GKE - Learning Objectives in AP Psychology Lesson

Learning Objectives in AP Psychology

brain word cloudThe central question addressed in AP Psychology is: "How do psychologists think?" The psychologist David Myers wrote that to think as a psychologist, one must learn to "restrain intuition with critical thinking, judgmentalism with compassion, and illusion with understanding" (Sternberg, 1997). Whether you pursue a career related to psychology or one in an entirely different field, this habit of mind will be of great value.

Students in this course will:

  • Master a broad body of psychological knowledge
  • Learn to analyze and apply psychological concepts
  • Prepare to successfully pass the AP Exam

 

What is the Purpose of the AP Psychology Exam?

The AP Psychology exam will provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate the analytical skills and theoretical knowledge gained through the course and course activities. The AP Psychology Exam assesses knowledge of scientific research, theories on behavior, and the mental processes of both humans and animals. The AP Psychology Exam consists of two sections; one multiple choice and one written portion with two essays or Free Response Questions (FRQs).

The following is a list of learning objectives from the major content areas covered on the AP Psychology exam. The percentages are approximated by the number of questions in the multiple-choice section devoted to each area.

Exam Weighting by Unit
Unit 1: Scientific Foundations of Psychology (10-14%)
Unit 2: Biological Bases of Behavior (8-10%)
Unit 3: Sensation and Perception (6-8%)
Unit 4: Learning (7-9%)
Unit 5: Cognitive Psychology (13-17%)
Unit 6: Developmental Psychology (7-9%)
Unit 7: Motivation, Emotion, and Personality (11-15%)
Unit 8: Clinical Psychology (12-16%)
Unit 9: Social Psychology (8-10%)

[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION