Learning Objectives in AP Psychology

The central question addressed in AP Psychology is: "How do psychologists think?" 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 in an entirely different field, this habit of mind will be of great value.

Learning Targets:

Develop and apply foundational practices consistently.
Master course content and concepts.
Analyze and interpret research elements in a summarized peer-reviewed source.
Make claims on common topics supported by evidence and logical reasoning.

What is the Purpose of the AP Psychology Exam?

The AP Psychology Exam evaluates your grasp of the skills and learning objectives highlighted in the course framework. Spanning 2 hours and 40 minutes, the exam consists of 75 multiple-choice questions and 2 free-response questions, with each section given equal weight. You'll find a comprehensive breakdown of the exam's format, including the weighting and timing, below:

Course Framework Overview

This course framework offers a comprehensive outline of the requirements needed for students to excel. It defines the knowledge and skills students should possess to earn college credit and/or placement.

Course Framework Components

Science Practices - The science practices and skills form the foundation of psychological study and practice. Students should consistently build and apply these skills throughout the course.
Course Content - The course content is arranged into study units that suggest a recommended sequence. These units cover the material and concepts that colleges and universities generally expect students to master for college credit and/or placement.

Science Practices

Practice 1 - Concept Application - Apply psychological perspectives, theories, concepts, and research findings.
Practice 2 - Research Methods and Design - Evaluate qualitative and quantitative research methods and study designs.
Practice 3 - Data Interpretation - Evaluate representations of psychological concepts in quantitative and qualitative research, including tables, graphs, charts, figures, and diagrams
Practice 4 - Argumentation - Develop and justify psychological arguments using evidence.

Exam Overview

Exam Format
Section	Question Type	Number of Questions	Exam Weighting	Timing
I	Multiple Choice Questions	75	66.7%	90 minutes
II	Free Response Questions:	2	33.3%	70 minutes
II	Question 1 - Article Analysis Question Question 2: Evidence -based Question	1 1	16.65% 16.65%	70 minutes

Courtesy of the AP psychology course and exam description, effective fall 2024. (n.d.).

How Student Learning Is Assessed on the AP Exam:

Section I: Multiple Choice:

The multiple-choice section of the AP Exam features a mix of set-based and individual questions. Each of the five-course units is covered according to the following exam weightings:

Unit 1 - Biological Bases of Behavior: 15-25% of the exam
Unit 2 - Cognition: 15-25% of the exam
Unit 3 - Development and Learning: 15-25% of the exam
Unit 4 - Social Psychology and Personality: 15-25% of the exam
Unit 5 - Mental and Physical Health: 15-25% of the exam

Three out of the four Practices are evaluated in the multiple-choice section of the AP Exam, with the following approximate weightings:

Practice 1 - Concept Application: 65%
Practice 2 - Research Methods and Design: 25%
Practice 3 - Data Interpretation: 10%

Section II: Free-Response:

The exam's free-response section will cover all four Practices and provide opportunities to engage with summarized peer-reviewed research.

Article Analysis Question (AAQ): This question provides one summarized peer-reviewed source. You'll need to identify research elements like methodology, variables, and ethical guidelines and interpret the basic statistics presented. Additionally, you'll explain whether the study's findings can be generalized and how they align with or contradict the psychological concept in focus. You will have 25 minutes to complete this question, including a 10-minute reading period. Practices 2, 3, and 4 are assessed.

Evidence-Based Question (EBQ): You'll receive three summarized peer-reviewed sources on a common topic for this question. You'll need to make a claim about the topic and use evidence from the sources, your AP Psychology coursework, and logical reasoning to support it. You will have 45 minutes to complete this question, including a 15-minute reading period. Practices 1 and 4 are assessed.

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Courtesy of the AP psychology course and exam description, effective fall 2024. (n.d.).