AP Psychology

INTRODUCTION

The AP Psychology (aka AP Psych) course introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. While considering the psychologists and studies that have shaped the field, students explore and apply psychological theories, key concepts, and phenomena associated with such topics as the biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, learning and cognition, motivation, developmental psychology, testing and individual differences, treatments of psychological disorders, and social psychology. Throughout the course, students employ psychological research methods, including ethical considerations, as they use the scientific method, evaluate claims and evidence, and effectively communicate ideas.

The AP Psychology course is designed to be the equivalent of the Introduction to Psychology course usually taken during the first college year.

COURSE PATHWAY

There are no pre-requisites for taking this course. This class is an elective credit, meaning you do not have to take it to graduate high school. This course is available to Juniors and Seniors, meaning it is typically reserved for only upperclassmen.

COURSE BREAKDOWN

AP Psychology Units.pdf

Above, you can access a more in-depth overview of the AP Psychology units.

AP Psychology consists of 9 different units:

Scientific Foundations of Psychology
Biological Bases of Behavior
Sensation and Perception
Learning
Cognitive Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Motivation, Emotion, and Personality
Clinical Psychology
Social Psychology

Throughout the course, students will learn how to explain various psychological concepts, interpret data, and analyze scientific research studies.

Each unit is weighted differently on the AP exam, as shown on the left.

Projects and vocabulary are big parts of AP Psychology, so students should dedicate themselves to maintaining a strong work ethic and creative mind.

EXAM OVERVIEW

SECTION I - MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS [66.7% OF EXAM]

There are 100 multiple choice questions in the first section of the exam, making it the AP class with the most MCQs on its exam. You will have a total of 70 minutes to complete this section of the exam.

The most tested skill on the multiple choice section is your ability to understand concepts that were taught in class, with 75-80% of the MCQ section testing this skill. You will also be tested on your skills in data analysis and scientific investigation.

SECTION II - FREE RESPONSE QUESTIONS [33.3% OF EXAM]

In this section, you will be given two FRQ (free-response question) questions in which you will have to write a response to answer each part. Each FRQ is weighed equally.

FRQ 1: Concept Application - assesses students’ ability to explain behavior and apply theories & perspectives in authentic contexts.
FRQ 2: Research Design - assesses students’ ability to analyze psychological research studies, including analyzing and interpreting statistics.

You will have a total of 50 minutes to complete the FRQ section of the exam.

REVIEW MATERIALS

Below, you can access review videos from the amazing Mr. Sinn for AP Psychology!