Question 1
In a trial of a new antianxiety drug, the psychiatrists who rate patients' anxiety know which patients received the drug. Why is this a problem?
AP Psychology free-response questions: the AAQ and the EBQ
Section II has two questions worth 7 points each. Every point is earned on its own, so a precise sentence for each part beats a long essay.
| Article Analysis Question | 1 study, parts A to F, 7 points, 25 minutes |
|---|---|
| Evidence-Based Question | 3 studies, parts A to C, 7 points, 45 minutes |
| Reading time | 10 minutes (AAQ) and 15 minutes (EBQ), inside the time |
| Weight | 33.3% of the exam score |
The Article Analysis Question
- A: identify the research method used in the study.
- B: state the operational definition of a variable, as the study measured it.
- C: describe what a statistic shows about the study's results.
- D: identify an ethical guideline the study describes and how the researchers applied it.
- E: explain how far the findings generalize, using evidence about the participants.
- F (2 points): use a specific result to explain whether it supports or refutes the hypothesis.
The Evidence-Based Question
- A: propose a specific, defensible claim that answers the question.
- B: cite evidence from one source, then explain how it supports your claim using a psychological concept (3 points).
- C: do the same with a different source and a different concept (3 points).
Earning each point
- Answer the task verb: identify names it, describe gives its features, explain gives how or why.
- Name the source each time you use evidence, for example (Source 2).
- Apply the concept to the evidence; naming a term is not enough.
- For generalizability, name the population and the participant detail that limits or supports it.
Try 2 questions
Question 2
In a study of eyewitness memory, participants were told they would rate the quality of a video. In fact, the researchers were testing whether misleading questions changed their memory of the video. At the end of the session, the researchers explained the true purpose and why the deception was needed, and answered questions. Which ethical procedure does the final step describe?
Next step
Questions people ask
How many FRQs are on the AP Psychology exam?
Two: the Article Analysis Question and the Evidence-Based Question, worth 7 points each, in 70 minutes.
How much is the free-response section worth?
One third of the exam score. The 75 multiple-choice questions are the other two thirds.
Are AP Psychology free-response answers typed?
Yes. The exam is fully digital in the Bluebook app, so you type both answers.