5 Steps to a 5 AP Psychology, 2010-2011 Edition (4 page)

The College Board uses some exams to help train high school teachers so that they can help the next generation of psychology students to avoid common mistakes. If you check this box, you simply give permission to use your exam in this way. Even if you give permission, your anonymity is still maintained.

The multiple-choice section of the psychology exam is 100 questions and is worth two-thirds of your final score. Your answer sheet is run through the computer, which adds up your correct responses and subtracts a fraction for each incorrect response. For every incorrect answer that you give, one-quarter of a point is deducted. The total is a raw score as follows:

Section I Raw Score = N
_right
− 0.25N
_wrong

Your performance on the free-response section is worth one-third of your final score. Two required essays comprise this section. Although the two questions are typically given equal weight (25 each), they may be scored on different point scales. As a result, if Essay #1 has nine points that are scored, the number of points earned toward the total exam score for that essay would be Score #1 × 2.778. The multiplier for each free-response question is determined by dividing 25 by the maximum number of points in the scoring rubric or scoring guide. The table that follows indicates multipliers for essay questions with different point maximums.

Table 1.2 Points/Multiplier Table

Section II Raw Score = (Score #1 × Correct Multiplier) + (Score #2 × Correct Multiplier)

To determine your Composite Raw Score, add the Section I Raw Score and the Section II Raw Score. Based on the composite scores of all of the test takers, the Chief Reader sets four cut points that divide the composite scores into groups. Rather than report your composite score, the College Board reports to you one of five numbers assigned to your composite score, based on the cut points:

• 5 indicates you are extremely well qualified.

• 4 indicates you are well qualified.

• 3 indicates you are qualified.

• 2 indicates you are possibly qualified.

• 1 indicates no recommendation.

Below is a rough example of a conversion chart, and as you complete the practice exams, you may use this to give yourself a hypothetical grade. Keep in mind that the conversion changes slightly every year to adjust for the difficulty of the questions. You should receive your grade in early July.

Table 1.3 Grade Guide Table—AP Psychology

Example

In Section I of Practice Exam 1, if you answered 76 questions correctly and
12 questions incorrectly, your Section I score would be 73.

Section I Raw Score = 76 − (0.25 × 12) = 73

In Section II of Practice Exam 1, if you earned 7 out of 10 points on Essay 1, and
6 out of 8 points on Essay 2, your Section II score would be 36.25.

Section II Raw Score = (7 × 2.5) + (6 × 3.125)
= 17.5 + 18.75 = 36.25

Composite Score 73 + 36.25 = 109.25, which would be assigned a 5.

On exam day, I suggest bringing the following items:

• Several pencils and an eraser that doesn’t leave smudges.

• Black or blue colored pens for the free-response section.

• A watch so that you can monitor your time. You never
know if the exam room will have a clock on the wall that keeps accurate time.

• Your school code.

• Your photo identification and social security number.

• Tissues.

• Your quiet confidence that you are prepared.

Avoid bringing electronic data and communications devices, and study materials to the testing site.

IN THIS CHAPTER:

Summary: The right preparation plan for you depends on your study habits and the amount of time you have before the test.

Key Idea

Choose the study plan that’s right for you.

What kind of preparation program for the AP exam should you follow? Should you carefully follow every step, or are there perhaps some steps you can bypass? That depends not only on how much time you have, but also on what kind of student you are. No one knows your study habits, likes, and dislikes better than you. You are the best one to decide the approach for you to adopt to prepare successfully for the Advanced Placement Psychology Exam. This chapter presents three possible study plans, labeled A, B, and C. Look at the brief profiles below. These may help you determine which of these three plans is right for you.

1. You are the kind of person who likes to plan for everything very far in advance.

2. You arrive at the airport hours before your scheduled flight because you never know when something can happen.

3. You like detailed planning and to have everything in its place.

4. In order to be comfortable, you must feel thoroughly prepared.

5. You arrive early for appointments.

6. You hate surprises.

If you fit this profile, consider
Plan A
.

1. You plan a graduation party or vacation a few months in advance so that people you invite will be likely to be available, and you can get everything you need.

2. You generally get to the airport in enough time to pass through security without feeling hassled, and get to the gate before boarding has begun.

3. You are willing to plan ahead to feel comfortable in stressful situations, but are okay with skipping some details.

4. You feel more comfortable when you know what to expect, but a surprise or two is cool.

5. You arrive on time for appointments.

If you fit this profile, consider
Plan B
.

1. You buy your best friend a gift for his or her birthday, but you need to include a belated card because you missed it by a couple of days.

2. You work best under pressure and tight deadlines.

3. You feel very confident with the skills and background you’ve learned in your AP Psychology class.

4. You decided late in the year to take the exam.

5. Surprises energize you.

6. You feel okay if you arrive 10–15 minutes late for an appointment.

If you fit this profile, consider
Plan C
.

Table 2.1 Three Different Study Plans for AP Psychology

Plan A: You Have a Full School Year to Prepare.

Use this plan to organize your study during the coming school year. Although its primary purpose is to prepare you for the AP Psychology exam, this book can enrich your study of psychology, and help you develop your analytical and free-response writing skills.

SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER
(Check off the activities as you complete them.)

—Determine the student mode (A, B, or C) that applies to you.

—Carefully read the Preface, Introduction, and
Chapters 1
–
4
of this book.

—Take the Diagnostic Exam and get an idea of what you’ll need to know to succeed in this course.

—Begin to integrate boldfaced words into your vocabulary.

—Get on the Web and take a look at the AP website(s) listed on p. 339.

—Skim the review chapters in Step 4 of this book. (Reviewing the topics covered in this section will be part of your year-long preparation.)

—Buy a few color highlighters.

—Flip through the entire book. Break the book in. Write in it. Toss it around a little bit; highlight it.

—Get a clear picture of your own school’s AP Psychology curriculum.

—Begin to use the book as a resource to supplement the classroom learning.

NOVEMBER
(The first 10 weeks have elapsed.)