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Degree In Sight

Preparing for your comprehensive exams

Study strategically and organize citations, say faculty and students who survived the trial themselves.

By SADIE F. DINGFELDER

gradPSYCH Staff

Like many graduate students, Meghan Duff faced her comprehensive exam-a hurdle doctoral students must jump before embarking on their dissertation projects-with trepidation. As a third-year applied psychology student at Antioch New England Graduate School in New Hampshire, Duff needed to pass a two-part exam consisting of an essay question and an oral presentation of a clinical case.

To quell her anxiety, Duff picked up some study habits that may have puzzled her pets.

"I walked around my kitchen and kept on talking about this case," she says. "No one was there, but I talked and talked and talked until I was nearly hoarse."

The essay question, which students get a week to write, worried Duff a little less.

"At Antioch, the idea is that as long as you have kept up with your class reading, you can pass the exam without much extra studying," she notes. "But you will have to review your notes and formulate your ideas."

However, no two universities have exactly identical comprehensive exams, says Dolores Albarracin, PhD, a psychology professor at the University of Florida. Still, one thing most do have in common is the nightmares they can provoke in graduate students.

For example, Albarracin's students take a seven-question exam in a computer lab, where they have eight hours to write essays with no outside resources. Other universities, such as Yale University, give students an entire semester to work on large literature review papers. And most universities, says Albarracin, allow students to retake the exam if they do not pass the first time around.

But regardless of the exam format, she notes, students who prepare rarely fail. Here's some advice from Albarracin, Duff and others to maximize your preparation time and tackle your comprehensive exam:

Read strategically While some departments disseminate a suggested reading list to graduate students, many require students to create their own. Students who write their own reading list, which typically includes journal articles and review papers, should make sure to organize it by topic and have a professor review it, says Jodi Gresack, a third-year graduate student in Yale University's behavioral neuroscience program. Students can more readily synthesize and recall information if they read journal articles in a logical order, organized chronologically and by topic, she says.

Keep abreast of your field Professors often get ideas for questions from reading the latest research and controversies, says Fiona Lee, PhD, an organizational psychology professor at the University of Michigan. When studying for the exams, graduate students should take time to peruse the latest journals in their field, she says.

Take detailed notes After reading an article, Amy Trahan, a fourth-year organizational psychology graduate student at the University of Michigan, writes down the main points of the article—a practice that forces her to think critically as she reads and provides material to study later. Gresack, who read over 100 papers while writing her qualifying exam paper, agrees.

"You need to really make sure that you try to find the importance of every paper that you read," she explains.

Get organized Though she didn't do much extra reading to prepare for her take-home written comprehensive exam, Duff spent the weeks before the test getting her filing cabinet in order.

"My way of prepping was to know where all my references were," says Duff.

This allowed her to inventory what information she had on hand and then easily find articles to support her exam responses, says Duff.

Additionally, Trahan recommends students use citation software, such as Endnote or Procite, to keep track of their notes. These programs allow students to download citations directly from PsycINFO and other databases, and create an index of articles organized by topic and author.

Seek advice from older students Students who have already passed their comprehensive exams make great resources, says Gresack. Don't shy away from asking them for advice, or even for copies of their graded essays, she explains. Some colleges even keep past exams on file, students say.

Ask questions When Trahan received her exam questions, she realized that she was not quite sure what one of them was asking. So she took a guess, and she guessed wrong, resulting in the faculty asking her to rewrite part of her answer.

"I should have asked the faculty for clarification," says Trahan. "I would have avoided doing a rewrite if I had sought clarification at the outset."

Trahan notes that some students may feel they are admitting ignorance if they ask a question, but it is better to risk looking uninformed than to write four pages on the wrong topic.

That's good advice, says Rodger Peterson, PhD, an applied psychology professor at Antioch New England Graduate School, who notes that professors know what kinds of clarifications they are permitted to offer.

Read the directions This advice may seem obvious, but even normally meticulous students might fail to notice formatting details while under pressure, says Duff. Test-takers should note the number of pages allotted to a question and the formatting requirements of the comprehensive exam, she explains. Most importantly, students need to double check that they have answered all the parts of each essay question, says Duff.

Be thorough, not encyclopedic Packing in too many citations is an all too common mistake, says Arran Caza, a fourth-year organizational psychology and business graduate student at the University of Michigan.

"You can spend a lot of [unnecessary] time in the library, finding every article remotely relevant to the question," says Caza. "You need to be aware of the major trends, but you don't have to write an anthology."

While the intensive preparation can be exhausting, it pays, says Duff: She passed both parts of her exam with flying colors. In fact, she even enjoyed the experience.

"I didn't get any of those curveball questions I was worried about," she says. "At the end of the oral, the professors ended up asking about my professional development. That part was wonderful—that felt validating."

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Tips for revising for psychology essay-based exams

Overall tips for essay-based exam questions

Essay-based exam questions when you don’t know what the questions will be can be daunting. Sometimes when you first open the exam book, the essay questions can be worded in a way that might throw you – you might worry that you’ve only revised a very specific part of that essay question, for example. This is a completely normal, and a sometimes inevitable, reaction. Because you have spent a long time revising a topic in a specific way that’s best for you, thinking about it in a different way (that reflects how the question has been worded) can make you question whether you know how to answer the question and get a good mark. If you’ve revised the topic broadly with some key specific information about a topic, then I can assure you that you can answer the question.

Overcoming this initial worry is entirely possible. In many ways, you can do this by turning the question into something you have revised , and answering the question accordingly. This can take a bit of practice, so it’s important to do some practice exam questions before your exam day.

The way to do it is simple: pick out the key parts of the essay question . Sometimes questions can have superfluous information, so the key parts you want are the topic of the question and how to answer it. Remember: You don’t need to talk about everything you’ve revised or covered.

• If the question says compare and contrast or critically discuss , you know how to write the information. (I’ve provided a couple of definitions below for these key terms below.)
• If the question mentions a broad topic/phenomenon (e.g. language disorders), then talk about the key aspect of that broad topic that you have revised.

Before writing the essay question I recommend always creating a plan structure for your essay question. (You can scribble it out at the end.) This is a brief structure for the main points in your essay. Doing this at the start can actually help trigger your memory for some other pieces of information you could talk about. I’ve provided a general structure below that you can use to help start planning for any question.

A general structure to use for every essay-based exam question:

• What is a definition of the topic?
• This should be a brief overview of describing what the topic in the question is.
• You could mention an implication of why its important to study this topic.
• What is a theory of the topic? Or why does it happen?
• Brief summary of a theory or two of the topic.
• What is the evidence for the topic?
• Are there any clinical case studies to use as an example of how this approach has been tested?
• You could consider how difficult a topic it is to study. Is getting good quality evidence for this topic an easy or a hard thing (and how?), for example.
• Are there any other ways of assessing or understanding this topic?
• What assessment tools can we use to understand this topic, are there any other theories you could mention here, any other studies?
• ­This should always summarise an answer to the question and be reasonably conclusive. You could reiterate all of the key parts of the essay structure above.
• For example, if your question is asking about compare and contrast two theories, make sure to summarise which you think is better in the conclusion.

What do the key terms mean?

• Critically discuss/evaluate – go beyond purely describing a theory or an approach. Critically discuss/evaluate means evaluating what our current understanding is of a phenomenon: is the quality of the evidence good, do we have a lot of evidence (if not, what are we missing), are many of the studies outdated, how difficult of a topic is it to study? It can mean using a clinical case study to demonstrate the existence of an approach, and then critically evaluating whether a case study is a good source of evidence. I have a whole blog post on how to demonstrate critical evaluation here .
• Compare and contrast – Describe two theories/approaches for a topic, and then use critical discussion of which is more effective at explaining a phenomenon. A conclusion should be clear as to which is more effective.

Some pointers to help prepare :

As a general rule of thumb, try to do these things (in order):

• As it’s impossible for anyone to remember all of the information across a set of modules, which can be overwhelming, it pays to spend time before you start revising to look over your lecture notes and format the information to revise in a way that’s easy for you to read and understand.

This might involve creating a mind map or a table of information on a topic that you feel comfortable revising from. It should include (at minimum) all the parts of the general structure above:

• A definition for the topic,
• A description of theory of the topic,
• A study exploring the topic (which you can critically evaluate in some way and cite; you could search for one that you can remember in detail on Google scholar). This is where you can show further reading (by finding another study not mentioned in the slides), and
• An alternative piece of information that you can use to contrast the topic (e.g. a theory, another study).
• Think about any general difficulties of researching each topic. For example, studying language disorders is difficult because they could be a rare phenomenon. Therefore, we rely on case studies to understand the disorder, which do not provide us with a generalizable understanding of the disorder that may apply to everyone with the disorder.

Spend time creating this information for each module is important before you start revising.

2. Use general revision techniques to remember this information. Read and make sure you understand the topic.

3. Use practice exam questions and test yourself. Put yourself in the environment you will be in in the exam. Create your own questions based on the information you’ve revised. If you want to write your own questions, keep them reasonably broad for the general topic. Get in the habit of writing the same information twice but in slightly different ways (e.g. to compare and contrast or to critically discuss). You can create practice questions easily by going through your lecturer’s slides.

Want to know what you need to definitely pass?

A final way to help prepare is to know what you’re being tested on. You can usually find this information by looking at the overall learning outcomes for the module . This may include, demonstrating knowledge of the topic, synthesizing literature on the topic, and critically discussing the evidence for the topic. Make sure to include this information in any mindmap/table of information you use for each topic in your revision.

Other useful sources:

• https://www.oxbridgeessays.com/blog/essay-exams-make-revision-notes/
• https://tavistocktutors.com/blog/7-steps-to-revising-for-essay-based-exams

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How to Write a Great Psychology Essay

Categories Psychology Education

Writing a great psychology essay takes skill. You need good research skills to provide an adequate empirical background. You also need to put your analytical skills to work to evaluate the research and then build a coherent argument. If you are not used to writing psychology essays, it can be a little challenging at first (especially if you are also learning how to use APA format).

Remember, the skill of writing an exceptional psychology essay lies not only in presenting information, but also in synthesizing and explaining it effectively. If you need to write a psychology essay for a class, here are some tips to help you get started.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

• Craft a strong thesis statement highlighting the main points of your psychology essay.
• Incorporate research studies to support arguments and critically evaluate their validity and reliability.
• Structure the essay with a clear introduction, focused body paragraphs, and a compelling conclusion.
• Include critical analysis by evaluating research methodologies, strengths, weaknesses, and ethical considerations.

What to Include in an APA Format Essay

To craft a great psychology essay, it’s important to make sure you follow the right format. While your instructor may have specific instructions, the typical format for an essay includes the following sections:

• The title page
• The abstract
• The introduction
• The main body
• The reference section

Mastering the key components of a psychology essay is vital for crafting a compelling and academically sound piece of writing. To start, a good introduction sets the stage for your essay, providing a clear overview of what will be discussed.

Moving on to the main body, each paragraph should focus on a main theme, supported by evidence from research studies published in peer-reviewed journals. It’s pivotal to critically evaluate these studies, considering their validity, reliability, and limitations to strengthen your arguments.

Incorporating research studies not only adds credibility to your essay but also demonstrates a deep understanding of theoretical perspectives in psychology.

The Structure of a Psychology Essay

Each section of a psychology essay should also follow a specific format:

The Title Page

The title page is the first impression of your essay, and it should be formatted according to APA guidelines. It typically includes:

• The title of your essay : Make sure it’s concise, descriptive, and gives the reader an idea of its content.
• Your name : Place your full name below the title.
• Institutional affiliation : This usually refers to your university or college.
• Course number and name : Include the course for which the essay is being written.
• Instructor’s name : Write the name of your instructor.
• Due date : Indicate the date when the essay is due.

The Abstract

The abstract is a brief summary of your essay, typically around 150-250 words. It should provide a snapshot of the main points and findings. Key elements include:

• Research topic : Briefly describe what your essay is about.
• Research questions : Outline the main questions your essay addresses.
• Methodology : Summarize the methods used to gather information or conduct research.
• Results : Highlight the key findings.
• Conclusion : Provide a concise conclusion or the implications of your findings.

The Introduction

The introduction sets the stage for your essay, providing context and outlining the main points. It should include:

• Hook : Start with an interesting fact, quote, or anecdote to grab the reader’s attention.
• Background information : Provide necessary context or background information on your topic.
• Thesis statement : Clearly state the main argument or purpose of your essay.
• Overview of structure : Briefly outline the structure of your essay to give the reader a roadmap.

The Main Body

The main body is the core of your essay, where you present your arguments, evidence, and analysis. It should be well-organized and divided into sections with subheadings if necessary. Each section should include:

• Topic sentences : Start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence that introduces the main idea.
• Evidence : Provide evidence to support your arguments, such as data, quotes, or studies.
• Analysis : Analyze the evidence and explain how it supports your thesis.
• Transitions : Use transitions to ensure a smooth flow between paragraphs and sections.

The Reference Section

The reference section is crucial for giving credit to the sources you used and for allowing readers to locate the sources themselves. It should follow APA format and include:

• Alphabetical order : List all sources alphabetically by the author’s last name.
• Proper citation format : Follow APA guidelines for formatting each type of source (books, articles, websites, etc.).
• Hanging indent : Ensure that each reference entry has a hanging indent.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your psychology essay is well-structured, informative, and adheres to APA format.

Using Research in Your Psychology Essay

To strengthen the arguments in your psychology essay, it’s essential to incorporate relevant research studies that provide credibility and depth to your analysis. Utilizing research studies not only enhances the validity of your points but also demonstrates a deeper understanding of the topic at hand.

When integrating research into your essay, remember to include citations for each study referenced to give proper credit and allow readers to explore the sources further.

It is also important to evaluate the research studies you include to assess their validity, reliability, and any ethical considerations involved. This helps you determine the trustworthiness of the findings and whether they align with your argument.

Be sure to discuss any ethical concerns, such as participant deception or potential harm, and showcase a thoughtful approach to utilizing research in your essay.

Analyzing the Research Critically

When writing a psychology essay, using high-quality research sources and analyzing them critically is crucial. This not only strengthens your arguments but also ensures the credibility and reliability of your work. Here are some guidelines to help you critically analyze sources and use them appropriately:

Evaluating the Credibility of Sources

• Authorship : Check the credentials of the author. Are they an expert in the field? Do they have relevant qualifications or affiliations with reputable institutions?
• Publication Source : Determine where the research was published. Peer-reviewed journals, academic books, and respected organizations are considered reliable sources.
• Date of Publication : Ensure the research is current and up-to-date. In psychology, recent studies are often more relevant as they reflect the latest findings and theories.
• Citations and References : Look at how often the source is cited by other scholars. A frequently cited source is generally more credible.

Assessing the Quality of the Research

• Research Design and Methodology : Evaluate the research design. Is it appropriate for the study’s aims? Consider the sample size, controls, and methods used.
• Data Analysis : Check how the data was analyzed. Are the statistical methods sound and appropriate? Were the results interpreted correctly?
• Bias and Limitations : Identify any potential biases or limitations in the study. Authors should acknowledge these in their discussion.

Synthesizing Information from Multiple Sources

• Comparing Findings : Compare findings from different sources to identify patterns, trends, or discrepancies. This can help you understand the broader context and the range of perspectives on your topic.
• Integrating Evidence : Integrate evidence from various sources to build a comprehensive argument. Use multiple pieces of evidence to support each point or counterpoint in your essay.

Citing Sources Appropriately

• In-Text Citations : Follow APA guidelines for in-text citations. Include the author’s last name and the year of publication (e.g., Smith, 2020).
• Direct Quotes and Paraphrasing : When directly quoting, use quotation marks and provide a page number. For paraphrasing, ensure you rephrase the original text significantly and still provide an in-text citation.
• Reference List : Include a complete reference list at the end of your essay, formatted according to APA guidelines.

Using Sources to Support Your Argument

• Relevance : Ensure each source directly relates to your thesis or the specific point you are discussing. Irrelevant information can distract from your argument.
• Strength of Evidence : Use the strongest and most persuasive evidence available. Prioritize high-quality, peer-reviewed studies over less reliable sources.
• Balance : Present a balanced view by including evidence that supports and opposes your thesis. Acknowledging counterarguments demonstrates thorough research and critical thinking.

By critically analyzing research sources and using them appropriately, you can enhance the quality and credibility of your psychology essay. This approach ensures that your arguments are well-supported, your analysis is thorough, and your work adheres to academic standards.

Putting the Finishing Touches on Your Psychology Essay

Once you have a basic grasp of the topic and have written a rough draft of your psychology essay, the next step is to polish it up and ensure it is ready to turn in. To perfect your essay structure, consider the following:

• Make sure your topic is well-defined: Make sure your essay topic is specific and focused to provide a clear direction for your writing.
• Check that you are highlighting a main point in each paragraph: Commence each paragraph with a topic sentence that encapsulates the main idea you’ll discuss.
• Revise and refine your first draft: Take the time to review and refine your initial draft, guaranteeing that each section flows logically into the next and that your arguments are well-supported. ( Tip: Ask a friend of classmate to read through it to catch any typos or errors you might have missed. )
• Check your APA format : Use the APA publication manual to double-check that all your sources are cited and referenced correctly.

Creating an amazing psychology essay requires a compelling introduction, evidence-based arguments, a strong thesis statement, critical analysis, and a well-structured essay.

By incorporating research from peer-reviewed journals, evaluating studies for validity and reliability, and considering differing viewpoints and ethical considerations, you can craft a powerful and insightful piece that showcases your understanding of the topic.

With attention to detail and logical flow, your psychology essay will captivate and inform your readers effectively.

AP Psychology

Learn all about the course and exam. Already enrolled? Join your class in My AP.

Not a Student?

Go to AP Central for resources for teachers, administrators, and coordinators.

About the Exam

The AP Psychology Exam will test your understanding of the psychological concepts covered in the course units, as well as your ability to analyze behavioral studies.

AP Psychology Revisions for 2024-25

We revised AP Psychology for the 2024-25 school year.

Fri, May 16, 2025

12 PM Local

AP Psychology Exam

This is the regularly scheduled date for the AP Psychology Exam.

Exam Components

Section i: multiple choice.

75 questions 1hr 30mins 67% of Score

You’ll be asked to:   

• Apply psychological perspectives, theories, concepts, and research findings. 
• Evaluate qualitative and quantitative research methods and study designs. 
• Evaluate representations of psychological concepts depicted in quantitative research (tables, graphs, charts, and diagrams) and described in qualitative research. 

Section II: Free Response

2 questions 1hr 10mins 33% of Score

In the free-response section, you’ll respond to two questions with written answers. The first question will be the Article Analysis Question (AAQ), and the second question will be the Evidence-Based Question (EBQ).  

• Develop and justify psychological arguments using evidence.

Exam Essentials

Exam preparation, ap classroom resources.

Once you join your AP class section online, you’ll be able to access AP Daily videos, any assignments from your teacher, and your assignment results in AP Classroom. Sign in to access them.

• Go to AP Classroom

Free-Response Questions and Scoring Information

Go to AP Central to view free-response questions and scoring information from past exams.

AP Psychology Course and Exam Description

This is the core document for the course. It clearly lays out the course content and describes the exam and AP Program in general.

Services for Students with Disabilities

Students with documented disabilities may be eligible for accommodations for the through-course assessment and the end-of-course exam. If you’re using assistive technology and need help accessing the PDFs in this section in another format, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 212-713-8333 or by email at [email protected] . For information about taking AP Exams, or other College Board assessments, with accommodations, visit the Services for Students with Disabilities website.

Credit and Placement

Search AP Credit Policies

Find colleges that grant credit and/or placement for AP Exam scores in this and other AP courses.

Additional Information

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• College Admissions
• AP and IB Exams
• GPA and Coursework

The Best AP Psychology Study Guide

Advanced Placement (AP)

AP courses cover a lot of complex information, and it's not always easy to find great study materials and strategies. I've written this AP Psychology study guide as a way to make the process of studying for the AP test and other in-class assessments a little less overwhelming. It will help you figure out how to structure your studying, give you strategies to better understand the material, and provide links to notes and practice resources. If you follow the advice in this guide, you'll be on your way to a high AP Psych score!

What's in This AP Psychology Study Guide?

This guide will help you study for the AP Psychology exam and other assessments in your class by providing study strategies and other resources that pertain to the material covered in the course.

In the first section, you'll learn how to create a study plan for the exam that supports your needs as a student . This section applies exclusively to the final AP exam, so it's less relevant if you're just studying for an in-class test.

The next section provides study tips that are specific to AP Psychology and will serve you well as you prepare for both in-class tests and the final exam.

Finally, the last part of this AP Psychology guide is devoted to notes, outlines, videos, and other online resources that will be useful in your studying.

AP Psychology Study Plans: 2 Options for Your Prep

Before you start studying for AP Psych, you should know the difference between where you are in your knowledge of the material and where you want to be.

Find an official practice test , print it out, and take it as though it were the real AP Psych test (70 minutes for the 100 multiple-choice questions and 50 minutes for the two free-response questions). Then, use the following chart to estimate your final AP score based on your raw scores:

To calculate your final score, you must first add up all the multiple-choice questions you answered correctly (each question is worth 1 point). Next, convert the number of points you earned on the free-response questions to a value out of 50. For example, if you got 8 out of 14 points on the two free-response questions (each question is worth 7 points), it would convert to about 29 out of 50.

Lastly, add your multiple-choice score (out of 100) and your free-response score (out of 50) to find your composite raw AP Psychology score (out of 150). Use the chart above to see the estimate for your final AP score on a scale of 1-5 .

Depending on how much you need to improve and the amount of time you have before the exam, you might choose to structure your studying in different ways. I'll go through a 10-hour plan and a 20-hour plan. The shorter plan is for students hoping to improve by just a single AP point or raise their score within the same AP range so that they feel more comfortable during the test. The longer plan is for students hoping to improve by 2 or more points (and can be extended further if necessary).

I know this doesn't seem like much time, but a few hours of focused studying goes a long way for this particular subject. Psychology is one of the shorter AP tests (just two hours in total), so practice testing won't be as long of a process.

Additionally, questions tend to be based on memorization of definitions of terms and some logical reasoning; there aren't as many complex thought processes involved. Overall, AP Psychology is considered one of the easier AP tests . M ost students will probably be able to earn a high score (4 or 5) by studying for 10 hours or less.

Option 1: 10-Hour AP Psychology Study Plan

• Take a diagnostic test (2 hours)
• Score the test and analyze your mistakes (1.5 hours)
• Study content and revise your strategy, keeping in mind your mistakes on the diagnostic test (2 hours)
• Take another practice test (2 hours)
• Final study session to clear up any issues you had on the second test (1 hour)

Option 2: 20-Hour AP Psychology Study Plan

• Study content and revise your strategy, keeping in mind your mistakes on the diagnostic test (3 hours)
• Study content areas for which you're still missing questions, do more practice questions, and continue to revise your strategy (3 hours)
• Take a third practice test (2 hours)
• Final study session to clear up any confusion (1.5 hours)
• Wrap up your studying with a final practice test (2 hours)

Each of these psychology study plans has the same basic components, but the second one allows you to spend more time studying content and has more room for additional practice tests. If you're trying to improve by 2 or more AP points, it's likely that there are some major gaps in your content knowledge that warrant additional studying.

It's extremely important that you document and analyze your mistakes on each AP practice test if you're hoping to make big improvements. Mistakes come in several different forms, and you should be aware of this so that you can make appropriate changes to your test-taking strategy and study plan after each practice test.

If most of your incorrect answers are the results of careless mistakes or poor time management, the solution to your problem isn't necessarily more content review. These types of mistakes respond better to additional practice testing that increases your familiarity with time limits and question formats .

If, on the other hand, you find that all or most of your incorrect answers are due to gaps in content knowledge, you can use this info to focus your studying on the areas that cost you the most points. I suggest categorizing your mistakes so that you know where to direct your studying. In this case, you might not need to make many modifications to your actual test-taking strategy.

Most students will have a mixture of both types of mistakes , but it's still good to be mindful of where your biggest problems lie so that you can tackle them more efficiently.

AP Psychology Exam: 4 Essential Study Tips

Before you start studying content for AP Psychology, I want to give you a few studying and test-taking tips that will help you get the most out of your time. Here are some pointers to keep in mind when preparing for the AP test and any other in-class assessments throughout the year.

Tip 1: Get Familiar With Important Terms

You'll need to have extensive knowledge of the definitions of psychological terms for both the multiple-choice and free-response sections of the test. Some definitions are relatively intuitive, but others are almost impossible to figure out if you haven't studied them directly.

Be meticulous about going over all the terms covered in your class so that you don't second-guess yourself on the test. This is especially important for free-response questions for which you will be asked to describe how terms relate to certain situations. You need to understand them beyond just the ability to pick their correct definitions out of a multiple-choice lineup. Flashcards are a particularly useful study tool for AP Psychology.

Tip 2: Make the Abstract Concrete

With all the confusing terminology involved in this course, it's easy to get mixed up and think that a term means one thing when it really means another. Since psychology deals with how people act and process information on a day-to-day basis, it's a great idea to connect terms to specific scenarios in your life .

For example, you might connect a term such as "reciprocity norm," which says that people tend to treat others the same way they have been treated, to a situation in which a store employee was rude to you. Maybe they received poor treatment from other customers and were reflecting that back onto you (they also could just be a jerk, but it's nice to give people the benefit of the doubt).

When you make this type of connection, the term becomes stickier in your memory because it's tied to the heavy weight of a real-life experience. You can practice applying psychology terms to your everyday life at any time as the concepts are constantly demonstrated all around us.

Tip 3: Think Logically

Remember to listen to your common sense when answering questions on the AP Psych test. In some cases on the exam, you can figure out the answer with nothing but a little bit of logic. It's common for students to forget this and start to worry when they don't know what every part of the question means.

In this case, take a step back and think about which answer makes the most sense based on what you do know. You might be surprised by how many questions you can answer this way!

Here's an example (which I used in my AP Psychology review article as well ) of what I mean:

There are a few complex terms here and the question might seem pretty wordy, but it's actually very basic .

When they were scared, the monkeys preferred the soft cloth mother over the uncomfortable wire mother with food. Logically, we can conclude that the answer is B. Overthinking is the downfall of many high-achieving students, so don't start to doubt yourself just because the answer seems too simple to you!

Tip 4: Write in Complete Sentences, not Complete Essays

Although this isn't really a study tip, I think it's important to know before the exam; it probably also applies to in-class tests.

Psychology is about your grasp of science—not English—so don't bother with introductions, conclusions, or any other fluff in your answers to the free-response questions. All you need to do is give a direct answer in a complete sentence. You'll save time and make it easier for the graders to give you points.

It's smart to get used to doing this on practice free-response questions so that you'll be a pro by exam time.

AP Psychology Content: Notes, Outlines, and Videos

Here are some helpful resources that cover all the content you'll see on the AP Psychology exam. (Note that these are not the same as the new units described in the 2020 Course and Exam Description , though they cover similar topics and ideas.) Depending on your learning style, you might decide to look at notes or follow along with a video in areas for which your understanding is weaker.

You can also use these resources throughout the year to review for in-class assessments. If you had difficulty understanding a concept as it was taught to you in class, for example, you might use the notes and videos in this article to access alternative explanations.

You could also use these AP Psychology notes to supplement your studying if you found that you were consistently coming up with incorrect answers to questions in a certain topic area on quizzes or practice tests.

History and Approaches

Research methods, biological bases of behavior.

• Neural Processing and the Endocrine System
• Genetics, Evolutionary Psychology, and Behavior

Sensation and Perception

States of consciousness.

• Thinking, Problem Solving, Creativity, and Language

Motivation and Emotion

• Emotions, Stress, and Health

Developmental Psychology

Personality, testing and individual differences, abnormal psychology.

• PowerPoint ( Part 1 and Part 2 )

Treatment of Psychological Disorders

Social psychology, overall review.

• List of Terms and People to Remember
• Full Playlist of Crash Course Psychology Videos

Additional Resources to Test Your AP Psychology Knowledge

If you're unsure of where to start with your AP Psych prep or prefer to learn in a more interactive way, here are some additional online resources for reviewing concepts and taking practice tests.

The College Board

It's best to prioritize official resources over unofficial ones , as these will be the most accurate. Here are some great College Board materials you can use in your AP Psychology prep.

• The College Board website : You get access to tons of free-response questions, along with answer guides and sample responses, from 1999 to 2021. You can also get more practice questions through AP Classroom , a new digital tool that your AP teacher can use to assign homework and give out questions to students.
• 2020 AP Psychology Course and Exam Description : This free guide offers 15 multiple-choice questions, two free-response questions, and answer explanations for both (you can see free-response answers in the scoring guidelines ). All information has been updated for the current exam format and content.
• 2014-15 AP Psychology Course Description : This older but still relevant guide contains 25 multiple-choice questions (with answers) and two free-response questions.
• 2012 AP Psychology Exam
• 1999 AP Psychology Exam
• 1994 AP Psychology Exam

This site includes practice questions that cover all the current topics in AP Psychology . It divides them into easy, medium, and hard difficulty levels and records how many questions within each level you've answered correctly. This makes it simple to gauge which areas need the most work. You'll need to create and pay for an account to access most of the questions.

This popular quiz website offers a bunch of flashcards with AP Psych terms to help you practice, including a strong set of flashcards based on the Myers textbook and a set that goes through all the famous psychologists you should know .

Varsity Tutors

Famed test-prep company Varsity Tutors has several multiple-choice diagnostic tests to help you get a feel for how much you already know about AP Psych. It also has a bunch of mini quizzes organized by topic area and labeled based on difficulty level. Flashcards for AP Psychology terms and concepts are included here as well.

High School Test Prep

This site has lots of free practice AP Psych tests organized by topic area . You'll get immediate feedback with detailed answer explanations as you go along.

Conclusion: Using This AP Psychology Study Guide

Following the advice in this study guide is a promising step toward earning a high score on the AP Psychology test and other psychology tests throughout the school year.

AP Psychology is a completely manageable subject if you prepare for the exam responsibly. Memorizing key terms, applying confusing psychology concepts to your everyday life, using common sense to solve practice questions, and staying focused on the free-response section will help you be successful, both in class and on the AP test.

After reading this article, you should have everything you need to be able to answer even the most challenging questions the College Board throws at you on the AP Psych exam !

What's Next?

For more info on how to prepare for the AP Psychology exam, check out my comprehensive review guide .

Are you looking for some review books to supplement your AP studying? Read about the best review books for AP Psychology . You can also try our articles on specific psychology topics, like this one about Stockholm Syndrome .

Still trying to decide how many AP classes you should take in high school? Then you'll definitely want to read this article for some advice !

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AP Psychology Exam Questions

Free-response questions and scoring information.

Download free-response questions from past exams along with scoring guidelines, sample responses from exam takers, and scoring distributions.

If you are using assistive technology and need help accessing these PDFs in another format, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 212-713-8333 or by email at [email protected] .

In light of the 2024-25 AP Psychology course and exam revisions , the questions and scoring information on this page do not completely align with the current AP Psychology Exam. We’re keeping these older questions available because AP teachers have told us that even imperfectly aligned questions can still be valuable instructional resources. 

2024: Free Response Questions

2024: free-response questions.

2023: Free-Response Questions

2022: Free-Response Questions

2021: Free-Response Questions

2020: Free-Response Questions

The 2020 free-response questions are available in the  AP Classroom question bank .

2019: Free-Response Questions

2018: Free-Response Questions

2017: Free-Response Questions

2016: Free-Response Questions

2015: Free-Response Questions

2014: Free-Response Questions

2013: Free-Response Questions

2012: Free-Response Questions

2011: Free-Response Questions

2010: Free-Response Questions

2009: Free-Response Questions

2008: Free-Response Questions

2007: Free-Response Questions

2006: Free-Response Questions

2005: Free-Response Questions

2004: Free-Response Questions

2003: Free-Response Questions

2002: Free-Response Questions

2001: Free-Response Questions

2000: Free-Response Questions

1999: Free-Response Questions

The Key Assessment Objectives:

Ao1 effectively outlining a study.

Key Exam Tip!!  

AO1 Exam Tip!

Key Exam Tip!!   One of the questions you may get asked in the exam is to outline (a study, theory, definition etc…)

AO3 Key Evaluation Exam Tip!

Key Exam Tip!! Another type of question that you may get asked in the exam is to evaluate  (a study, theory etc…)

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Glossary of key terms:.

Download file here:    Glossary of terms

Star Words Revision Sheet

Research study revision sheet.

This helps students to remember the key elements of research studies using the structure; aim, procedure, findings and conclusion.

Theory Revision Sheet

Download file here: Bubble Theory and Evaluation Summary Sheet 2016

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AQA A-Level Psychology Past Papers With Answers

Saul McLeod, PhD

Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester

Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

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Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Associate Editor for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education

Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.

AQA A-Level Psychology (7182) and AS-Level Psychology (7181) past exam papers and marking schemes. The past papers are free to download for you to use as practice for your exams.

• Download Past Paper : A-Level (7182)
• Download Past Paper : AS (7181)
• Download Mark Scheme : A-Level (7182)
• Download Mark Scheme : AS (7181)

November 2021 (Labelled as June 2021)

November 2020 (Labelled as June 2020)

• Download Past Paper: A-Level (7182)
• Download Past Paper: AS (7181)

• Download Mark Scheme: A-Level (7182)

• Download Past Paper
• Download Mark Scheme

Programmes & Qualifications

Cambridge international as & a level psychology (9990).

• Past papers, examiner reports and specimen papers

You can download one or more papers for a previous session. Please note that these papers may not reflect the content of the current syllabus.

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This is only a selection of our papers. Registered Cambridge International Schools can access the full catalogue of teaching and learning materials including papers from 2018 through our School Support Hub .

Past papers

• -->June 2022 Mark Scheme Paper 11 (PDF, 249KB)
• -->June 2022 Mark Scheme Paper 21 (PDF, 236KB)
• -->June 2022 Mark Scheme Paper 31 (PDF, 245KB)
• -->June 2021 Mark Scheme Paper 41 (PDF, 256KB)

Examiner reports

• -->June 2022 Examiner Report (PDF, 6MB)

Specimen papers

• -->2024 Specimen Mark Scheme Paper 1 (PDF, 992KB)
• -->2024 Specimen Mark Scheme Paper 2 (PDF, 1008KB)
• -->2024 Specimen Mark Scheme Paper 3 (PDF, 1MB)
• -->2024 Specimen Mark Scheme Paper 4 (PDF, 1MB)

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Assessment resources

• Answers and commentaries (11)
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Question paper (AS): Paper 1 Introductory topics in psychology - June 2023 New

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 465 KB

Question paper (A-level): Paper 1 Introductory topics in psychology - June 2023 New

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 504 KB

Question paper (AS): Paper 2 Psychology in context - June 2023 New

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 453 KB

Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (AS): Paper 1 Introductory topics in psychology - June 2023 New

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 251 KB

Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (AS): Paper 1 Introductory topics in psychology - June 2023 New

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 264 KB

Question paper (A-level): Paper 2 Psychology in context - June 2023 New

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 423 KB

Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (A-level): Paper 1 Introductory topics in psychology - June 2023 New

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 284 KB

Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (A-level): Paper 1 Introductory topics in psychology - June 2023 New

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 329 KB

Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (AS): Paper 2 Psychology in context - June 2023 New

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 263 KB

Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (AS): Paper 2 Psychology in context - June 2023 New

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 270 KB

Examiner report (A-level): Paper 1 Introductory topics in psychology - June 2023 New

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 173 KB

Question paper (A-level): Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology - June 2023 New

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 323 KB

Examiner report (AS): Paper 1 Introductory topics in psychology - June 2023 New

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 154 KB

Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (A-level): Paper 2 Psychology in context - June 2023 New

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 274 KB

Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (A-level): Paper 2 Psychology in context - June 2023 New

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 295 KB

Examiner report (AS): Paper 2 Psychology in context - June 2023 New

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 179 KB

Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (A-level): Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology - June 2023 New

Examiner report (A-level): Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology - June 2023 New

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 150 KB

Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (A-level): Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology - June 2023 New

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 183 KB

Examiner report (A-level): Paper 2 Psychology in context - June 2023 New

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 156 KB

AQA GCSE Psychology : Past Papers

Concise resources for the GCSE AQA Psychology course.

AQA A-Level Psychology Past Papers

AQA A-Level ​Psychology (7182) and AS-Level Psychology (7181) past exam papers. You can download the papers and marking schemes by clicking on the links below. Scroll down to find papers from previous years.

June 2023 - AQA A-Level Psychology (7182) Past Papers

A-Level Psychology Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology (7182/1) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme A-Level Psychology Paper 2: Psychology in Context (7182/2) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme A-Level Psychology Paper 3: Issues and Options in Psychology (7182/3) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme  

June 2023 - AQA AS-Level Psychology (7181) Past Papers

AS Psychology Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology (7181/1) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

AS Psychology Paper 2: Psychology in Context (7181/2) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2022 - AQA A-Level Psychology (7182) Past Papers

November 2021 - AQA A-Level Psychology (7182) Past Papers (Labelled as June 2021)

November 2021 A-Level Psychology Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology (7182/1) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme November 2021 A-Level Psychology Paper 2: Psychology in Context (7182/2) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme November 2021 A-Level Psychology Paper 3: Issues and Options in Psychology (7182/3) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

November 2020 - AQA A-Level Psychology (7182) Past Papers (Labelled as June 2020)

November 2020 A-Level Psychology Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology (7182/1) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme November 2020 A-Level Psychology Paper 2: Psychology in Context (7182/2) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme November 2020 A-Level Psychology Paper 3: Issues and Options in Psychology (7182/3) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme  

November 2020 - AQA AS-Level Psychology (7181) Past Papers (Labelled as June 2020)

November 2020 AS Psychology Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology (7181/1) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

November 2020 AS Psychology Paper 2: Psychology in Context (7181/2) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2019 - AQA A-Level Psychology (7182) Past Papers

June 2019 A-Level Psychology Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology (7182/1) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme June 2019 A-Level Psychology Paper 2: Psychology in Context (7182/2) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme June 2019 A-Level Psychology Paper 3: Issues and Options in Psychology (7182/3) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2019 - AQA AS-Level Psychology (7181) Past Papers

June 2019 AS Psychology Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology (7181/1) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2019 AS Psychology Paper 2: Psychology in Context (7181/2) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2018 - AQA A-Level Psychology (7182) Past Papers

June 2018 A-Level Psychology Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology (7182/1) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme June 2018 A-Level Psychology Paper 2: Psychology in Context (7182/2) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme June 2018 A-Level Psychology Paper 3: Issues and Options in Psychology (7182/3) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2018 - AQA AS-Level Psychology (7181) Past Papers

June 2018 AS Psychology Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology (7181/1) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2018 AS Psychology Paper 2: Psychology in Context (7181/2) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

A-Level Psychology Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology (7182/1) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

A-Level Psychology Paper 2: Psychology in Context (7182/2) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

A-Level Psychology Paper 3: Issues and Options in Psychology (7182/3) Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme

June 2017 - AQA AS-Level Psychology (7181) Past Papers

AS Psychology Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology (7181/1)

Download Past Paper    -    Download Marking Scheme  

For more A-Level Psychology past papers from other exam boards  click here .