The AP Psych exam, how many FRQs does it have? Any tips on handling them effectively?
The AP Psychology exam includes two Free-Response Questions (FRQs) that you'll have 50 minutes to complete. This section makes up 33.3% of your total exam score.
Here are a few tips for mastering AP Psych FRQs:
1. Practice: The best way to get better at answering FRQs is to practice. Take a look at past AP Psych FRQs, available on the College Board's website, and write out responses under timed conditions. After writing out your response, compare it to the posted scoring guidelines to see how you'd fare.
2. Understand the Question: Spend the first few minutes of the FRQ section reading and understanding the prompt. Keep an eye out for the command terms used in the question such as 'describe', 'explain', or 'compare', as these indicate what you are expected to do.
3. Outline: Jot down a brief outline based on the question's components before you start your answer. This way, you're less likely to miss addressing any parts of the question.
4. Use Psychological Terminology: Since AP Psychology is all about understanding and applying psychological concepts and theories, make sure to use appropriate terminology in your responses.
5. Be Concise: Remember, the goal is to answer the question as precisely and concisely as possible, so avoid unnecessary wordiness or overly complex explanations.
6. Stay on Topic: Ensure your response stays on topic and directly responds to each part of the question. Digressions aren't rewarded and can consume time you could be using to write about other relevant content.
7. Review: If you have time, it might be worthwhile to quickly read through your answers before you finish the exam. This allows you to catch any mistakes or missing information, thereby potentially helping your score.
Remember, practice and preparation are key to doing well on these FRQs. Good luck!
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