Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
AP Psychology Review
Success on the AP Psychology Exam
Understanding of the AP Psychology Test
Types of questions possibleHow the questions are arraigned?How is the test scored?
Three Areas to Consider
General Tips for Test TakingMultiple Choice SectionFree Response
Questions
General Tips for Test Taking
Multiple Choice Section - 100 questionsColumn formatQuestions taken
from every unit.Five answer
Possibilities:
A., B., C., D., E
AP Psychology Exam StructureHistory and Approaches 2-4%Research Methods 8-10%Biological Bases of Behavior 8-10%Sensation and Perception 6-8%States of Consciousness 2-4%Learning 7-9%Cognition 8-10%Motivation and Emotion 6-8%Developmental Psychology 7-9%Personality 5-7%Testing and Individual Differences 5-7%Abnormal Psychology 7-9%Treatment of Psychological Disorders 5-7%Social Psychology 8-10%
Values of combined unitsHistory, Approaches and Research Methods 10-14% 10-14% Biological Bases of Behavior 8-10% 14-18%Sensation and Perception 6-8%
States of Consciousness 2-4% 2-4%
Learning 7-9% 15-19%Cognition 8-10%
Motivation and Emotion 6-8% 6-8%
Developmental Psychology 7-9% 7-9%
Personality 5-7% 10-14%Testing and Individual Differences 5-7%
Abnormal Psychology 7-9%Treatment of Psychological Disorders 5-7% 20-26%Social Psychology 8-10%
Great, Good News!
You can miss a lot of questionsand still get a 5 on the APExam.
Great, Good News!
You can miss a lot of questionsand still get a 5 on the APExam.
Example of the Good News:
If you get a 70%, which is the same as getting 105 points out of a150… you get a 5 on the test!
Another good news example
If you a 60%, which is the same asearning 90 points out of apossible 150…you’ll get a four on the AP exam
More Good News!
Every question is only worth 1point
Even the extremely hard ones are only worth one point, just like the extremely easy ones.
And the news just keepsgetting better…There is no penalty for a wrongguess !
This means you will fill in every bubble on youranswer sheet.
The law of averages is on your side here, and you are going to guess onevery question you don’t know.
Guessing Strategy
In order to avoid wasting valuabletime during the test, follow an exact procedure for guessing.
Mathematicians have analyzed loads of tests and determined that itdoes not matter whether or not you follow a pattern when guessing on a multiple choice test. So… in order to save time, you are always going to guess option (A) when making a guess.
Guessing Procedure
When you have decided to guess…
1. Circle the item number in your booklet so you can come back to it later if you have time.
2. Fill in the (A) bubble on your answer sheet.
Bring a watch to the test!You won’t be able to use your phone.
General Tips for Test TakingDo not waste your time
reading the directions. Instead
know them in advance. Here
they are for the multiple choice:“Each of the questions or
incomplete statements below is followed by five suggested answers or completions. Select the one that is best in each case and then fill in the corresponding oval on the answer sheet.”
There is an order of difficulty for the multiple choice section
Questions 1 - 33
Go slow on the things you know
As the question number increases, so does the difficulty
Questions 34 - 66
Start making educated guesses onquestions that are difficult for you.
The Difficult Questions are at the End.
Questions 66 – 100
Be quick to skip these questions or make a guess.
Tips for Multiple Choice Questions
Anticipate the answer
As you read the stem of each multiple choice question, anticipate the answer before looking at the options. If the answer you anticipated is among the options, it is likely to be the correct one.
Tips for Multiple Choice Questions
Underline key terms and ideas:When Shelly first had cable television service installed, PBS
was on channel 9. Her cable company then switched PBS to channel 16. Shelly now has trouble remembering
that PBS is on channel 16 and not on channel 9. This memory problem represents ?
(AP Psychology Exam 2004 #86)
Tips for Multiple Choice QuestionsAnticipate the answer, and underline key terms:When Shelly first had cable television service installed, Public
Broadcasting (PBS) was on channel 9. Her cable company then switched PBS to channel 16. Shelly now has trouble remembering that PBS is on channel 16 and not on channel 9. This memory problem represents
(A) memory decay(B) retrograde amnesia(C) reconstruction errors(D) retroactive interference(E) proactive interference
(AP Psychology Exam 2004 #86)
Tips for Multiple Choice Questions
Stick to the subject matter
Watch for answers that have nothing to do with the subject matter of the course or have nothing to do with the subject matter of the particular unit the question is testing.
Tips for Multiple Choice Questions
Keep your eye out for help within
other questions on the test.
Tips for Multiple Choice Questions
Watch for QualifiersQualifiers: often, sometimes, perhaps, may,
generally, some, seldom, usually, ordinarily, etc.
Options that use qualifiers tend to be correct.
(He’s watching for
Qualifiers )
100% words: never, none, no, every, always, all, only, entirely, necessarily, completely, totally, etc.
Options that represent broad, sweeping are almost always wrong.
Watch out for extreme, all or nothing language:
Be on the lookout for the following:
An incorrect option that is highly implausible.
For example:The part of the brain responsible for higher order
thinking is the:A. cerebrumB. pupilC. repressionD. pituitary glandE. mania
Be on the lookout for:
Sometimes the correct option is more detailed,
or more specific than the other options.
Sometimes the correct option is longer than all the other options.
Common Flaws in Multiple Choice Items
There is a resemblance between the stem and correct option but not the incorrect options.
Skinner and the other behaviorists would promote which of the following therapies?
A. psychoanalysis
B. humanistic therapy
C. behavioral therapy
D. Gestalt therapy
E. cognitive therapy
Tips for Multiple Choice QuestionsEliminate implausible answers
Learn how to quickly eliminate options that are highly implausible. Many questions have only two plausible options, accompanied by "throwaway" options for filler. Eliminate them and
your choice is easier.
Eliminate Implausible Answers
Example: Who of the following teaches AP
Psychology at Clayton High School?
(A) The smartest person in the world.
(B) Abraham Lincoln
(C) Moses
(D) Homer Simpson
(E) Buddha
Free Response SectionTest Structure 2 Free Response (Essay) Questions Required to do both
Free Response SectionTime Structure 50 minutes to complete both essays Can break up your time on the essays
any way you want Watch your time. Don’t get caught
short on essay #2
Free Response SectionScoring Essays are 1/3 of the overall score Each essay 1/6 of the overall score Each essay will have a specific
number of points (6-12) Points are then mathematically
changed to equal 25 for a perfect essay
Free Response SectionStyle of the Questions One essay tends to be unit based One essay tends to go across units Questions tend to be relatively specific Application questions with listing of
terms
Free Response Question 2009 #11. Dimitri and Linda are trying to learn a new routine to
compete successfully in a dance competition. Give an example of how each of the following could affect their performance. Definitions without application do not score.
• Extrinsic motivation
• Punishment
• Proactive interference
• Endorphins
• Vestibular system
• Divergent thinking
• Introversion
7 points
Free Response Question 2009 #22. James is in a driver’s education course preparing to take his driving
test. The course includes both book work and driving on the road to prepare students for a written test and a road test.(a) Describe how each of the following might influence his ability to drive a car during the road test. Definitions without application do not score.
• Cognitive map• Cerebellum• Observational learning• Human factors
(b) Describe how each of the following are related to the results of the written test. Definitions without application do not score.
• Reticular formation• Predictive validity• Semantic memory
7 points
Free Response SectionScoring Points are given for correct responses Points are not removed unless you
contradict yourselfPoints are not removed for Handwriting/
Spelling/Grammar issues
Free Response SectionHelpful Hints – Before Writing
Read both essaysThink through your answer before you
start writing. Prewrite!!!Try to determine the point values for the
questionWrite an outline/notes on the essay
question sheet
If you are not sure take a logical guess.
Free Response SectionWriting the EssaysFormat of the Answer
Write your answers in essay form.DO NOT outline, write bullets, etc.Follow the format of the the question.Use paragraphs to separate the different
sectionsUnderline key points and conceptsDefine and give examples
Free Response SectionWriting the EssaysDo not worry if you cannot answer all of
the question.Try to avoid compound or complex
sentences. Style does not get you points.Avoid circular definitions.Be complete but to the point.DO NOT restate the question.
Free Response SectionWriting the EssaysIntroductions and conclusions are NOT
needed.DO NOT concept bomb the answer.Answer the question, don’t try to be cute.Define any concepts in the question.
