• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

Step 3: Develop Strategies for Success

In this step you’ll learn strategies that will help you do your best on the exam. These strategies cover both the multiple-choice and free-response sections of the exam. Since serving on the College Board committee to design the first course of study and examinations for Advanced Placement Psychology®, I have worked with many students and teachers who have helped me gain insight into how they think and study. Tasks that lull you into a false sense of security with shortcuts that may not work are NOT here.

• Learn to read multiple-choice questions.

• Learn how to answer multiple-choice questions, including whether or not to guess.

• Learn how to plan and write the free-response questions.

Step 4: Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High

In this step you’ll learn or review the material you need to know for the test. This review section takes up the bulk of this book. It contains:

• A comprehensive review of introductory psychology.

Psychologists and educators do not agree on exactly what students should know after completing an introductory course in psychology, so no book can correctly forecast what concepts you need to know to get 100% of the questions on the AP exam right. But I can safely guarantee that this book includes the information that will enable you to earn a 5! The substantial knowledge you gain from studying it will significantly increase your chances of scoring well.

Step 5: Build Your Test-taking Confidence

In this step you’ll complete your preparation by testing yourself on practice exams. I have provided you with two complete exams in psychology, and scoring guides for them. Although these practice exams are not reproduced questions from actual AP Psychology exams, they mirror both the material tested by AP and the way in which it is tested.

Finally, at the back of this book you’ll find additional resources to aid your preparation. These include:

• A brief bibliography.

• A list of websites related to the AP Psychology exam.

• A glossary of terms related to the AP Psychology exam.

Introduction to the Graphics Used in this Book

To emphasize particular skills and strategies, we use several icons throughout this book. An icon in the margin will alert you that you should pay particular attention to the accompanying text. We use these three icons:

This icon points out a very important concept or fact that you should not pass over.

This icon calls your attention to a strategy that you may want to try.

This icon indicates a tip that you might find useful.

Boldfaced words indicate terms that are included in the glossary at the end of this book. Throughout the book you will also find marginal notes, boxes, and starred areas. Pay close attention to these areas because they can provide tips, hints, strategies, and further explanations to help you reach your full potential.

STEP 1

Set Up Your Study Plan

CHAPTER 1 What You Need to Know About the AP Psychology Exam

CHAPTER 2 How to Plan Your Time

CHAPTER 1

What You Need to Know About the AP Psychology Exam

IN THIS CHAPTER

Summary: Learn what topics are tested, how the test is scored, and basic test-taking information.

Key ideas

AP Psychology is equivalent to a college-level introductory psychology course.

Most, but not all, colleges will award credit for a score of 4 or 5.

Multiple-choice questions account for two-thirds of your final score.

One-quarter of a point is deducted for each wrong answer on multiple-choice questions.

Free-response questions account for one-third of your final score.

Your composite score on the two test sections is converted to a score on the 1-to-5 scale.

Background Information

The College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) program enables high school students to study college-level subjects. Most colleges grant credit, placement, or both for qualifying AP exam grades. You may want to check with the colleges of your choice to find out their policies. Enrollment in AP Psychology has increased annually since its