5 STEPS TO A
5
AP Psychology 2010–2011 Laura Lincoln Maitland, M.A., M.S.
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CONTENTS Preface, vii About the Author, viii Introduction: The 5-Step Program, ix
STEP 1
Set Up Your Study Plan 1 What You Need to Know About the AP Psychology Exam, 3 2 How to Plan Your Time, 9
STEP 2
Determine Your Test Readiness 3 Take a Diagnostic Exam, 17 Diagnostic Exam in AP Psychology, 18
STEP 3
Develop Strategies for Success 4 How to Approach Each Question Type, 37 Section I: Multiple-Choice Questions, 37 Section II: The Free-Response Questions, 39
STEP 4
Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High 5 History and Approaches, 43 Roots of Psychology, 44 Schools of Psychology, 44 Principal Approaches to Psychology, 45 Domains of Psychology, 46 6 Research Methods, 51 Experimental Method, 52 Correlational Research, 54 Case Study, 55 Elementary Statistics, 55 Ethical Guidelines, 59 7 Biological Bases of Behavior, 65 Techniques to Learn About Structure and Function, 66 Organization of Your Nervous System, 67 Localization and Lateralization of the Brain’s Function, 68 Structure and Function of the Neuron, 70 The Endocrine System, 73 Genetics and Evolutionary Psychology, 74 Genetics and Behavior, 74 8 Sensation and Perception, 84 Thresholds, 85 Vision, 86 Hearing (Audition), 88 Touch (Somatosensation), 90 Body Senses, 91 Í iii
iv U Contents
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Chemical Senses, 91 Perceptual Processes, 91 States of Consciousness, 102 Levels of Consciousness, 103 Sleep and Dreams, 103 Hypnosis, 106 Meditation, 106 Drugs, 107 Learning, 113 Classical Conditioning, 114 Operant Conditioning, 116 Superstitious Behavior, 119 Cognitive Processes in Learning, 120 Biological Factors in Learning, 121 Cognition, 127 Models of Memory, 128 Language, 134 Thinking, 135 Motivation and Emotion, 146 Theories of Motivation, 147 Physiological Motives, 149 Social Motivation, 152 Theories of Emotion, 153 Stress and Coping, 155 Positive Psychology, 156 Developmental Psychology, 163 Key Issues in Development, 164 Methods of Studying Development, 164 Physical Development, 165 Theories of Cognitive Development, 168 Theories of Moral Development, 170 Theories of Social and Emotional Development, 171 Gender Roles and Sex Differences, 174 Personality, 183 Personality Theories and Approaches, 184 Assessment Techniques, 191 Self-Concept and Self-Esteem, 193 Testing and Individual Differences, 201 Standardization and Norms, 201 Reliability and Validity, 202 Types of Tests, 203 Ethics and Standards in Testing, 204 Intelligence and Intelligence Testing, 205 Heredity/Environment and Intelligence, 209 Human Diversity, 210
Contents Í v
16 Abnormal Behavior, 215 Defining Abnormal Behavior, 215 Causes of Abnormal Behavior, 216 Types of Disorders, 217 17 Treatment of Abnormal Behavior, 228 Mental Health Practitioners, 228 Brief History of Therapy, 229 Treatment Approaches, 230 Biological/Biomedical Treatments, 234 Modes of Therapy, 236 Community and Preventive Approaches, 236 18 Social Psychology, 242 Group Dynamics, 242 Attribution Processes, 244 Interpersonal Perception, 245 Conformity, Compliance, Obedience, 247 Attitudes and Attitude Change, 248 Aggression/Antisocial Behavior, 249 STEP 5
Build Your Test-Taking Confidence AP Psychology Practice Exam 1 and Answers, 259 AP Psychology Practice Exam 2 and Answers, 285
Appendixes Glossary, 313 Bibliography, 340 Websites, 341
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PREFACE Welcome to the updated 2010–2011 edition of this test preparation book for AP Psychology. Changes in this edition reflect changes to the 2010–2011 Course Description for AP Psychology from the College Board. The book has been designed so that it is user friendly and employs the concepts psychologists know about learning and remembering to help you succeed. Each chapter begins with an advance organizer to help you understand the material. Smaller sections enable you to fit what you are learning into the framework of what you already know. Features that previous users found most helpful, such as the definitions in the glossary at the end of the book, questions very similar to those actually on the AP exam, and Rapid Review at the end of each content chapter have been retained. If psychology were mainly common sense, as many people think, you wouldn’t need this book. You wouldn’t need to study either. In fact, many concepts in psychology are counterintuitive, the opposite of what common sense leads us to think. Actually, psychology is a real science with a substantial knowledge base. If you are currently enrolled in an Advanced Placement Psychology course, you know how much more than listening to people’s problems and analyzing them is included in the study of psychology, and you know how many hundreds of pages you need to navigate in a hard-covered course textbook. If you’re not enrolled in an AP course, you may need additional support to help you select material that is likely to be tested on the May exam. In either situation, you’ll benefit from this book created to help you study for the Advanced Placement Exam in Psychology®. This book provides you with the information on which you need to focus for taking the Advanced Placement Exam in Psychology®, and gives you opportunities to practice answering AP-type questions. The multiple-choice questions count for two-thirds of your test score, and the essays count for one-third. While multiple-choice questions usually assess your understanding of one concept, essays test your understanding of numerous concepts and your ability to integrate information from more than one chapter. Practice in answering both multiple-choice and essay questions will help you achieve on the AP exam. Read all of the material and answer all of the questions in all of the content chapters of this book, if you have enough time. Check your answers. Follow the study tips to help you learn and remember material you need to know. As the May exam approaches, take the two practice tests at the end of the book, and check your answers to see what you still need to learn. Since studying will help you succeed, it’s time to get started!
Í vii
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Laura Lincoln Maitland received a BA in Biological Sciences from Douglass College, an MA in Psychology from Stony Brook University, an MS in Education from CUNY-Queens College and a Professional Diploma from Long Island University. Retired from the Bellmore-Merrick Central H.S. District where she was lead science chairperson and taught Living Environment, AP Psychology, and Science Research for many years, she is currently an adjunct instructor at Hofstra University. She is also an education consultant at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, Long Island BOCES, and a variety of other venues. Laura has been a workshop presenter for the College Board, the New York State Biology-Chemistry Professional Development Network, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Dolan DNA Learning Center, the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, the New York City Board of Education, and the New York State Education Department. One of the founders and early chairs of Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools, she chaired the committee that created National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula. She also served on the AP Psychology Development Committee for the College Board/ETS. She received the first American Psychological Association Presidential Citation presented to a high school teacher and the American Psychological Association Division Two Excellence in Teaching Award.
viii U
INTRODUCTION: THE 5-STEP PROGRAM The Basics Learning, thinking, solving problems, and remembering are all psychological processes. To earn the highest score of 5 on the AP Psychology exam, you’ll need to do them successfully! While the content sections of this book will help you understand concepts involved in learning and cognition, following the 5-step program will help you apply these concepts to maximize your success on the May exam.
Introducing the 5-Step Preparation Program This book is organized as a 5-step program to prepare you to succeed in the exam. These steps are designed to provide you with vital skills and strategies and the practice that can lead you to that perfect 5. Here are the 5 steps.
Step 1: Set Up Your Study Program In this step you’ll read a brief overview of the AP Psychology exam, including an outline of topics and the approximate percentage of the exam that will test knowledge of each topic. You will also follow a process to help determine which of the following preparation programs is right for you: • Full school year: September through May. • One semester: January through May. • Six weeks: Basic training for the exam.
Step 2: Determine Your Test Readiness In this step you’ll take a diagnostic multiple-choice exam in psychology. This pre-test should give you an idea of how prepared you are to take the real exam before beginning to study for the actual AP Psychology Exam®. • Go through the diagnostic exam step-by-step and question-by-question to build your confidence level. • Review the correct answers and explanations so that you see what you do and do not yet fully understand.
Step 3: Develop Strategies for Success In this step you’ll learn strategies that will help you do your best on the exam. These strategies cover both the multiple-choice and free-response sections of the exam. Since serving on the College Board committee to design the first course of study and examinations for Advanced Placement Psychology®, I have worked with many students and teachers who have helped me gain insight into how they think and study. Tasks that lull you into a false sense of security with shortcuts that may not work are NOT here.
Í ix
x U Introduction • Learn to read multiple-choice questions. • Learn how to answer multiple-choice questions, including whether or not to guess. • Learn how to plan and write the free-response questions.
Step 4: Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High In this step you’ll learn or review the material you need to know for the test. This review section takes up the bulk of this book. It contains: • A comprehensive review of introductory psychology. Psychologists and educators do not agree on exactly what students should know after completing an introductory course in psychology, so no book can correctly forecast what concepts you need to know to get 100% of the questions on the AP exam right. But I can safely guarantee that this book includes the information that will enable you to earn a 5! The substantial knowledge you gain from studying it will significantly increase your chances of scoring well.
Step 5: Build Your Test-taking Confidence In this step you’ll complete your preparation by testing yourself on practice exams. I have provided you with two complete exams in psychology, and scoring guides for them. Although these practice exams are not reproduced questions from actual AP Psychology exams, they mirror both the material tested by AP and the way in which it is tested. Finally, at the back of this book you’ll find additional resources to aid your preparation. These include: • A brief bibliography. • A list of websites related to the AP Psychology exam. • A glossary of terms related to the AP Psychology exam.
Introduction to the Graphics Used in this Book To emphasize particular skills and strategies, we use several icons throughout this book. An icon in the margin will alert you that you should pay particular attention to the accompanying text. We use these three icons:
KEY IDEA
STRATEGY
TIP
This icon points out a very important concept or fact that you should not pass over.
This icon calls your attention to a strategy that you may want to try.
This icon indicates a tip that you might find useful.
Boldfaced words indicate terms that are included in the glossary at the end of this book. Throughout the book you will also find marginal notes, boxes, and starred areas. Pay close attention to these areas because they can provide tips, hints, strategies, and further explanations to help you reach your full potential.
STEP
1
Set Up Your Study Plan CHAPTER CHAPTER
1 2
What You Need to Know About the AP Psychology Exam How to Plan Your Time
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CHAPTER
1
What You Need to Know About the AP Psychology Exam IN THIS CHAPTER Summary: Learn what topics are tested, how the test is scored, and basic test-taking information. Key ideas KEY IDEA
% AP Psychology is equivalent to a college-level introductory psychology course. % Most, but not all, colleges will award credit for a score of 4 or 5. % Multiple-choice questions account for two-thirds of your final score. % One-quarter of a point is deducted for each wrong answer on multiple-choice questions. % Free-response questions account for one-third of your final score. % Your composite score on the two test sections is converted to a score on the 1-to-5 scale.
Background Information The College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) program enables high school students to study college-level subjects. Most colleges grant credit, placement, or both for qualifying AP exam grades. You may want to check with the colleges of your choice to find out their policies. Enrollment in AP Psychology has increased annually since its inception to become one of the most popular of 37 AP courses and exams offered.
Í 3
4 U STEP 1. Set Up Your Study Plan
Some Frequently Asked Questions about the AP Psychology Exam Why Take the AP Psychology Exam? STRATEGY
“I’m glad I took AP Psychology in high school. It eased my transition to college. I knew the level of work I needed to do to succeed and what studying for a college final is like before enrolling.” –Kim, college student
AP Psychology is an exciting course to take not only because it gives you an opportunity to understand your own behavior and mental processes better, but also because it enables you to learn more about other people and animals. Benefits of taking such a challenging course can include strengthening your transcript, proving to yourself that you can do it, and starting college with some credit. Admissions officers from Adelphi University to Yale University have told me that their number one criterion for admissions decisions is the strength of an applicant’s high school program. Additional benefits are sometimes offered. Some high schools weight or scale AP course grades. Because some colleges charge per credit, you can save money. Getting three or more credits for the price of the exam is a good value. The College Board reports, “Studies have shown that AP students are more likely to maintain a high grade point average and graduate from college with honors than their college classmates of similar ability....”
What Is the Format of the Exam? The following table summarizes the format of the AP Psychology exam. Table 1.1
“I knew that as a pre-med I wouldn’t be able to fit psychology into my college program, so I wanted to take it in high school. My knowledge of psychology helps me understand my patients.” —Dr. Jerry C., former AP student
AP Psychology
Section
I. Multiple-Choice Questions II. Free-Response Questions
Questions
100 2
Time Limit
1 hour and 10 minutes (70 minutes) 50 minutes
The exam is 2 hours long. During the first 70 minutes, you have 100 multiple-choice questions to answer. At the end of the 70 minutes, your booklet and answer sheet will be collected. However, no matter how early you finish this first part of the exam, you cannot begin the free-response questions (essays) early. The multiple-choice section counts for two-thirds of your score. If you have time remaining after you complete the questions, you can go back to those you were uncertain about or want to reread. You are limited to 50 minutes to answer two required essay questions.
Who Writes the AP Psychology Exam? Development of each AP exam is a multi-year effort that involves many education and testing professionals and students. At the heart of the effort is the AP Psychology Development Committee, a group of highly regarded college and AP high school teachers from diverse backgrounds who are typically asked to serve for 3 years. The committee and experienced test-item writers create a large pool of multiple-choice questions. With the help of psychometricians (measurement psychologists) at Educational Testing Service (ETS), these questions are then pre-tested with college students who are enrolled in introductory psychology at selected colleges and universities. Questions are evaluated for accuracy, appropriateness, clarity, and assurance that there is only one possible answer. Data from pre-tests allow each question to be categorized by degree of difficulty. In general, the easiest questions to answer are at the beginning of Section 1, and the most difficult questions at the end. After additional development and refinement, Section I of the exam is ready to be administered. Numerous free-response questions (essay questions) are written for possible inclusion on the exams. After these questions are edited, discussed by committee members, and
What You Need to Know About the AP Psychology Exam Í 5
pre-tested with college psychology classes, the committee chooses essay questions for inclusion on a specific AP Psychology exam. They ensure that the free-response questions cut across content areas, are well presented and unambiguous, as well as considerably different from each other. Only free-response questions that will allow for clear and equitable grading by the AP readers (scorers) are selected. After exams have been scored, the AP Psychology Development Committee and ETS evaluate the test results. The College Board can use the results to further course development in high schools and to plan future exams.
What Is Going to Appear on the Exam? KEY IDEA
ETS and the College Board periodically survey colleges/universities throughout the United States and around the world to find out what is being taught in introductory psychology courses in order to ensure that what is being taught in the AP course is comparable. The exam presumes the equivalent of at least one term/semester of college-level work. Based on the latest information, the AP Psychology Development Committee has updated the course description and point distribution outline for the AP Psychology exams in May 2010 and May 2011. Content review chapters in this test preparation book conform to their outline. The percentage range in front of each topic represents the number of questions about it that will be asked on the exam. For example, 2, 3, or 4 questions will deal specifically with history and approaches; and 8, 9, or 10 will deal with research methods. 2–4%
history and approaches
8–10%
research methods
8–10%
biological bases of behavior
6–8%
sensation and perception
2–4%
states of consciousness
7–9%
learning
8–10%
cognition
6–8%
motivation and emotion
7–9%
developmental psychology
5–7%
personality
5–7%
testing and individual differences
7–9%
abnormal behavior
5–7%
treatment of abnormal behavior
8–10%
social psychology
Typically free-response questions require you to make connections among concepts from multiple topics, or to apply concepts from different theoretical frameworks to design, analyze, or critique an experiment or other type of research study.
Who Grades My AP Psychology Exam? The multiple-choice questions are scored by computer, but this is not possible for essay questions. These free-response questions are scored by a select group of experienced college professors of introductory psychology and AP Psychology teachers who gather at the
6 U STEP 1. Set Up Your Study Plan AP Reading for several days in June to assess the papers. Each of these faculty consultants spends a day or so getting trained on one question and one question only. Because each Reader becomes an expert on a single question, and because each essay booklet is anonymous, this process provides a very consistent (reliable) and unbiased scoring of that question. During a typical day of grading, a random sample of each consultant’s scored papers is selected and cross-checked by other experienced “Table Leaders” to ensure that consistency is maintained across all scorers throughout the Reading. Each Reader’s scores on a given question are also statistically analyzed to make sure that he/she is not giving scores that are significantly higher or lower than the mean scores given by other Readers of that question. All measures are taken to maintain consistency and fairness for your benefit. Your answers to the two questions will be scored by at least two different consultants. AP Psychology exams are administered to college psychology students at the end of their introductory psychology course, so that their performance on the AP Exam can be compared to their performance in the college course (as measured by their test and course grades). This information is used to guide the assignment of the AP exam grades 1–5 to raw scores.
Will My Exam Remain Anonymous? Absolutely. Even if your high school teacher were to randomly rate one of your free-response questions at the Reading, there is virtually no way he/she would recognize that the paper belongs to you. To a faculty consultant, each student is a number and to the computer, each student is a bar code.
What About That Permission Box on the Back? The College Board uses some exams to help train high school teachers so that they can help the next generation of psychology students to avoid common mistakes. If you check this box, you simply give permission to use your exam in this way. Even if you give permission, your anonymity is still maintained.
How Is My Multiple-Choice Answer Sheet Scored? The multiple-choice section of the psychology exam is 100 questions and is worth two-thirds of your final score. Your answer sheet is run through the computer, which adds up your correct responses and subtracts a fraction for each incorrect response. For every incorrect answer that you give, one-quarter of a point is deducted. The total is a raw score as follows: Section I Raw Score = Nright < 0.25Nwrong
How Is My Free-Response Exam Scored? Your performance on the free-response section is worth one-third of your final score. Two required essays comprise this section. Although the two questions are typically given equal weight (25 each), they may be scored on different point scales. As a result, if Essay #1 has nine points that are scored, the number of points earned toward the total exam score for that essay would be Score #1 x 2.778. The multiplier for each free-response question is determined by dividing 25 by the maximum number of points in the scoring rubric or scoring guide. The table that follows indicates multipliers for essay questions with different point maximums.
What You Need to Know About the AP Psychology Exam Í 7
Table 1.2
Points/Multiplier Table
Maximum Points
Multiplier
6
4.167
7
3.571
8
3.125
9
2.778
10
2.5
11
2.273
12
2.083
Section II Raw Score = (Score #1 × Correct Multiplier) + (Score #2 × Correct Multiplier)
So How Is My Final Grade Determined and What Does It Mean? To determine your Composite Raw Score, add the Section I Raw Score and the Section II Raw Score. Based on the composite scores of all of the test takers, the Chief Reader sets four cut points that divide the composite scores into groups. Rather than report your composite score, the College Board reports to you one of five numbers assigned to your composite score, based on the cut points: • • • • •
5 indicates you are extremely well qualified. 4 indicates you are well qualified. 3 indicates you are qualified. 2 indicates you are possibly qualified. 1 indicates no recommendation.
Below is a rough example of a conversion chart, and as you complete the practice exams, you may use this to give yourself a hypothetical grade. Keep in mind that the conversion changes slightly every year to adjust for the difficulty of the questions. You should receive your grade in early July. Table 1.3 Composite Score Range
Grade Guide Table—AP Psychology AP Grade
Interpretation
96–150
5
Extremely Well Qualified for College Credit
74–95
4
Well Qualified
55–73
3
Qualified
36–54
2
Possibly Qualified
0–35
1
No Recommendation
8 U STEP 1. Set Up Your Study Plan “I’m sorry I didn’t take the AP Psychology Exam. The college I chose did not give credit for the exam, so I skipped it. When I transferred to a different college as a sophomore, I found out that I could’ve gotten six credits from my new school. What a loss!” –Andrea, former AP student
Example
In Section I of Practice Exam 1, if you answered 76 questions correctly and 12 questions incorrectly, your Section I score would be 73. Section I Raw Score = 76 – (0.25 × 12) = 73 In Section II of Practice Exam 1, if you earned 7 out of 10 points on Essay 1, and 6 out of 8 points on Essay 2, your Section II score would be 36.25. Section II Raw Score = (7 × 2.5) + (6 × 3.125) = 17.5 + 18.75 = 36.25 Composite Score 73 + 36.25 = 109.25, which would be assigned a 5.
What Should I Bring to the Exam? On exam day, I suggest bringing the following items: • Several pencils and an eraser that doesn’t leave smudges. • Black or blue colored pens for the free-response section. • A watch so that you can monitor your time. You never know if the exam room will have a clock on the wall that keeps accurate time. • Your school code. • Your photo identification and social security number. • Tissues. • Your quiet confidence that you are prepared. Avoid bringing electronic data and communications devices, and study materials to the testing site.
CHAPTER
2
How to Plan Your Time IN THIS CHAPTER: Summary: The right preparation plan for you depends on your study habits and the amount of time you have before the test. Key Idea KEY IDEA
% Choose the study plan that’s right for you.
Three Approaches to Preparing for AP Exams What kind of preparation program for the AP exam should you follow? Should you carefully follow every step, or are there perhaps some steps you can bypass? That depends not only on how much time you have, but also on what kind of student you are. No one knows your study habits, likes, and dislikes better than you. You are the best one to decide the approach for you to adopt to prepare successfully for the Advanced Placement Psychology Exam. This chapter presents three possible study plans, labeled A, B, and C. Look at the brief profiles below. These may help you determine which of these three plans is right for you.
You’re a Full-School-Year Prep Student If: 1. You are the kind of person who likes to plan for everything very far in advance. 2. You arrive at the airport hours before your scheduled flight because you never know when something can happen. 3. You like detailed planning and to have everything in its place. 4. In order to be comfortable, you must feel thoroughly prepared. Í 9
10 U STEP 1. Set Up Your Study Plan 5. You arrive early for appointments. 6. You hate surprises. If you fit this profile, consider Plan A.
You’re a One-Semester Prep Student If: 1. You plan a graduation party or vacation a few months in advance so that people you invite will be likely to be available, and you can get everything you need. 2. You generally get to the airport in enough time to pass through security without feeling hassled, and get to the gate before boarding has begun. 3. You are willing to plan ahead to feel comfortable in stressful situations, but are okay with skipping some details. 4. You feel more comfortable when you know what to expect, but a surprise or two is cool. 5. You arrive on time for appointments. If you fit this profile, consider Plan B.
You’re a 6-Week Prep Student If: 1. You buy your best friend a gift for his or her birthday, but you need to include a belated card because you missed it by a couple of days. 2. You work best under pressure and tight deadlines. 3. You feel very confident with the skills and background you’ve learned in your AP Psychology class. 4. You decided late in the year to take the exam. 5. Surprises energize you. 6. You feel okay if you arrive 10–15 minutes late for an appointment. If you fit this profile, consider Plan C. Table 2.1
Three Different Study Plans for AP Psychology Plan A: Full School Year
Plan B: One Semester
Plan C: 6 Weeks
September– October
Introduction; Chapters 1–4
—
—
November
Chapters 5–7
—
—
December
Chapters 8–10
—
—
January
Chapters 11–13
Chapters 1–4
—
February
Chapters 14–16
Chapters 5–10
—
March
Chapters 17–18
Chapters 11–16
—
April
Take Practice Exam 1; Review everything
Chapters 17–18; Take Practice Exam 1
Skim Chapters 1–13; Study Rapid Reviews; Answer all Review Questions
May
Take Practice Exam 2; Review as needed
Review everything; Take Practice Exam 2
Skim Chapters 14–18; Study Rapid Reviews; Answer all Review Questions; Take Practice Exams 1 & 2
Month
How to Plan Your Time Í 11
Calendar for Each Plan Plan A: You Have a Full School Year to Prepare. Use this plan to organize your study during the coming school year. Although its primary purpose is to prepare you for the AP Psychology exam, this book can enrich your study of psychology, and help you develop your analytical and free-response writing skills. SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER (Check off the activities as you complete them.)
— Determine the student mode (A, B, or C) that applies to you. — Carefully read the Preface, Introduction, and Chapters 1–4 of this book. — Take the Diagnostic Exam and get an idea of what you’ll need to know to succeed in this course. — Begin to integrate boldfaced words into your vocabulary. — Get on the Web and take a look at the AP website(s) listed on p. 339. — Skim the review chapters in Step 4 of this book. (Reviewing the topics covered in this section will be part of your year-long preparation.) — Buy a few color highlighters. — Flip through the entire book. Break the book in. Write in it. Toss it around a little bit; highlight it. — Get a clear picture of your own school’s AP Psychology curriculum. — Begin to use the book as a resource to supplement the classroom learning. NOVEMBER (The first 10 weeks have elapsed.) TIP
If your class is learning topics in a different order, it would be beneficial for you to substitute the corresponding Step 4 chapters in this book. — Read and study Chapter 5, History and Approaches. Answer all Review Questions. — Read and study Chapter 6, Research Methods. Answer all Review Questions. — Read and study Chapter 7, Biological Bases of Behavior. Answer all Review Questions. DECEMBER
— Read and study Chapter 8, Sensation and Perception. Answer all Review Questions. If you have time, visit the San Francisco Exploratorium website to do related activities. — Read and study Chapter 9, States of Consciousness. Answer all Review Questions. — Read and study Chapter 10, Learning. Answer all Review Questions. — Review Chapters 5–7. JANUARY (20 weeks have elapsed.)
— Read and study Chapter 11, Cognition. Answer all Review Questions. If you have time, visit the Exploratorium website to do activities dealing with cognition. — Read and study Chapter 12, Motivation and Emotion. Answer all Review Questions. — Read and study Chapter 13, Developmental Psychology. Answer Review Questions — Review Chapters 8–10. FEBRUARY
— Read and study Chapter 14, Personality. Answer all Review Questions. — Read and study Chapter 15, Testing and Individual Differences. Answer all Review Questions. — Read and study Chapter 16, Abnormal Psychology. Answer all Review Questions. — Review Chapters 5–13.
12 U STEP 1. Set Up Your Study Plan MARCH (30 weeks have now elapsed.)
— Read and study Chapter 17, Treatment of Psychological Disorders. Answer all Review Questions. — Read and study Chapter 18, Social Psychology. Answer all Review Questions. — Review all Step 4 Chapters 5–18. APRIL
— — — — — —
Take Practice Exam 1 the first week in April. Score your answers. Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Study appropriate chapters to correct your weaknesses. Go over previous AP Psychology exams you took. Go to suggested websites that offer additional questions for you to answer.
MAY (THIS IS IT!)
— — — — —
Review all Step 4 Chapters 5–18. Take Practice Exam 2. Score your answers. Study appropriate material to correct your weaknesses. Get a good night’s sleep before the exam. Fall asleep knowing that you are well prepared.
I hope the test questions give you an opportunity to show how well prepared you are!
How to Plan Your Time Í 13
Plan B: You Have One Semester to Prepare TIP
If your class is learning topics in a different order, it would be beneficial for you to substitute the corresponding Step 4 chapters in this book. JANUARY
