How to Approach AP Psychology Multiple-Choice Questions with Examples
In this article, we will provide an overview of each type of multiple-choice question (MCQ) you will encounter on the AP® Psychology exam. We will also discuss key strategies and give tips on tackling these questions. With this information, you will be well prepared for success on the MCQ section of the AP Psychology exam.
Format of the AP Psychology MCQ section
The first section of the AP Psychology exam, worth 66.7% of your score, consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. While this is a high percentage, you can do well in this section if you know how to approach the different kinds of multiple-choice questions on the exam.
Here are the types of multiple-choice questions you will encounter on the AP Psychology exam:
- Text-based questions
- Diagram-based questions
- Graph-based questions
- Calculations required questions
- Graph answer choice questions
- Passage-based questions
Each type of question must be approached using certain strategies to get the right answer. Below, we will define and explain each type of question, give tips to help you confidently approach the question and select the correct answer, and provide examples of what each question type looks like on the AP Psychology exam. The UWorld question bank has hundreds of questions like these! So we will walk you through the question types using questions from our question bank.
Text-Based Questions
For text-based multiple-choice questions, you need to analyze the information in the question carefully. Text-based questions test your knowledge-based skills.
You should not assume that shorter questions are easier than longer ones; you could be tested on a fairly difficult concept with a shorter one. Similarly, you should not assume that longer text questions are more difficult. Longer exam questions can overwhelm you with a lot of text but, in reality, only ask you about a very simple concept. So try to use equal amounts of focus for both short and long-form variations of text-based questions.
Tips for Answering Text-Based Questions:
- Read the question carefully.
- Underline or circle critical information.
- Mentally go over what you know about the topic.
- Read all of the answer options, and cross out any that are incorrect.
- When you are not sure about the answer, choose the best one, but make a note of the question so you can come back to it if you have time leftover toward the end of the exam.
MCQ Example 1
Which of the following is the best example of a self-fulfilling prophecy?
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A)A father stops nagging his daughter once she does her homework, which encourages her to do her homework in the future.
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B)A rat passively learns a maze when there is no food reward and later demonstrates learning by quickly completing the maze for food.
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C)An athlete earns a spot on an elite soccer team and tells his friends he always knew he would make the team.
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D)A teacher believes a student will not perform well in her class and therefore pays less attention to the student, who then does poorly in the class.
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E)A high schooler who is unsuccessful in student government elections claims he lost because the election was unfair.
To successfully answer this question, you must know the definition of a self-fulfilling prophecy and apply that definition to select the correct example of a self-fulfilling prophecy. A self-fulfilling prophecy is a term that you need to know for the exam, so this question tests your AP Psych vocabulary and how you can apply this knowledge.
Diagram-Based Questions
Diagram-based questions contain an image in the question stem with text either above or below it. It may be an illustration you are familiar with (e.g., an illustration of a neuron) or, much more rarely, it may be unfamiliar to you (e.g., results from a particular neuropsychology assessment). Either way, analyzing the diagram will be necessary to select the correct answer.
Tips for Answering Diagram-Based Questions:
- Carefully read the question.
- Circle or underline critical information in the text.
- Look over the diagram carefully and make a note of any parts that seem especially important to the question.
- Read the answers, crossing out any that are incorrect.
- If you are not confident in your answer, just choose the one that seems best, but mark the question so you can return to it if you have time leftover toward the end of the exam.
MCQ Example 2
What is a major function of the region of the brain labeled III?
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A)Processing visual stimuli
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B)Processing auditory stimuli
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C)Planning and making judgments
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D)Movement coordination and balance
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E)Sensing the position of the body in space
To answer this question, you need to apply your knowledge of the functions of the lobes and other major parts of the brain to the illustration.
Graph-Based Questions
Graph-based questions display a graph containing data and a text description in the question stem. You will use your knowledge of graphs and data to analyze a graph and choose the correct answer. Like table-based questions, graph-based ones can display a lot of information, making them seem overwhelming initially.
Tips for Answering Graph-Based Questions:
- Read the question carefully.
- Circle or underline critical information.
- Examine the graph carefully, paying attention to the legend (if present), the labels on the axes, and the caption below the graph (if present).
- Annotate/circle any parts of the graph that seem especially relevant to the question.
- Read the answers, crossing out any that are wrong.
- When you are not sure about the answer, choose the one that seems best, but note the question so you can return to it if you have time, towards the end of the test.
If you follow the tips above, you can approach graph-based questions without fear. An illustrative example is below.
MCQ Example 3
The graph above depicts the results of a classical conditioning experiment in which dogs were trained to salivate to
the sound of a bell. The results reveal that
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A)positive reinforcement was given in phase I
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B)habituation to the unconditioned stimulus occurred during phase I
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C)spontaneous recovery of the conditioned response occurred at the beginning of phase IV
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D)extinction was demonstrated in phase III
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E)stimulus discrimination is shown at the end of phase II
This question assesses your knowledge of the classical conditioning process and related terms. Using the graph in the question, use your knowledge of classical conditioning and graph analysis to select the best answer choice.
Calculations Required Questions
Calculation questions involve taking the information provided in the question stem, graph, or table and calculating to get the correct answer. Although this type of question appears less frequently, you should still be aware that it may appear on your exam.
Tips for Answering Calculations Required Questions:
- Read the question carefully.
- Circle or underline critical information.
- You may use blank space in your test booklet as scratch paper for making your calculations (but make sure not to make any stray marks on the answer sheet).
- Read the answers, crossing out any that are incorrect.
- If you are not sure about the answer, choose the one that seems best, but make note of the question so you can return to it, if you have time, at the end of the test.
Remember that you are not permitted to use a calculator in AP Psychology. Below is an example of this type of question.
MCQ Example 4
A psychologist uses the approach developed by Alfred Binet to calculate a child's intelligence quotient. If a
10-year-old child scores an intelligence quotient of 90, what is the child's mental age?
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A)7
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B)9
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C)10
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D)11
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E)13
To answer this question, you will need basic math skills and an understanding of how to calculate a child's IQ score according to Alfred Binet’s system using the concepts of mental and chronological age.
Graphical Answer Choice Questions
This type of question is slightly more complicated, as you will have to choose a graph that best represents the answer, instead of a sentence or numerical option. You must apply information in the stem and sometimes content knowledge to choose the best image option. This question can be a little scary because it is less common. However, by following the tips below, you will be well-equipped to answer this question!
Tips for Answering Graph Answer Choice Questions:
- Read the question carefully.
- Circle or underline critical information.
- Carefully examine each answer choice graph. Pay attention to the labels (and units) on the axes and to the legend (if present). Mark any parts of the graphs that seem especially relevant to the question.
- Cross off any wrong answer choices.
- If you are not sure about the answer, pick the one that seems best, but make note of the question so you can return to it if you have time towards the end of the test.
MCQ Example 5
Which of the following best depicts a correlation of −.28?
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A)
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B)
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C)
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D)
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E)
Here you will need to choose the graphical representation for the answer choice, but don’t let this intimidate you! You will use your knowledge of correlations to choose the best answer.
Passage-Based Questions
This type of question differs from the standalone question types in that passage-based consist of several questions tied to a particular passage. Passages may be short or long, text-based, or contain drawn images, data tables, and/or graphs. In addition, passages may introduce an experiment or describe a psychological process.
Each passage will contain 2-4 associated questions. Passage-based questions may contain any of the previously introduced question types. Usually, you will need to apply content knowledge in addition to the information in the passage or question stem to arrive at the best answer choice.
Tips for Answering Passage-Based Questions:
- First, quickly skim the passage and any figures (e.g., graphs, tables). Don’t spend too much time on the passage until you have read the questions. Underline or circle any information you think is important.
- Next, read the questions carefully, circling or underlining critical information. Pay attention to any instructions in the question regarding where to find the answer (e.g., "Based on the graph...").
- Refer back to the passage and figures according to the question's instructions, and concentrate on the relevant sections.
- Read the answers and cross out those that are wrong.
- If you are not sure about the answer, pick the one that seems best, but make note of the question so you can return to it, time permitting, at the end of the test.
Despite the apparent complexity of passage-based questions, there's no need to feel intimidated by them. You can confidently tackle these questions by adhering to the tips provided here. See the example below.
Passage
- The patient is given a muscle relaxant and put under general anesthesia.
- A brief pulse of electrical current is administered to the patient's brain; the patient wakes up soon after and does not remember the treatment or what happened several hours before it.
- The process is repeated several times per week for several weeks.
MCQ Example 6
Which of the following approaches is most closely aligned with the procedure described in the passage?
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A)Client-centered
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B)Psychodynamic
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C)Biological
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D)Cognitive
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E)Behavioral
To answer this question, you will use your knowledge of therapeutic techniques and approaches to treating mental disorders to select the best answer.
Having learned about the multiple-choice question types you will encounter on the AP Psychology exam, you can now handle any question. The key to excelling on the AP Psychology exam lies in preparation. Knowing these question types and how to deal with them will further enhance your readiness to perform at your best!
How Can I Practice AP Psychology Multiple Choice Questions?
You can practice AP Psych MCQs on the UWorld AP Psychology question bank. Our Qbank has hundreds of AP-level Psychology practice questions with rationales that are illustrated and explain the right and wrong answer options.