points. When you take the AP exam, your scores will be multiplied by 3.57 so that, in total, the free-response section makes up ⅓ of your total raw AP Psychology exam score. (Your raw score is then compared with the curve calculated by the College Board to see what score you'll get on the final 1-5 AP scale. ) You can learn more about the test format by reading our in-depth guide to the AP Psychology exam.

AP Psychology FRQ Examples

Below are two examples of the types of free-response questions you'll see on the AP Psych exam. For each of these AP Psychology FRQ examples we'll go through the answers so you can see exactly how points are earned. Both sample questions come from the second sitting of the 2021 AP Psych exam .

Question 1: Concept Application

As we mentioned above, this question, like all AP Psychology free-response questions, is worth seven points. You might notice there are seven bullet points to answer which makes it easy to see just where you can earn each point!

Let's go through each bullet point to see what you need to include to earn the point. Answers come from the official College Board answer explanations . 

Explain how each of the following psychological concepts applies to Damian’s gaming behavior.

Motor Cortex: The answer must state the motor cortex is responsible for some part of Damian's voluntary movement while gaming.

• Ex. Damian uses his motor cortex when playing games because it helps him push the controller buttons.
• Ex. Damian’s motor cortex has a larger area devoted to his fingers because he uses them so much when gaming. This gives him finer motor control over his fingers than most other people.
• NOTE: Can't refer to reflexive or involuntary movements such as, "Damian’s motor cortex would make him jump if he was startled by a sudden noise."

Algorithm: Must indicate a step-by-step procedure  (such as a formula, equation, etc.) used when Damian is gaming.

• Ex. Damian applies a step-by-step procedure he learned on the internet to advance through the game.
• NOTE: The response can't refer to heuristics, such as "Damian uses a shortcut rule he learned from his buddy to beat the hardest level
• in the game."

Reciprocity Norm: Answer must state that Damian or another gamer did something helpful for the other because they received or expected to receive something in return from the other.

• Ex. Damian knows that if he shares his best gaming tips with his online friends, they will help him when he needs it.
• Ex. Damian helped one of his online friends who was having trouble with gaming addiction because that friend helped him when he was struggling earlier. 
• NOTE: You won't earn the point if you don't mention reciprocity. For example, the response "Damian agreed to give his friend gaming tips" wouldn't earn you the point because there's no mention of reciprocity.

Monocular Depth Cue of Interposition: Your answer must state that Damian, while he is playing a video game, perceives objects that are partially blocked as being further away than the objects blocking them.

• Damian knows a character is farther away from him than a tree due to the monocular depth cue of interposition because the character is partially hidden by that tree. 

Mental Set: Your answer must state that Damian continues using the same video game strategies that have previously been successful for him OR Damian needs to modify a strategy that had been successful but no longer is.

• Ex. Damian has been successful in the game so far, so he keeps using the same strategies for every level. 
• Ex. Damian had been using the same strategy for every level, but when he reached level 10 the strategy no longer worked so he had to adjust his mental set about his game play to defeat the level. 

Explain how Damian’s parents could use a behavioral approach to get him to apply to college using a fixed-ratio schedule: Your answer must state that Damian's behavior will be reinforced after he completes a specific number of application-related behaviors.

• Ex. Damian’s parents let him game for one hour if he writes three essays for his college applications.
• NOTE: Answers that refer to a variable or interval reinforcement schedule, such as "Damian’s parents reward him at the end of each week that he completes a college application."

Explain how a psychoanalyst would use free association with Damian: Your answer must state that the psychoanalyst would encourage Damian to express his thoughts and feelings freely.

• Ex. Damian’s therapist tells him to say everything that comes to mind without censoring to help him figure out his problems
• NOTE: Answers that refer to dream analysis or word association are incorrect and won't earn the point.

Question 2: Research Design

Identify the independent variable presented in the study: Your answer must state that the independent variable is the use of mental imagery or instruction to use mental imagery

• Ex. The independent variable is the students being told to form a mental image.

Identify the control group: Your answer must state that the control group is the group that was not told to use mental imagery OR that the group that didn't receive the independent variable was Group B. 

Explain why the type of research design being used is appropriate for this study: Your answer must state that the design is appropriate because it is an experiment AND that the design is appropriate because it is trying to show cause and effect.

• Ex. The only research design that shows a cause-and-effect relationship is an experiment, so that is why the researcher chose this.

Explain what the different standard deviations indicate about the data from the two groups: Your answer must state that the scores in Group B varied more than the scores in Group A OR that the scores in Group A varied less than the scores in Group B.

• Ex. The standard deviation from Group B is higher than in Group A, so the scores in Group B were more different from each other than those in Group A
• Ex. Group A had scores that were more similar to each other than Group B.

Explain the ethical flaw that is explicitly presented in the scenario: Your answer must state that that the researcher required the students to participate.

• Ex. The researcher failed to obtain informed consent.

Explain how the primacy effect could apply to this research: Your answer must state that if the primacy effect took place, the students would remember more of the words they heard at the beginning of the list than they did from other parts of the list.

• Ex. If students remember more words at the beginning of the list, then they have demonstrated the primacy effect.
• NOTE: Describing primacy and recency without accurately identifying primacy will not earn you the point, such as "The students remembered the words better if they studied them earlier."

Explain how levels of processing are related to this research: Your answer must state that students who did better/Group A used deep processing or that students who did worse/Group B used shallow processing OR that the response must correctly relate mental imagery to deep processing.

• Ex. Students used mental imagery which allowed them to process the words deeply.
• Ex. The students who had no instructions did worse because they used shallow processing.

Tips for Answering Free-Response Questions

The AP Psych free-response questions often trip students up. For the two sample questions above, the mean scores were a 2.21/7 and a 2.96/7, respectively. That's quite a bit less than 50% for each of them. But studying can help you make significant progress. Below are three tips to keep in mind while studying as well as when you’re taking the test to help you improve your chances of scoring well on this section.

#1: Know Your Vocab

You basically can't do well on the AP Psych exam if you don't have a good grasp of psychology vocabulary. And you'll need to do some studying to keep all the terms straight. Some definitions are relatively intuitive, but others are almost impossible to figure out if you haven't studied them directly.

Be meticulous about going over all the terms covered in your class so that you don't second-guess yourself on the test. This is especially important for the Concept Application free-response question for which you will be asked to describe how terms relate to certain situations. You need to understand the terms beyond just the ability to pick their correct definitions out of a multiple-choice lineup. Flashcards are a particularly useful study tool for AP Psychology.

#2: Write in Complete Sentences, Not Complete Paragraphs

A lot of students are confused about how in-depth their free-response answers should be. If you write too much, you'll lose precious time, but if you write too little, you can lose points. The trick to getting the balance correct is to write in complete sentences, but not to write entire paragraphs. Psychology is about your grasp of science—not English—so don't bother with introductions, conclusions, or any other fluff in your answers to the free-response questions. But also don't think that one word answers will cut it.

One of the best ways to get a feel for how much to write is to look over the scoring guidelines after you complete a set of practice problems. Here are the scoring guidelines for the two AP Psych FRQ above. You'll see that most answers are 1-2 sentences. That's all you need to earn a high score on the AP Psych FRQ section.

#3: Connect Your Answer Back to the Question

Right in the official scoring guidelines for the AP Psychology free-response questions is the following statement: "The response must apply the concept to the prompt; a definition alone will not earn the point." This is a key point that many AP Psych students overlook. For example, for the first sample question above, simply stating the definitions of motor cortex, algorithm, reciprocity norm, etc. won't earn you any points. You must always relate them back to the question and, in this case, how they relate to Damian and his behavior. The AP Psych FRQs require more than just regurgitating vocab definitions; you must always connect it back to the question itself.

How to Practice AP Psych FRQ 

You can know all about the format and types of questions you'll see on AP Psychology FRQ, but the way to really test and improve your skills is by answering practice problems. Doing so helps you become even more familiar with free response types and helps you see more clearly which types of questions are easy for you and which you need to study more.

Choosing high-quality practice questions is key to ensuring you're really practicing what you'll be seeing on the exam. Fortunately, the College Board (who designs AP exams) has dozens of old, official AP Psych free-response questions easily available.

Currently, the College Board has AP Psychology FRQ from 2021 as well as 1999-2019 . That's dozens of free-response questions for you to review and try out! The AP Psych exam was updated in 2019, so we recommend focusing on the most recent FRQ, but the free-response question format and topics didn't change all that much, so even older AP Psych FRQ answers and sample questions are still valuable.

Because there are so many free-response problems, you can begin completing practice problems a few months into your class (say, around November) and continuing up until the AP exam in May.

At the beginning of the school year, when you're still learning a lot of the main course material, you can read through the questions to find the ones that focus on topics you've already covered. In order to get the most out of these practice problems, make sure to use a timer and give yourself the same timing limitations the real exam will have.

Summary: AP Psychology FRQ

AP Psychology free-response questions are often the most challenging part of the AP exam. However, by knowing what to expect from this section, you'll give yourself a great shot at getting a high score. The free-response section contains two questions:

• 1 Concept Application question (worth 7 points)
• 1 Research Design question (worth 7 points)

You’ll have 50 minutes to complete this section, and it’s worth 33% of your total exam score. To maximize your chances of doing well keep these three tips in mind:

• Know your vocab
• Write in complete sentences, not complete paragraphs
• Connect your answer back to the question 

Taking practice tests is one of the best ways to prepare for AP Psychology FRQ, and you should absolutely take advantage of the many official AP Psychology FRQ examples that the College Board has released.

What's Next?

Are you concerned about the AP Psychology test? Read this article to decide whether AP Psych will be especially challenging for you (or not!) .

How should you prepare for AP Psychology?  We've come up with the absolute best study plan for the AP Psych exam. Check out the five steps you need to follow!

Want some more study resources?  We've found the 4 best AP Psych books you should be using as you study.

Looking for help studying for your AP exam?

Our one-on-one online AP tutoring services can help you prepare for your AP exams. Get matched with a top tutor who got a high score on the exam you're studying for!

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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