I took the 2016 AP Psychology test and found out I got a 5! It’s a popular self study topic, and I would DEFINITELY recommend it, even if you’re a freshman (like I was). Here is a complete guide to self studying AP Psychology depending on when you start. Decide when you start based on how much you know yourself.
People usually ask if you need a textbook. Don’t waste your money - a good review book (Barron’s) is completely sufficient to get a 5.
Message me if you have any questions!
SEPTEMBER
This is the earliest you should start (don’t waste your summer). Buy the Barron’s AP Psychology book and THIS IS ENOUGH. Some people prefer Princeton Review, but I had just Barron’s and the internet and that was all I needed. Barron’s has 3 practice tests, which should cover you for MCQ. When you miss questions, read the right answer explanations to “train” your mind to think like the test. Read ALL the chapters, MEMORIZE VOCAB, learn examples, and learn the diagrams. Make notes about the different stages of development and flashcards for the different scientists.
Do all the practice tests on this website after each chapter:
http://www.appsychology.com/HowPass/MC%20quizes/MCquizeshome.htm
Go to the College Board website for the FRQ’s and write them out for practice. Go over the graded answers and get solid with your responses.
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/exam/exam_information/2088.html
DECEMBER/JANUARY (WINTER BREAK)
This is when I started - over winter break. I swear by Barron’s. Go through each chapter and highlight the important definitions! After you’ve gone through the whole thing, take the diagnostic test. Review your weak points and take Practice Test 1, and repeat the process for Practice Test 2.
You still have time to go over the FRQs. Write out a few, but mostly just go through what you would write in your head. Familiarize yourself with the format you should write the responses in.
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/exam/exam_information/2088.html
APRIL (SPRING BREAK)
Still Barron’s. Study the bolded words and the scientists. Here is a good resource with outlines to review information:
https://www.apstudynotes.org/psychology/outlines/
Another resource to help for cramming- Crash Course videos on YouTube! Here is the playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo4pMVb0R6M&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtOPRKzVLY0jJY-uHOH9KVU6
Watch only the videos from the chapters that you score poorly on the quizzes for. Go through the FRQs from College Board:
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/exam/exam_information/2088.html
You do not have to write them if you don’t really feel like you need to (I didn’t). Go through as many as possible, and get used to the format. Don’t forget to go through what you would write in your head or make a quick outline so you can judge how prepared you are for the FRQs.
2 WEEK CRAM SESSION
This a guide for people (like me) who like to spread out the work over a period of time, but YOU CAN TOTALLY CRAM FOR THIS TEST IN 2 WEEKS. I’ve seen people who have gotten a 5 with just Barron’s. If you hustle hard, you go through Barron’s and read over some FRQs and totally pull it off. Make the best use of the resources on this thread and your valuable time!
FOR EVERYONE/ GENERAL ADVICE
PREDICTING SCORE BASED ON PRACTICE TEST:
Enter the number you got right on the MCQ in this calculator. It gives you an approximate curve, and lets you know how much you need to get on the FRQs based on your MCQ score if you play around with it a little. If you are consistently scoring 5s, awesome! You’ll be pretty solid.
http://appass.com/calculators/psychology
Open the Quizlet with AP Psychology terms on your phone (or go there with this link: https://quizlet.com/1919168/ap-psychology-all-terms-flash-cards/ ). The weekend before the test, go through all of these terms. I reviewed it in the car will driving to the testing center. It’s GREAT for quick review, especially for topics you studied a long time ago.
Don’t underestimate the biology section! I recommend the Crash Course video for the parts of the brain and the neurotransmitters (which reviews a majority of the hard science).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHrmiy4W9C0
This is just a general plan for what you can do to get a 5. If you have time to do more than what I outlined for your start time, DEFINITELY go through the resources in the other sections. I never really went through other prep books, so I wouldn’t know how valuable they are.
Please reply with any other study guides or resources you guys have for future self-studiers! Overall, if you have Barron’s and the internet- you’re golden.