8 Effective AP Psychology Tips for Exam Preparation

Understand the AP Psychology Exam Format

An essential tip to excel in the AP Psychology exam is to understand the exam format.

The AP Psychology examination is divided into two parts. Section I of the AP Psychology paper is made up of 75 multiple choice questions. Typically, AP Psychology students would have to complete 100 questions for this section, however, this number has been reduced to 75 from the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year. This section tests learners’ abilities to define and explain content from across course topics as well as apply key skills such as data analysis and scientific investigation. This portion of the AP Psychology examination should take 90 minutes to complete and is weighted at 66.7% of an AP Psychology candidate’s total score.

Section II of the AP Psychology exam is the free response section. This contains only two questions. The first question concerns article analysis; candidates will be presented with a peer-reviewed article and must respond to six sub-questions related to the article. The second question of the free response portion of the AP Psychology exam is an evidenced-based question. For this, AP Psychology learners will be supplied with three peer-reviewed articles on a common topic and must respond to three sub-questions related to these articles. Section II should be completed within 70 minutes and  makes up the remaining 33.3% of an AP Psychology candidate’s final score.

The reason why an awareness of the format of the AP Psychology exam is such a vital tip for candidates wishing to score highly is because without a clear understanding of the question types and timing, revision can end up being somewhat directionless. Moreover, it makes time management more challenging if necessary timings are not known. 

Create a Study Schedule and Stick To It

For AP Psychology candidates, the development of a study schedule is a crucial tip for success. Not only that, this schedule must be stuck to. When setting about this task, be sure to assess the content necessary for revision and divide it into manageable chunks. It is no good studying one topic for hours on end as this will cause one’s focus to drift. Topic-switching helps to maintain attention over longer periods and is a more successful revision strategy. Moreover, be sure to designate regular hours to revision. Making revision a habit aids in productivity. AP Psychology candidates should also be sure to  incorporate short breaks into any revision session. While it can be appealing to study straight through without any rest as it gives the feeling of hard work, it does not pay off. All that comes from it is fatigue and an overall lack of motivation. So, another necessary tip is to include regular short breaks into every revision. Lastly, planners and digital apps can be beneficial to track progress, but don’t get bogged down in digitising every aspect of AP Psychology revision. Sometimes, a pen and a piece of paper work just as well. 

Review AP Psychology Key Concepts and Theories

Reviewing key concepts and theories in AP Psychology is another tip for higher marks come exam time. Without an understanding of key concepts and theories, AP Psychology students will struggle come exam time. This applies to both the multiple choice and free-response sections of the AP Psychology exam paper. For example, if an exam question proposes a scenario whereby a child is able to learn successfully when surrounded by more experienced individuals, AP Psychology students must be able to recognise not only the pattern of development represented here from a selection of four—zone of proximal development; egocentrism; autonomy; object permanence— but, equally, what defines the other three options. Those sitting AP Psychology should make use of available resources to help facilitate their study. The College Board offers a number of webpages that break down the course components that can assist with not only a better understanding of the exam itself but also the course content and what students are expected to know. 

Practise with AP Psychology Practice Tests

For AP Psychology candidates aiming for higher marks, regular engagement with AP Psychology practice tests is a key tip. Incorporating practice tests into revision is beneficial for a number of reasons.  They allow students to simulate the exam experience; reduce exam-related anxiety through familiarity; refine time management skills; enhance exam-endurance; and identify strengths as well as areas of improvement. All AP Psychology students should make use of practice tests, in conjunction with standard revision, but should keep in mind that the AP Psychology exam has changed somewhat beginning in the academic year 2024-25. This means that, while past exam papers are still useful, they will not reflect the exact specifications of the current exam. For practice related to Section II of the AP Psychology exam, the College Board has made available questions all the way back to 1999.

Utilise Flashcards for Memorisation

Incorporating flashcards into AP Psychology revision is another excellent tip to increase performance. Employing flashcards can aid in the memoristion of the core concepts and theories that those studying AP Psychology must know when heading into their exam.  Developing flashcards can be done either with a pen and paper—most stationary shops sell bundles of plain flashcards fit for purpose—or via digital tools like Anki, a learning app. Regardless of the format, composing and incorporating flashcards into AP Psychology revision sessions can be a great benefit to learning. Another revision tip closely linked to flashcards is making use of what is called ‘spaced repetition’, or reviewing learning materials at systematic intervals. For spaced repetition, using digital tools is recommended. 

Hone Essay Writing Skills for AP Psychology Free Response Questions

A considerable portion of the AP Psychology exam focuses on writing skills. This is in the form of the free response section of the paper. Consequently, a tip for success is for learners to train their essay writing skills. This starts with ensuring a clear understanding of the prompt. For some, this means underlining any key terms or command terms present in the question. From there, AP Psychology candidates should outline their response before any writing is done. Forming the habit of planning before writing can often be the key to success later on. It is at this planning stage that key terms and examples should be jotted down for incorporation into the essay—by doing so, students don’t have to worry about anything slipping their mind in the writing process. When setting about to actually complete a written task, doing so under timed conditions is best. However, this can be built up to. Start by giving more time over to an essay than would be allowed in an exam and slowly reducing this with the more essays that are worked on. In doing so, a student will hone their skills over time. Lastly, it is important to become familiar with the scoring guidelines. These guidelines are available online and should be studied.  

Connect Concepts Across Different Psychological Perspectives

Another important tip is to be sure to connect concepts across different psychological perspectives. There are upwards of eight distinct perspectives within psychology that seek to explain human behaviour. These are biological, behavioural, cognitive, humanistic, psychodynamic, sociocultural, evolutionary, and biopsychosocial. For those studying AP Psychology, it is crucial to have an understanding of these eight perspectives and be able to integrate insights from across them. Beginning such a task, it could be beneficial to develop brief definitions of each perspective and drill them using flashcards. From that point, it is about delving into each one and watching closely for points of intersection. By preparing in this way,  a student will likely be able to produce more thoughtful and well-rounded responses come exam time.

Seeking Help From Teachers, Tutors, Or Study Groups

The act of revising can often seem like a lonely task, but it does not have to be. An additional tip for success in AP Psychology is seeking guidance from teachers and developing a study group. Teachers are there to help, so if something is unclear it is best to ask for assistance. AP Psychology learners may also consider personalised guidance from a tutor to help them better understand the demands of the course and exam. Study groups can also be a great benefit. Participating in organised study sessions with peers can help students develop their ability to explain concepts clearly and concisely. Moreover, it can assist with motivation and means that an individual is held accountable for their work as part of a group. While study groups may not be for everyone, they are something to consider when preparing for the AP Psychology exam. 

Prepare for AP Psychology with BartyED

At BartyED, we understand the challenges of the AP Psychology course and its associated examination. Our team of expert AP Psychology tutors have worked with countless AP Psychology students, guiding them through the intricacies of course to achieve content mastery as well as refining both their revision and exam technique. We believe in working closely with each student and developing individualised lessons to benefit learning outcomes. No two learners are alike, and this is reflected in the work of BartyED’s tutors. If you think that you or your child could benefit from the experienced guidance of a BartyED AP Psychology tutor, reach out to us today by phone (+852 2882 1017) or email (enquiries@bartyed.com).

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The scoring for AP Psychology is equated, meaning that the College Board takes into account slight alterations in difficulty to ensure scores are equal across different years.

  • The AP Psychology course is considerably lengthy, incorporating a vast amount of content. Consequently, it would be difficult to self-study. Rather, incorporating the guidance of an experienced AP Psychology tutor would be best.

  • While it can be difficult to find the exact results for each year, it has been noted that in 2021, out of 262,700 students worldwide, only 6 achieved a perfect score.

  • Yes, there is a considerable amount of reading for AP Psychology. As it is an Advanced Placement course, students will be expected to engage in more reading than is typical for high school-level.

  • Students do receive a short break in between Sections I and II of the AP Psychology exam. This is usually no longer than ten minutes.

  • Based on the 2024 Score Distributions‌, 27% of AP Psychology students scored 1 out of 5, followed by 23% scoring a 4.

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Advanced Placement, PsychologyMark Malone