The AP® Psychology exam is one of the most popular AP exams. AP Psych is taken by thousands of students every year. If you've decided to take the AP Psych exam, it's a good idea to become familiar with it. Learning the actual format of the exam will help you create an effective and comprehensive study plan that will get you one step closer to your goal: success on the AP Psychology exam.
AP Psychology Exam Format: Timing, Structure, and Questions
To provide a clearer understanding of the exam format, we'll start by answering key questions about the AP Psychology exam's timing, structure, and overall length.
How Long Is the AP Psychology Exam?
The AP Psych exam length is 2 hours and 40 minutes. You will be given 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete Section I and 1 hour and 10 minutes to complete Section II.
Are There Any Essay Questions on the AP Psych Exam?
Yes, there are 2 essay questions in Section II of the AP Psychology exam.
How Many FRQs Are There on the AP Psych Exam?
There are 2 FRQs on the AP Psychology exam.
How Is the AP Psych Exam Structured?
The table below explains the AP Psych exam structure in detail and the weight given to each section. Let's have a look:
| Section | Question Types | Questions | Time | Exam Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section I | Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) | 75 | 1 hour 30 mins | 67% |
| Section II | Free-Response Questions (FRQs) | 2 | 1 hour 10 mins | 33.3% |
As you can see from the table above, the MCQ section carries a greater weight than the FRQ section. This means that scoring well in Section I will heavily impact your overall AP Psychology score. It's a good idea to keep this in mind while preparing for your AP Psych exam and take enough AP Psychology practice tests using resources like UWorld's AP Psychology study guide and Qbank. This way, nothing will surprise you.
The overall score for the AP Psychology exam is calculated on a scale from 1 to 5. Colleges vary on what score is required for course credit, with some accepting a score of 3+, 4+, and some even requiring a 5. Because every college has its own set of AP credit requirements, you should inquire about the AP credit policies of the colleges where you plan to apply ahead of time.
Types of Questions on the AP Psychology Exam
Now that you are familiar with the AP Psychology exam format, we are ready to explore the types of questions you can expect to see on the test. We will discuss each section in detail to better understand how the AP Psychology course content reflects on the overall exam weighting and what skills you need to focus on while answering them.
Section I: Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
For the first section, you must select the correct response from the 5 answer choices provided for each question. The trick to answering this section efficiently is to carefully evaluate all the answer choices and eliminate the ones that are either obviously incorrect or only partially answer the question.
The multiple-choice section is worth 67% of the total exam score and assesses your skills and knowledge of the content you learned during your AP Psychology course. The units and topics covered during the course also carry specific weight in this section. This weighting of units will determine the number of questions you will likely get from a certain unit on the exam. In other words, the exam will contain more questions from the course units with higher weights and fewer questions from the ones with lower weights.
Knowing this information will help you organize an efficient study schedule and teach you crucial time-management skills. The table below lists the AP Psychology course units and their respective weights in the MCQ section. Let's check it out.
| Course Units | Exam Weight |
|---|---|
| Unit 1: Biological Bases of Behavior | 15–25% |
| Unit 2: Cognition | 15–25% |
| Unit 3: Development and Learning | 15–25% |
| Unit 4: Social Psychology and Personality | 15–25% |
| Unit 5: Mental and Physical Health | 15–25% |
As mentioned earlier, performing well on the MCQ section will significantly improve your overall score for the AP Psychology exam. Learn how to approach the AP Psychology MCQ section with the help of our step-by-step instructions, tips, and AP Psychology sample questions to ace the AP Psych exam's MCQ section!
Section II: Free-Response Questions (FRQs)
Section II of the AP Psychology Exam evaluates your ability to interpret research, apply psychological concepts, and support arguments with evidence. This section includes 2 free-response questions and accounts for 33.3% of your total exam score. You will have 70 minutes to complete both questions.
| Section II: Free-Response Questions | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. of Questions | 2 | |
| Exam Weight | 33.3% | |
| Time Allotted | 70 minutes | |
| Question 1: Article Analysis Question (AAQ) | Students are provided with a summarized peer-reviewed source and must respond to 6 parts. This question assesses understanding of research methods, variables, statistical interpretation, ethics, generalizability, and argumentation using psychological concepts. | |
| Question 2: Evidence-Based Question (EBQ) | Students are given 3 summarized peer-reviewed sources. They must make a claim, support it with evidence from the sources, and apply relevant psychological content to justify their reasoning. | |
Because the time allotted for this section is a little over an hour, you need to be precise in your analysis of the problems and demonstrate your understanding explicitly through your answer.
The College Board® does not accept lists or outlines without suitable explanations as valid answers.
If you are interested in learning tips, tricks, and more information on how to ace this section, our expert guide on how to approach AP Psychology FRQs is here to help. You can also strengthen your performance with the AP Psychology online course, which covers both FRQs and MCQs with expert-curated resources.
AP Psychology Exam - Paper or Digital Mode
Starting May 2025, students will complete the MCQs and FRQs in the BluebookTM testing app, with all responses automatically submitted at the end of the exam.
Read More About the AP Psychology Exam
Reviewing the College Board CED PDF takes time. This simple-to-read AP Psychology course description gives a quick overview of all the units and topics.
AP Psychology Scoring GuideSee how AP Psychology scores are calculated—including score distribution info, crucial rubrics, and a test score calculator to project your score easily.
How to Study for AP PsychologyWant to know the ultimate tips and best resources to get the highest score in AP Psych? Click here for the step-by-step guide to help you score a 5 in AP Psychology.
Best AP Psychology Prep Course ReviewSearching for top AP Psychology prep courses? Read this review to compare the best courses and choose the perfect one for your success.
Best AP Psychology Study Guide ComparisonCompare the best AP Psychology study guides! See how Kaplan, Barron's, and Princeton Review stack up against UWorld for comprehensive exam prep.
How to Self-Study for AP PsychologyWant to ace AP Psychology on your own? Follow this expert self-study guide with tips, tricks, and tools to prepare effectively for the exam.
REFERENCES
- College Board. (n.d.). AP Psychology. Retrieved March 27, 2025, from https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-psychology
- College Board. (2020). AP course overview – AP Psychology. Retrieved March 27, 2025, from https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-psychology-course-overview.pdf
- College Board. (2024, Fall). AP Psychology course and exam description. Retrieved March 27, 2025, from https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-psychology-course-and-exam-description.pdf
