AP® Psychology Course And Exam Description

If you are preparing for AP® Psychology, familiarize yourself with the exam, including its units, topics, and concepts, to ease your prep journey.
Custom Scripts & CSS -->
AP Psychology Free-Response Questions (FRQs)

AP Psych is equivalent to a one-semester introductory college course in psychology. It is not a dual-credit course. There are no prerequisites to this College Board®-classified science course that aligns with the pillars of introductory psychology identified by the American Psychological Association (APA).

AP Psychology comprises 2 parts — course content and course skills. These parts work together to help you build a strong foundation and succeed on the AP Psychology exam.

We just made the A.P. Psychology exam easier to master!
Try our Free Trial now. No credit card required.
This illustration shows how the somatosensory receptor works.

AP Psychology Units, Topics, and Key Concepts

AP Psychology has 5 units. Each focuses on a set of topics that explore a theme and carries a specific weight on the exam. While the College Board publishes the unit weighting for the exam's multiple-choice question(MCQ) section, the amount each unit will apply toward the free-response question (FRQ) section is always confidential. A unit's weight determines how often questions appear on the exam. The table below shows the unit weights for the MCQ section of the AP Psychology exam:

Units 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%

AP Psychology - 5 Units and Their Topics

Let's dive deeper into the AP Psychology topics and key concepts you will learn in each unit. Click on the tabs below to learn more about units and their respective topics in detail:

Just Like the Real AP Psychology Exam
300+ exam-like questions Study smarter with UWorld and see 5's in your future.
Image shows the brain and the two divisions of the nervous system, which are the parasympathetic division and the sympathetic division.

AP Psychology Course Science Practices

When taking AP Psychology, the science practices and skills outline what concepts students should master. While exploring the course, you’ll acquire skills that include understanding psychological concepts, analyzing data, and analyzing research studies. Please note that Science Practice 1–3 will be tested in the MCQ section, whereas Science Practice 4 will only be assessed in the FRQ section.

There are four science practices for the AP Psychology course and exam:

Practice 1: Concept Application

This science practice focuses on psychological perspectives, theories, concepts, and research findings to understand and address different situations and challenges.

Practice 2: Research Methods and Design

This science practice involves evaluating qualitative and quantitative research methods, and study designs to assess their validity and effectiveness.

Practice 3: Data Interpretation

This practice emphasizes analyzing how psychological concepts are represented in research through tables, graphs, charts, figures, and diagrams, using both qualitative and quantitative data.

Practice 4: Argumentation

This science practice involves developing and supporting psychological arguments with evidence-based reasoning and research findings.

Now that you have explored the AP Psychology topics, concepts, and skills you need to know, use our AP Psychology practice tests to fine-tune your learnings. UWorld provides detailed answer explanations, flashcards, and quality MCQs to help you get that 5!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

AP Psych is an introductory course for students beginning to explore advanced placement. Passing rates are typically higher, and there are no prerequisites. AP Psych requires hard work, dedication, and effort for success. Like every other AP subject. Remember that all AP courses are equivalent to college-level introductory courses.

Each AP Psychology unit carries equal weight on the exam, making all units equally important for your preparation.

  1. Unit 1: Biological Bases of Behavior (15–25%)
  2. Unit 2: Cognition (15–25%)
  3. Unit 3: Development and Learning (15–25%)
  4. Unit 4: Social Psychology and Personality (15–25%)
  5. Unit 5: Mental and Physical Health (15–25%)
Yes. You can take AP Psychology without taking a general high school psychology class. This AP course has no prerequisites.
Need Practice for AP Psychology?
We make really hard stuff easy to understand. Study smarter with UWorld.
Different regions of the somatosensory cortex process sensory information from different parts of the body.

References

  1. AP Psychology. (n.d.). Collegeboard.org. Retrieved October 15, 2024, from https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-psychology
  2. AP Psychology Course and Exam Description. (2024). Collegeboard.org. Retrieved October 15, 2024, from https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-psychology-course-and-exam-description.pdf
  3. AP Psychology Revisions for 2024-25. (n.d.). Collegeboard.org. Retrieved October 15, 2024, from https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-psychology/revisions-2024-25

Read More About AP Psychology

AP Psychology Study Plan & Tips

Are you looking for five-star techniques for AP exams? Check out our guide on expert-written AP Psychology study plan & tips for all the advice you need to get a 5 with ease.

AP Psychology Scoring Guide

Wondering how the AP Psych Exam is graded? Learn all about the AP Psychology scoring system here, including score distributions, rubrics, and a calculator to project your scores.

About AP Psychology Exam

Do you want to know if you'll do well on the AP Psychology exam? Our complete guide to the AP Psych exam will help you understand what's on the test, why you should take it, and more.

AP Psychology Exam Format

Taking the AP Psychology exam soon and want to learn everything about the exam format? Read on! This article covers question types, number of questions, topic weights, and more.

View More...
Scroll to Top