5 Steps to a 5 AP Psychology, 2014-2015 Edition

Numerous free-response questions (essay questions) are written for possible inclusion

on the exams. After these questions are edited, discussed by committee members, and

pretested with college psychology classes, the committee chooses essay questions for inclu-

sion on a specific AP Psychology exam. They ensure that the free-response questions cut

across content areas, are well presented and unambiguous, as well as considerably different

from each other. Only free-response questions that will allow for clear and equitable grad-

ing by the AP readers (scorers) are selected.

After exams have been scored, the AP Psychology Development Committee and ETS

evaluate the test results. The College Board can use the results to further course develop-

ment in high schools and to plan future exams.

What Is Going to Appear on the Exam?

The College Board periodically surveys colleges/universities throughout the United States

and around the world to find out what is being taught in introductory psychology courses

in order to ensure that what is being taught in the AP course is comparable. The exam pre-

sumes the equivalent of at least one term/semester of college-level work.

Based on the latest information, the AP Psychology Development Committee has

updated the course description and point distribution outline for the AP Psychology Exam.

Content review chapters in this test preparation book conform to their outline. The per-

centage range in front of each topic represents the number of questions about it that will

be asked on the exam. For example, 2 to 4 questions will deal specifically with history and

approaches; and 8 to 10 questions will deal with research methods.

2–4% history and approaches

8–10% research methods

8–10% biological bases of behavior

6–8% sensation and perception

2–4% states of consciousness

7–9% learning

8–10% cognition

6–8% motivation and emotion

7–9% developmental psychology

5–7% personality

5–7% testing and individual differences

7–9% abnormal behavior

5–7% treatment of abnormal behavior

8–10% social psychology

Typically free-response questions require you to make connections among concepts

from multiple topics, or to apply concepts from different theoretical frameworks to design,

analyze, or critique an experiment or other type of research study.

What You Need to Know About the AP Psychology Exam  5

KEY IDEA