ap psychology free response questions 2021

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Advanced Placement (AP)

Taking AP Exams can be stressful, but if you know what to expect on test day, you can eliminate a lot of that anxiety. The AP Psychology exam is one of the more popular AP tests, and it has a pretty straightforward format and scoring system. In this article, I'll tell you what's on the AP Psychology test, how it's graded, and which prep methods you should use to get a great score.

How Is the AP Psychology Exam Structured?

The AP Psych test consists of two sections : a multiple-choice section and a free-response section.

Overall, AP Psychology is one of the shorter AP exams, clocking in at just two hours in total . The exam will take place on Tuesday, May 3, 2023, at noon .

Before we get into the details of each section, here's an overview of what AP Psych looks like:

Section 1: Multiple Choice

Here is a quick rundown of the multiple-choice section format:

• Number of Questions: 100
• Time: 70 minutes
• Scoring: Worth 2/3 of your final AP Psych score

All multiple-choice questions come with five possible answer choices (labeled A-E). These questions will typically ask you to do the following, per the College Board :

• Define and explain content from a range of course topics
• Apply skills of concept application, data analysis, and scientific investigation

Section 2: Free Response

Here is an overview of the free-response section on the AP Psychology test:

• Number of Questions: 2
• Time: 50 minutes
• Scoring: Worth 1/3 of your final AP Psych score

The first free-response question is a Concept Application question, while the second question is a Research Design question.

Both questions will ask you to do the following, per the College Board :

• Explain behavior and apply theories using concepts from different theoretical frameworks or subdomains in the field
• Analyze psychological research studies, including analyzing and interpreting quantitative data

Ah, May. The flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping—and the rustle of freshly opened AP test booklets fills the air.

How Is the AP Psychology Exam Scored?

Now that you understand the structure of the AP Psychology exam, it's time to learn how your final AP score is calculated . As mentioned, the multiple-choice section is worth 67% of your final Psych score, while the free-response section is worth 33% of your score.

For multiple choice, scoring is relatively simple: you earn a point for every question you answer correctly . No points are deducted for incorrect answers or questions left blank; therefore, you can earn a maximum of 100 points on the multiple-choice section.

Free-response questions are reviewed by AP graders. You'll get a score out of 7 for each of the two questions. Each of these scores is then multiplied by 3.57 so that, together, they make up 1/3 of your total raw AP Psychology score.

Your raw score is then compared with the curve calculated by the College Board to see what score you'll get on the final 1-5 AP scale.

The following table offers estimated raw-to-AP-score conversions for the AP Psychology test. Keep in mind that each year the curve is slightly different, so this will give you a rough estimate of your score and not an exact prediction .

Source: The College Board

For example, let's say you got 55 questions right on the multiple-choice section and scored a 4 on one free-response question and a 5 on the other. This would add up to a raw score of around 87 because 55 + (4 * 3.57) + (5 * 3.57) = 87.13. Based on the chart above, this score would translate to 3 for your final AP score .

Topics and Example Questions on the AP Psychology Test

In this section, I'll give you some real-life examples of test questions so you can get a better idea of what the AP Psychology test is actually like.

As a preface to the questions, here are the nine overarching topics you'll see on AP Psych . You should consult this list to make sure that you've fully reviewed the content for the test and are not missing anything important (especially in the most common topic areas).

Source: AP Psychology Course and Exam Description, 2019-2020

Multiple-Choice Question Example

Here is a sample question from the 2020 AP Psychology Course and Exam Description :

You should be able to tell right away that this behavior has been conditioned in the dogs , so the answer will be either B or C. In psych, "conditioning" refers to a kind of behavioral process in which a particular response becomes more frequent and/or predictable. So already you've eliminated the other three possible answer choices.

Now, to select the correct answer, you need to know the difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Classical conditioning refers to involuntary responses that occur due to past experiences, while operant conditioning refers to voluntary responses that occur as a result of past experiences.

Because the dogs are salivating without consciously meaning to—in other words, it's a completely involuntary bodily response— the correct answer must be B (classical conditioning) .

Free-Response Question Example

The following free-response question also comes from the 2020 AP Psych Exam Description :

Here are the answers for each part as described in the official scoring guidelines .

Part A—3 Points

• Control Group: One point for a response that identifies the control group as the group that sat quietly
• Confounding Variable: One point for a response that identifies the confounding variable as the time of day
• Independent Variable: One point for a response that identifies the independent variable as whether the students punched the punching bag

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Part B—4 Points

• Catharsis: One point for a response that explains that students were supposed to experience the release of strong negative feelings by punching the punching bag
• Hypothesis: One point for a response that explains that the researcher's hypothesis was not supported, as those students who punched the bag actually ended up honking the horn at Steve for longer periods of time
• Ethical Flaws: One point for a response that describes the need for debriefing the students, because the researcher used deception
• Mean: One point for calculating the mean to be 35

"Does free will exist, or am I just a made-up person who exists solely to provide context for a question on an exam taken by beings in an alternate universe?" Oh, Annabelle, save it for college.

How to Prep for the AP Psychology Exam: 6 Critical Tips

If you're aware of the AP Psych exam's structure and content, you can use specific prep methods to help you succeed on the test. Here are six tips guaranteed to give you a higher chance of earning a great AP Psych score.

#1: Take Practice Tests

The best way to prepare for standardized tests like AP Psychology is to take practice tests so that you have a good idea of where your weaknesses lie . Practice tests will also help you get used to the format of the test and the types of questions it asks.

The College Board offers practice free-response questions from previous years (up to 2021). You can also access three full-length official AP Psychology practice tests as free PDFs:

• 2012 AP Psychology Exam
• 1999 AP Psychology Exam
• 1994 AP Psychology Exam

To simulate the real testing experience, I recommend printing out the test and writing/bubbling in your answers to the questions rather than doing them on the computer. You should also time yourself accurately so you can be sure you don't run out of time on the actual exam.

After you take a practice test or two, review your answers to see which content areas gave you the most trouble. Focus on going over the topics for which you had the highest concentration of incorrect answers.

#2: Make Use of AP Classroom

In 2019, the College Board released an online portal called AP Classroom , which connects students with their AP teachers. You can turn in homework on the portal, get feedback on your assignments, and receive access to official AP Psych study materials, including a question bank with real test questions. Your teacher will run the AP Classroom course page.

#3: Use the Topic Breakdown Information

For AP Psychology, we know exactly which topics will be covered and how frequently we can expect to see them on the test. This is valuable information you can use to your advantage when studying.

Specifically, spend more time reviewing unfamiliar topics that are especially common on the exam . It's better to know the ins and outs of a high-frequency topic super well than to have only a rudimentary knowledge of two low-frequency topics. Prioritize wisely!

#4: Learn to Budget Your Time Appropriately

This is something you can do in conjunction with taking practice tests. On the AP Psychology test, you only have about 40 seconds for each multiple-choice question. This means you have to be smart about skipping questions that are taking up too much of your time (and either going back to them later or picking a random letter—remember that there's no penalty for incorrect answers, so you should definitely fill in every single one!).

If you take a practice test and find that you're often running out of time, you might need to push yourself to work faster or move on from difficult questions more quickly.

You'll also have just 25 minutes for each free-response question on the test. The good news is that free-response questions on AP Psychology are scored based on the information you provide and not on your mastery of the essay format. Basically, y ou don't have to write an introduction and a conclusion , which will save you a lot of time.

#5: Go Over Important Terms

On the AP Psych exam, it's crucial for you to know the meanings of key terms related to the course. Questions often ask you to explain how a scenario relates to a certain psychological concept. But i f you don't remember what the concept means, you won't be able to answer the question.

There are lots of confusing terms in AP Psychology, which is why it's so important that you take the time to compile them and go through them methodically when you study. This is especially true of terms you learned at the beginning of the school year , as they'll be less fresh in your mind when the time comes to take the test.

#6: Avoid Cramming

There's a lot to remember for AP Psychology, and you aren't going to be able to stuff it all in your brain in one night!

For courses like this that are memorization-heavy, it's best to get in the habit of studying as you go along and taking the time to review old material periodically . If you can gradually build up your knowledge throughout the school year and avoid completely forgetting what you learned at the beginning of class, the exam will feel much less stressful for you.

Every one or two months, do a comprehensive review of everything you've learned so far to refresh your memory. You might be surprised by how little you have to study for the AP Psych test at the end of the school year when everyone else is freaking out!

And remember, ladies, you're never too busy to throw on a little eye glitter between study sessions.

Recap: What to Know About the AP Psychology Test

The AP Psychology exam is a relatively short AP test. However, because it encompasses a variety of content areas, it's important to know all the key terms and psychological theories that are covered in the course.

In order to succeed on this test, you must be able to connect specific psychological terminology to a wide range of different scenarios .

Overall, AP Psychology is probably one of the easier AP exams, but that doesn't mean you should skip studying. Make sure you take official practice tests and are fully aware of the exam's format and content so you won't be caught off guard on test day!

What's Next?

Still not sure if AP Psychology is the right choice for you? Learn more about AP classes and tests to see whether it's worth it to take them . You can also dip your toe in the AP Psych pool with this article about Stockholm Syndrome (something you'll likely learn about in AP Psych).

What do AP scores mean for your future? Find out more about how AP credit works at colleges .

Trying to plan out your schedule? Read this article to get a better idea of how many AP classes you should take based on your college goals.

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Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.

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🧠 AP Psychology

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Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)

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What’s Covered:

• How Will AP Scores Impact Your Chances?
• Overview of the AP Psych Exam
• Hard AP Psych Questions

The AP Psych Exam questions involve critical thinking, analyzing graphs and data, and making scientific investigations on case studies. While the content can be tricky, a majority of students pass the exam and around 22% of students score a 5. 

This post will cover some of the more difficult AP Psych questions and what makes them so difficult — then we’ll show you how you can get them right. We also offer tips on how to take the exam and basic information on the exam layout.

How Will AP Scores Impact My College Chances?

Whether you get a 2 or a 5 on the AP Psych exam, it’s unlikely to affect your admissions chances in a large way. Colleges don’t typically consider your AP scores in admissions ; you don’t even have to report them unless you want to.

The more important measures of your performance are course rigor and GPA. Basically, how many APs you take and what grades you get are more important than your exam scores! 

To understand how your course load impacts your college changes, use our free chancing engine . It will let you know your odds of acceptance at over 500 colleges, based on your grades, test scores, extracurriculars, and demographics. Keep in mind that it can’t account for essays and rec letters, which are also considered in the process; essays are especially important.

Overview of the AP Psychology Exam

If you’ve never taken an AP exam before, the anticipation can be tortuous. The pressure of standardized testing situations — the flickering lights, the test administrator, the eerie quiet of your peers — can cause some students to perform poorly. It is important to remember that an 5 on an AP exam does not determine if you will get into college, it only determines what courses you may take once you get there. Use this stress to encourage more studying, but don’t overwork yourself. The AP Psych exam is one of the more common tests so there are a lot of public AP Psych questions to study.

Exam Layout

The AP Psych exam is a very straightforward test made up of two parts: multiple choice and free-response. These sections combine to be only two hours, one of the shortest AP exams! This is great news for students that struggle with test anxiety because there is much less to stress about. Furthermore, College Board offers digital practice exams; however, these don’t give the full experience of being in the test-taking environment (though there is a digital test option for 2021). 

70 minutes are given for the 100 multiple choice questions that start the exam. This portion is worth two-thirds of the exam. The AP Psych questions for the multiple choice section will consist of vocabulary, knowing scientists and the work they’ve done, and taking principles of psychology and “diagnosing” possible situations with psychology terminology. 

The subsequent section is the two free response questions where students have 50 minutes to write as much as they feel is necessary. This section is only worth one-third of the total score. Although this is shorter than the previous section, some students argue that this section requires more work. The free-response portion of the AP psych exam questions has two subsections: a “concept application” and a “research design” question . The “concept application” will describe a situation, maybe giving you a character in a social situation or an action that has taken place, and ask you to describe, diagnose, and hypothesize how a few psychology concepts are applicable. The “research design” question asks students to design a research experiment that either supports or refutes a given hypothesis.

To grade the AP Psych questions in the multiple choice section, graders assign one point per question, for a total of 100 points. Pretty simple. 

To score the free response section, each of the two questions are assigned 7 possible points. Your total is multiplied by 3.57 to accumulate a total of 50, making a grand total of 150 available points on the AP Psych Exam. The scores are curved each year to make sure that students are rewarded for their hard work, so in the 2020 test cycle, the minimum a student needed to score a 5 on the AP Psych Exam was 113. 

10 Hardest AP Psychology Questions

Although the test is heavily weighted towards the multiple choice questions, they are the more straightforward part of the test. Because of this, College Board combines seemingly easy questions with obviously difficult questions. Be sure to review your answers if you have extra time at the end of this section. The AP Psych questions that require more time and effort up-front are the free-response questions. There is no limit to how much a student can write so be sure to exhaust all ideas that pop into your head.

Multiple Choice

The correct answer to this question is 4, Sublimation. Sublimation is a mature type of defense mechanism where socially unacceptable impulses are transformed into socially accepted actions (though we don’t recommend yelling at your mother). This question focuses on the definition of psychology terms and the application of those terms to real-life situations.

The correct answer is B this is because arriving on time for work is an attribute that is not inherently programmed into humans. Work is a cultural construct instead of a psychological construct. This question is fairly straightforward if you can make this distinction.

The correct answer is D for the above question. Because the sample may not have been representative, her answer is biased and therefore not valid. People who were unhappy with their children may have been more inclined to respond to the columnist than those who were happy. The answer to this question comes from thinking critically about the advice columnist’s situation. 

The AP Psych exam expects you to know the difference between polling people on the street and a valid scientific study. If the study in the above question had randomly selected participants in a chosen population and those participants had no outside motivation, this would have been a valid study. Because this was a casual newspaper column, it cannot be considered a valid study.

The correct answer for the above question is A. This can be a tricky question for test-takers because in the heat of the moment, they get confused and say that .89 is the strongest correlation. The -1.00 indicates the strongest negative correlation, which is a correlation just the same. For this question, it is paramount to go slowly and remember the basics. This will help you from making small mistakes throughout the rest of the exam.

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Free-Response

To score this free-response question, graders assign the first three points to explaining the source of the headache, the dizziness, the difficulty reading, and the impaired auditory comprehension. These could be talking about injury to certain regions of the brain, including Wernicke’s area. The next four points are assigned to the design of your experiment. One point is given for an adequate answer to each of the listed categories. This is a typical assignment of the free-response question points.

Points are awarded in this essay for each argument you present for both sides of the nature-nurture debate. Examples to answer the nature side of the “shyness” portion could be citing:

• Kagan’s longitudinal research on inhibited children, or
• Strong correlation between inhibited parents / grandparents and shy children. 

The nurture portion could be answered by noting:

• 25% of Kagan’s children changed temperament by adolescence, or 
• Abused children, others with low self-esteem, or socially rejected may learn shyness

Points are awarded in this essay for addressing the sensory and brain issues in section A. Because this is the largest section, the majority of points are awarded here. When reading a question, think critically about which part elicits the biggest response and devote the most time there; you don’t need to be egalitarian with your writing. For sections B and C, a test-taker can accumulate points by presenting arguments on how flight-or-flight works and describing one of many theories, including Schachter’s two-factor theory or Lazarus’s cognitive appraisal theory.

This question can be hard for students that are unfamiliar with some of these terms. The points are awarded based on how valid a connection you’re able to argue. This isn’t to say that you have to support each answer with two pages of research; rather, that being as clear as possible is crucial. Some students are surprised by this question because they think that vocab is relegated to the multiple choice section. It is throughout the test!

For this research design question, it is important to define the parameters of the experiment: question, hypothesis, and ethics. Following this, points are awarded for each of the categories. You should spend the most time on the final section because this will prove if you understand how the experiment works.

Question 10

To decode the point scoring in this essay, it is critical to look at how many examples are required for each section. The more examples required, the more points awarded. If you aren’t feeling confident about one of your answers, take a guess and list something. The most important thing that you can do is put something down when they ask you to list something. When answering the final section, it is important to make an obvious distinction between these two characteristics. Because it’s a confusion that the public faces, you must make your explanation lucid.

If you haven’t already, you should speak to your teacher to learn more about what the AP test may entail in your area. Your school may have different practices and protocols for administering the AP exam, be sure to know what’s going on!

The content in AP isn’t overwhelming if you take it bit by bit. Try to learn one new piece of psychology vocabulary every day. If you’re looking for a bigger challenge, try to answer a free-response question once a day as well. With enough practice, the real test won’t seem so scary!

Check out these CollegeVine resources for more help with your studying:

• Ultimate Guide to the AP Psych Exam
• Easiest and Hardest AP Classes
• 2021 AP Exam Schedule + Study Tips
• How to Understand and Interpret Your AP Scores
• How Long Is Each AP Exam? A Complete List

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AP Psychology Exam 2021

In 2020, as a response to the disruption caused by COVID-19, the College Board modified the AP exams so they were shorter, administered online, covered less material, and had a different format than previous tests. But thousands of students faced technical problems and had to retake their exams .

This year, the College Board is providing 3 testing dates starting in early May for each AP exam with options for in-school and at-home, as well as traditional and digital, testing. 

“While this year’s exam options look different from years past, this schedule will maximize opportunities for AP students in a variety of different situations to test and earn college credit and placement,” according to the College Board.

The AP Psychology exam for 2021 will be a full-length exam that students can take in school and/or at home, either traditionally (i.e., paper and pencil) or digitally, depending on the testing date. 

Here are the key changes you need to know to do well in the upcoming AP Psychology exam. 

Will I get AP credit for the 2021 AP Psychology exam?

Students who take the 2021 AP Psychology exam will be eligible for college credit.

As in previous years, a student must obtain a score of 3, 4, or 5 to be eligible for college credit. 

How long is the 2021 AP Psychology exam?

The 2021 AP Psychology exam will be 2 hours long. Students can take it in school or at home depending on the testing date (details below). 

What’s the 2021 AP Psychology exam date?

The College Board is offering 3 exam dates for the AP Psychology exam this year. The times and locations vary by date.

It is up to individual schools, though, to choose the exam options that work best for them.

What will be tested on the 2021 AP Psychology exam?

The 2021 AP Psychology exam will test students on the whole course content regardless of the version of the exam they take — traditional or digital — so be prepared to answer questions on the following topics: 

• Unit 1: Scientific Foundations of Psychology
• Unit 2: Biological Bases of Behavior
• Unit 3: Sensation and Perception 
• Unit 4: Learning
• Unit 5: Cognitive Psychology
• Unit 6: Developmental Psychology
• Unit 7: Motivation, Emotion, and Personality
• Unit 8: Clinical Psychology
• Unit 9: Social Psychology

What is the AP Psychology exam format for 2021?

The 2021 AP Psychology exam will consist of 2 typical sections: multiple-choice and free-response questions. The multiple-choice section is worth 66.7 percent of the exam score while the free-response section is worth 33.3 percent. You will have 1 hour, 10 minutes to answer 100 multiple-choice questions and 50 minutes to answer 2 free-response questions.

For free examples of free-response questions, check here for the actual questions posed in the 2019 AP Psychology exam and here for those posed in the 2018 exam.

You can also practice multiple-choice and free-response questions within the digital exam app starting early April. 

Is there a difference between the traditional and the digital AP Psychology exam for 2021?

There is no difference between the 2021 AP Psychology paper exam and the digital exam. They are both 2 hours long, and they test the same course content. 

However, if you’re taking the digital AP Psychology exam, there are a few things you should know. First, you will be answering free-response questions with a keyboard, rather than by hand. Second, you won’t be allowed to submit handwritten or photographed responses (unlike last year, when the College Board made an accommodation for the 2020 AP Psychology exam).

What device should I use to take the 2021 AP Psychology exam digitally?

What you will need to take the exam digitally will depend on whether you’re taking the digital exam in school or at home. In either case, you should make the determination of which device works best for you beforehand. 

If you’re taking the digital exam in school , you will need a laptop (Mac, Windows, or school-managed Chromebook) that has a built-in camera. This can be a personal or school-provided computer. If it’s a school-provided computer, it must not be shared between students once the exam setup is completed. 

To take the digital exam at home , you will need a laptop or desktop computer (Mac, Windows, or school-managed Chromebook) that has a built-in or attached camera. This can be a personal or school-provided computer. If it’s a school-provided computer, it must not be shared between students once the exam setup is completed.

No matter the type of device or who owns it, make sure that your computer is fully charged on exam day so it will last for the whole exam. If you’re taking the digital exam at home, be sure that your setup includes charging during the exam if necessary.

You should also install the digital testing app no later than the day before the exam.

You will, of course, also need reliable access to the internet if you’re taking the digital exam.

Is the College Board offering any free AP Psychology exam review courses? 

The College Board is offering free AP resources to students.

Live classes and recordings delivered by AP teachers from across the country are available on the AP YouTube channel . Additionally, students will have access to AP Daily: Live Review sessions from April 19 to 29, which will help them review course content and skills before their exam. You can sign up for the live review sessions here . 

What are my other options for preparing for the 2021 AP Psychology exam?

If you don’t have an AP Psychology review book already, check out TUN’s Textbook Save Engine to compare prices and get the best deals. 

There are also free and low-cost online resources that you can use to help you prepare for the 2021 AP Psychology exam. 

Steven J. Barnes, an instructor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, offers a six-part course on edX to help students prepare for the AP Psychology exam. The first course, entitled “ AP Psychology – Course 1: What is Psychology? ” covers the history and research methods of psychology. This course also provides research-based study tips. 

You can audit this course for free , but there’s a $49 fee to obtain a Verified Certificate.

These are the companion courses that you can also audit for free :

AP Psychology – Course 2: How the Brain Works

AP Psychology – Course 3: How the Mind Works

AP Psychology – Course 4: How Behavior Works

AP Psychology – Course 5: Health and Behavior

AP Psychology – Course 6: Exam Preparation & Review

Princeton Review

If you would like to get one-on-one instruction to help you prepare for the AP Psychology exam, the Princeton Review offers private tutoring , available both in-person or online, for a fee starting at $167 an hour. If you decide to go with this personalized option, expert tutors will work with you to “make a plan, set goals, and exceed them.” The Princeton Review guarantees that if you’re not 100% satisfied, you will be matched with another tutor and get your next lesson for free. 

If you’re taking more than one AP exam in 2021, check TUN’s AP Exam Review for details on other revised AP exams.

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