AP Psychology Free Response Questions

FRQs-Free Response Questions ●The AP Psychology Exam is approximately two hours long and has two parts — multiple choice questions and free response questions. The free response section is worth one-third of the final exam grade. ●The free-response section of the AP Psychology exam consists of two questions. The questions may require students to interrelate different content areas and analyze and evaluate psychological concepts and/or theoretical perspectives. Students are expected to use their analytical and organizational skills to formulate cogent answers in writing their essays.

FRQs-Free Response Questions ●Students must answer the questions clearly, in complete sentences, and within the context of the prompt. Outlines and lists alone are not acceptable responses. ●Providing definitions of the psychological terms alone may not score points but may help students better apply the concepts. Responses that contradict themselves, involve circular definitions, or simply restate the question are unacceptable.

FRQs-Free Response Questions ●The following are common directives used in the AP Psychology Free-Response Questions (FRQs). Words like "identify," "describe," and "define" require straightforward definitions or examples that define the concepts. Words like "explain," "analyze," and "discuss" require extended application of the information to the situations or contexts within the question

FRQs-Free Response Questions ● Read the entire question, then read it again; most of the FRQs will have multiple parts. It is important that you read the entire question thoroughly before you start to plan or write your response. ●This is NOT an English test. Don’t waste your time trying to craft an eloquent introduction or conclusion. Instead, focus on knowing exactly what the question is asking you, and answer EXACTLY that. After reading your question twice through, underline key terms to make sure you answer each part of the prompt and check them off as you go.

FRQs-Free Response Questions ● Maintain order; you may want to answer the information you know the best first within your prompt. This can potentially confuse graders. Try instead to answer each question within your FRQ in the order it appears within the prompt. ●To help with this, make a brief (don't waste too much time) outline before you begin. Although you should NOT write in list or bullet format (as graders will only score essays with complete and fluid sentences), make sure to get to the point quickly and answer each portion of your prompt.

FRQs-Free Response Questions ● Be specific; This means using concrete examples and clear language throughout your writing. Graders will not infer answers. That is, if a student seems to know an answer but does not use the proper phrasing or give a complete answer, they cannot award a point. Be as clear and precise as possible without sacrificing efficiency. ●Most importantly, avoid being vague. For example, don’t just say that a specific technique helps us to remember information better, but be sure to state WHY this is so.

FRQs-Free Response Questions ● You may want to create your own scoring guide by estimating the number of pieces of information that you think the grader will be looking for. You can do this by writing and numbering each piece of information as it appears in the test question in an outline form below the actual test question.

FRQs-Free Response Questions ●Below you will find a FRQ from the 2015 AP Psychology exam 1. A. Annabelle is planning to apply to college but has not yet decided where she will apply. Describe how the following psychological concepts and terms relate to her choice. Availability heuristic Compliance Prefrontal cortex Prospective memory B. Explain how the following psychological concepts could relate to how well Annabelle adapts when she begins her college career. Agoraphobia Crystallized intelligence Ethnocentrism

FRQs-Free Response Questions ●Below you will find a FRQ from the 2015 AP Psychology exam 1. A. Annabelle is planning to apply to college but has not yet decided where she will apply. Describe how the following psychological concepts and terms relate to her choice. Availability heuristic Compliance Prefrontal cortex Prospective memory B. Explain how the following psychological concepts could relate to how well Annabelle adapts when she begins her college career. Agoraphobia Crystallized intelligence Ethnocentrism ●Explain what the prompt is asking/telling you to do, AND how many points you think it is worth.

FRQs-Free Response Questions ●Its asking you to tell how EACH of the first 4 psychological concepts will be involved in her choice of colleges, AND to demonstrate how the last 3 concepts will be involved in her adaptation to college life. 1. A. Annabelle is planning to apply to college but has not yet decided where she will apply. Describe how the following psychological concepts and terms relate to her choice. Availability heuristic Compliance Prefrontal cortex Prospective memory B. Explain how the following psychological concepts could relate to how well Annabelle adapts when she begins her college career. Agoraphobia Crystallized intelligence Ethnocentrism

FRQs-Free Response Questions ●Its asking you to tell how EACH of the first 4 psychological concepts will be involved in her choice of colleges, AND to demonstrate how the last 3 concepts will be involved in her adaptation to college life. 1. A. Annabelle is planning to apply to college but has not yet decided where she will apply. Describe how the following psychological concepts and terms relate to her choice. Availability heuristic Compliance Prefrontal cortex Prospective memory B. Explain how the following psychological concepts could relate to how well Annabelle adapts when she begins her college career. Agoraphobia Crystallized intelligence Ethnocentrism ●It’s most likely going to be worth 7 points; BUT since the FRQ portion of the exam is 33 1/3 % of your final grade on the exam, each essay will be worth 16 2/3 % of your overall grade (25 out of 150 Points). That means each point on this FRQ will be worth approximately 3.5 points of your total exam score.