AP Psychology —

The Exam

The exam is approximately two hours long and is intended to cover a one-semester introductory college course in psychology. It includes a 70-minute multiple-choice section, and a 50-minute free-response section. The multiple-choice section accounts for two-thirds of the exam grade and the free-response section for the remaining one-third.

Section I: Multiple-Choice

Section I is designed to assess the breadth of your knowledge of the subject. The questions cover the 13 areas of scientific psychology covered in the course. In some questions, you are asked to demonstrate their understanding of a psychological term (e.g., genotype, echoic memory, mania, phonemes). In others you are asked to apply concepts from a particular psychological theory (e.g., Kohlberg's theory of moral judgment, attribution theory), or to identify the theoretical framework with which a given explanation is associated (e.g., an explanation of depression in terms of norepinephrine levels). Other questions are designed to assess general understanding of the scientific method as well as knowledge of findings from major research studies or areas of study.

Section II: Free-Response Questions

 In the free-response section, you are asked to answer two essay questions. The questions may require you to analyze and evaluate psychological constructs and, more generally, theoretical perspectives. You are expected to use your analytical and organizational skills to formulate cogent answers in writing your essays.