TACKLING THE AP PSYCHOLOGY EXAM

TACKLING THE AP PSYCHOLOGY EXAM

How to survive getting a 5

Overview of AP Exam

• 100 MC 70 mins. ~42sec/?

2/3 of score 100 points• 2 FRQ 50 mins.

~25min/?1/3 of score 50 points

150 points

Strategies to conquer

the multiple choice questions….

1. Be confident!

• Understand how the test is scored

• Prepare carefully• JSYK (Just Show You Know)

2. Know the lay-out

• Questions increase in difficulty, so pace yourself!

First 1/3 easySecond 1/3 harderFinal 1/3 difficult

3. Know the scoring

• 1 point for each correct response• -1 point for each blank response• -1.25 for each incorrect response

So……..…should you guess???

It depends.

5 possible answers -- A. B. C. D. E.

If you can eliminate 1 answer:E[V]=(.75)(-.25)+(.25)(1.0)=

-.1875+.25=.0625

If you can eliminate 2 answers:E[V]=(.67)(-.25)+(.33)(1.0)=

-.1675+.33=.1625

If you can eliminate 3 answers:E[V]=(.5)(-.25)+(.5)(1.0)= -.125+.5=.375

Should you guess? YES….if you can eliminate at least one answer.

4. Attacking the MC questions

ABA ~ Answer Before Answer• Cover choices – go for recall• Read question carefully: underline key

words and define them• Identify unit associated with ?• Stimulate retrieval cues by

thinking about vivid examples/ activities from class and text

• Predict answer

POE ~ Process of Elimination• Cross out known incorrect choices• Go for recognition• Especially use in second 1/3 of ?s

SIO ~ Skip if recognitionIf clueless, skip ~ especially in last 1/3• Leave lots of blanks on the last 1/3 if

you have been doing poorly on the class MCTs. If you have been averaging As and Bs, take your best shot.

MQ ~ Mark Qualifiers• Always mark qualifiers• Key words that give direction to your

answer

Practice Quiz ~ Memory

1. MQ ~ As you read each question, write down the qualifier/s.

2. Answer the question.3. After you answer each question,

write the strategy you used.ABAPOESIO

1. Which of the following types of memory stores information for only about 20 seconds?a. short-term (STM)b. long-term (LTM)c. intermediate (IM)d. sensory (SM)

2. Which of the following is true about STM? a. Information stored in it is coded verbally.b. It can hold only about 5-9 bits of information.c. Information stored in it lasts

only about 20 seconds unless it is rehearsed.d. all of the above.

3. Joan just looked up a phone number, closed the phone book, and then repeated the number to herself as she was reaching for and dialing the phone. She was keeping this information in _____.a. SMb. STMc. LTMd. none of the above

4. STM is to LTM as _____ is to _____.a. verbal, semanticb. 5 to 9, unlimitedc. 20 seconds, relatively permanentd. all of the above

5. Which of the following is the correct sequence of memory processing through which information passes as it is processed by the human memory system?a. SM to STM to LTMb. STM to SM to LTMc. SM to LTM to STMd. STM to LTM to SM

6. Which of the following is the best explanation of why Tom has already forgotten the name of the person to whom he was introduced only 5 minutes ago?a. The name was never in Tom’s STM.b. The name was lost from Tom’s LTM.c. Tom did not successfully transfer the name from his STM to his LTM.d. Tom did not successfully transfer the name from his LTM to his STM.

4 Types of MCQs

1. Factual (40 per test)• Straightforward• Details• Definitions• Basic concepts

2. Interpretive (40 per test)• Learn a set of characteristics• If….then…• Solve

3. Applied (10 per test)

• Examples• Cases• Scenarios

4. Mix (10 per test)• Combination of Factual, Interpretive,

and Applied

After the test….

# Right _____# Wrong _____# Skips _____# Guesses _____

got right _____got wrong_____

“Guaranteed Success” Strategies:

• Pay attention all year• Study hard all year• Learn lots of psychology!!

Strategies to conquer

the FRQs!

• Write a paragraph, as you have been taught in English, on a sunset.

• “The sun set.”

• FRQs ~ Write for points, not poetry!

FRQ-y Facts…1. Avoid introduction and summation

paragraphs2. Get straight to the point!!

* address the question* write concisely – only complete sentences

will be scored*include psychological terminology and researchers T - D - A*present in an organized format

3. Not creative ~ an analysis and evaluation

FRQ-ish Scoring…• 2 FRQs worth 25 points each = 50 points

• Most FRQs have 6 -12 tasks – you receive one point for every correct task

So…if there are 10 tasks in a FRQ, and you got 5 correct, your score is computed as follows: 5 / 10 X 2.5 = 12.5/25

Your score/# tasks X # to bring total to 25 =

WRITE CONCISELY – To score all the points you can, write quick style!

• This is NOT an essay, so no intro, no concluding paragraph are needed

• Don’t overwrite, no blah…blah…no long-winded explanations of research

• Give them what they want and get on to the next question within 20 minutes

• Use NO bullets, no phrases…only whole sentences count!

• Never cross out (you might be right!)…just write on and get onto the next question

ANSWER COMPLETELY – To score all the points you can, think!

• Read both questions CAREFULLY, think about the problem each presents

• Circle the demands or tasks you think the question asks you to do

• Underline the terms you think you need to define and apply to the problem

• Count the number of points called for (usually between 6-12 per FRQ)

• Check off (√) the terms after you think you have defined and applied them

SEPARATE DEFINITION FROM APPLICATION – To score BOTH points!T = take the term or concept, underline it

when you write itD = define the term first off without re-using

the term (circular definition) * check off (√) on the greenie prompt

that you defined itA = apply the term to the problem without

repeating the definition again * check off (√) on the greenie prompt that you applied it

BE SPECIFIC – Describe behavior in observable terms. It scores!!

For example: “trying harder” doesn’t score…too vague but “studying two extra hours” does…it’s specific

“He rewarded the kid” doesn’t score…poor terminology

but “He positively reinforced his behavior by giving him candy for each time he answered correctly” does…nice TDA

USE TEXTBOOK PSYCH TERMINOLOGY – show you know sci psych!• Bring out the psych terms of the glossary

you memorized, yeah?! Remember those flashcards and vocabulary lists!

• BEWARE – that means be aware of terms that can be confused…use our mnemonics for commonly confused terms*

Read the FRQs carefully and mark/ number each task

Design and describe an experiment to measure the relationship between rehearsal/repetition of a list of words and later recall of that same list of words. In your answer you should formulate a hypothesis and include a description of each of the following.

A. PopulationB. Subject selectionC. Independent variableD. Dependent variableE. Experimental groupF. Control groupG. Potential confounding variable

~from 1993 AP Exam

Make a chart before you begin…

TERM Definition Application

Population

Subject selection

Independent variable

Dependent variable

ETC.