CRASH COURSE REVIEW KEYS FOR SUCCESS

1. UNDERSTANDING THE AP PSYCHOLOGY SCALE Score RangeAP GradeMinimum % Right 108 – % 86 – % 69 – 85346% 55 – 68236% 0 – 54135% Score range includes 100 points from multiple choice questions and 50 points from free response questions.

2. THE IMPORTANCE OF KEY TERMS, KEY PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND KEY THEORIES A.These dominate the multiple-choice questions. Approximately 2/3 of the multiple-choice questions test your knowledge of key terms. Typically, they ask you to identify a definition of a term or the best example of a term. These are defined and explained throughout the unit review PowerPoints as well as in the Jeopardy vocabulary review games. B.The 62 psychologists in the Important People PowerPoint are the major figures or key contributors in the 14 areas covered on the AP Psychology exam. Between 15 and 20% of multiple-choice questions test your ability to identify these people and their theories.

3. THE IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGY A.Single most important topic on the AP Psychology exam. B.Units on Research Methodology (Unit II) and Testing and Individual Differences (Unit XI) typically generate 13 – 15 multiple-choice questions. These will test your knowledge of methodology and statistics. C.Single most important topic tested in the free- response questions. Ten of 18 exams between 1992 and 2009 contained a free-response question devoted to research methodology! Seven of the 10 research methodology questions appeared on exams given in an even year…

4. THE AP PSYCHOLOGY CURRICULUM OUTLINE UnitPercentage of Exam History and Approaches2 – 4 percent Research Methods8 – 10 percent Biological Bases of Behavior8 – 10 percent Sensation and Perception6 – 8 percent States of Consciousness2 – 4 percent Learning7 – 9 percent Cognition8 – 10 percent Motivation and Emotion6 – 8 percent Developmental Psychology7 – 9 percent Personality5 – 7 percent Testing and Individual Differences5- 7 percent Abnormal Behavior7 – 9 percent Treatment of Abnormal Behavior5 – 7 percent Social Psychology8 – 10 percent

5. WRITING FRQS Whenever possible, define a term, give an example, THEN do what they ask you to do… This is the surest way to earn as many points as possible! For example: Describe how each of the following might influence his ability to drive a car during a road test. Definitions without application do not score. Observational learning Observational learning is watching another person demonstrating a skill and then imitating them. Observational learning might influence his ability to drive a car in that he may have watched his father’s tendency to drive over the speed limit and be in the habit of imitating it. This may in turn impact his ability to pass a road test as such behavior is illegal.

FYI… Axis I:Axis I: This is the top-level diagnosis that usually represents the acute symptoms that need treatment; Axis 1 diagnoses are the most familiar and widely recognized (e.g., major depressive episode, schizophrenic episode, panic attack). Axis I terms are classified according to V-codes by the medical industry (primarily for billing and insurance purposes).major depressive episodeschizophrenic episodepanic attack Axis II:Axis II: Axis II is the assessment of personality disorders and intellectual disabilities. These disorders are usually life-long problems that first arise in childhood. Axis III:Axis III: Axis III is for medical or neurological conditions that may influence a psychiatric problem. For example, diabetes might cause extreme fatigue which may lead to a depressive episode. Axis IV:Axis IV: Axis IV identifies recent psychosocial stressors - a death of a loved one, divorce, losing a job, etc. - that may affect the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of mental disorders. Psychosocial and Environmental Problems Axis V:Axis V: Axis V identifies the patient's level of function on a scale of 0-100, (100 is top-level functioning). Known as the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale, it attempts to quantify a patient's ability to function in daily life.