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Advanced Placement (AP)

Practice tests are some of the best review tools for AP Psychology. They'll give you insight into your areas of weakness and prepare you for the structure and content of the actual test. We'll list all the official and unofficial practice tests available online and provide advice on how to use them to get a great score on the AP test.

Official AP Psychology Practice Tests

It's best to use official practice tests when preparing for the AP Psych exam because you can be sure that the questions are faithful representations of what to expect on test day. Only a limited supply of official exams have been released, but you should be able to get enough practice out of them (and you can still supplement with some unofficial tests if necessary, which we'll discuss in the next section).

Fortunately, there haven't been many major changes to the AP Psychology exam this year , so even old tests can be valid resources if you know how to use them. Be aware that changes are expected for the 2023-24 school year, but we’ll let you know when those go into effect!

Still, it's important to be aware that the AP Psychology test also changed slightly  in 2019-2020 (mostly in terms of course units and how the free-response section is scored). You can read more about these changes and the current format in the 2020 Course and Exam Description .

There are four official AP Psych practice tests you can download for free as PDFs:

• 2016 AP Psychology Exam
• 2012 AP Psychology Exam
• 1999 AP Psychology Exam
• 1994 AP Psychology Exam

If you're looking for more free-response practice specifically, you can try working on official free-response questions in isolation . Most of these also have accompanying answer keys and sample responses to help you better understand what the graders are expecting. You can get tons of free-response questions on the College Board website ( from 2021 all the way back to 1999 ).

Additionally, if you want to practice multiple-choice questions without having to take a complete practice exam, you can check out the sample questions in the AP Psychology Course Descriptions:

• 2019-20 AP Psych Course Description : Includes 15 multiple-choice questions and two free-response questions, as well as answers
• 2014-15 AP Psych Course Description : Includes 25 multiple-choice questions and two free-response questions, as well as answers

You might be able to find additional official practice tests and questions online from other sources. Your teacher will also have access to practice testing materials that are not available to the general public. If you're looking for more official AP tests, talk to your teacher and see whether they can provide you with any extra resources.

Unofficial AP Psychology Practice Exams

Unofficial practice tests can also be helpful for your AP Psych prep, but you shouldn't rely on them entirely. While they still test roughly the same content as the real exam, their questions might be phrased differently and have a slightly higher or lower difficulty level. Usually, the ones you must pay for will be higher quality than free unofficial ones, so keep this in mind.

It's a good idea to intersperse official practice tests with these unofficial ones in your prep.

Shmoop Practice Tests

Shmoop offers one AP Psychology diagnostic test and three full-length practice exams that mimic the content and format of the real test (free-response section included). You have to pay for an account eventually. The rate for a student account is $14.99 a month .

REA Online Practice Exam

This is just one AP Psychology practice test, but it includes automatic scoring and analyzes your mistakes for you . The exam is also timed, so testing conditions are replicated relatively accurately (minus the fact that it's on the computer). The cost is $5.95.

Varsity Tutors Diagnostic Tests

This well-known test-prep company offers tons of free full-length AP Psychology exams (minus the free-response section) . While they're not the highest quality out there, these are good to use to review some of the material you've learned and to keep drilling important concepts. It's also got several shorter quizzes organized by topic area.

How to Review With AP Psychology Practice Tests

Practice tests can be used throughout the school year and in your final review sessions for the AP Psychology exam. They're the best way to judge how advanced you are in your knowledge of the material. They'll also help you gain familiarity with the format of the AP Psych test so that you're not caught off-guard on test day.

Here's some advice on using these practice tests in your prep at different points throughout the year.

First Semester: In-Class Test Prep

At this point, you're just preparing for in-class tests and haven't learned all the information for the course yet. You might decide to use practice sites that include focused questions on specific aspects of the AP Psychology curriculum , such as this one .

Still, the Psychology practice tests in this article might be helpful resources. You can sort through the free-response questions that were asked on previous administrations of the test to find ones that are relevant to what you've learned so far.

It's a smart idea to practice free-response questions well ahead of time because they require the most independent knowledge. Most students have a tougher time on this section than on the multiple-choice section because you don't get a list of options that might jog your memory about a certain term or concept. Guessing isn't a viable option, so it's important to prepare thoroughly.

Second Semester: AP Test Prep

As you head into your second semester, start thinking about prepping for the AP test with full-length practice exams. You will have learned most of the material by the middle of the second semester, so you'll be able to use AP Psych practice tests to judge your skills more accurately. We'd recommend taking your first full-length test sometime in March.

Online tests can be helpful, but make sure you print out some practice tests, too; this is the only way to see whether your time management is on point. When you take a Psychology practice test, be sure to treat it seriously so that you can learn from your mistakes. After you finish, score it and investigate your incorrect answers.

There are several reasons why you might answer a question incorrectly. It could be due to poor time management, a careless mistake, or a lack of content knowledge. If one of the first two problems is the source of many of your mistakes, you probably need to take more practice tests to get used to the format while learning to read more carefully and pace yourself better.

If your mistakes have more to do with content knowledge, then you can narrow your focus further by categorizing your wrong answers by subject ( consult the list of topics in this article ). This way, you can primarily study parts of the course that you struggle with and avoid wasting time on concepts you already understand.

Once you've identified your mistakes on the practice test and taken steps to correct them, take another test to check your progress . Again, make sure you take this test with the same time limits as the real AP test. After taking the second test, repeat the steps of scoring it and looking through your mistakes. Continue this process until you feel fully prepared for the AP Psych exam.

If you struggle with the free-response questions, it might be productive to practice them between full practice tests. The more familiar you are with the way free-response questions are asked and what graders expect, the more likely you are to ace this section on the real test in May.

These questions will also help reinforce your understanding of psychological terms because they often ask you to apply terms to a hypothetical real-life scenario.

4 Essential AP Psychology Practice Testing Tips

Here are a few important tips to remember while using practice tests to review for AP Psychology.

#1: Always Time Yourself

We've said it before, and we'll say it again: if you want to assess your weak spots accurately, you need to time yourself as though you're taking the real test. You don't want time pressure to be your downfall after working your butt off to memorize all the content. If you can get a parent, sibling, or friend who doesn't have anything better to do for two hours than to be a mock proctor for you, that's even better!

#2: Don't Overthink

It's especially funny to list this tip for AP Psychology, but it's also relevant to the way the questions are structured. You'll see quite a few questions that seem complex but are just a matter of common sense. Try not to second-guess yourself on these types of questions. The test isn't trying to trick you!

#3: Be Direct in the Free-Response Section

When some students think about free-response questions, they imagine writing a five-paragraph essay. You don't have to do that on this test! All the graders want are the correct answers written in complete sentences. Forget about intros, conclusions, or any other fluffy stuff you're tempted to include—just get straight to the point.

#4: Put More Faith in Official Test Scores Than Unofficial Ones

It's tempting to believe that a high score on an unofficial test is valid, but it can get you into trouble. Remember that some tests could be easier or harder than the real AP test because the questions weren't designed by the College Board.

You should always include at least one official AP Psychology practice test in your studying so you can compare the difficulty levels and get an accurate reading on your progress.

Conclusion: Prepping With AP Psychology Practice Tests

Use the practice tests in this article as tools to bolster your prep for AP Psychology. Both official tests and unofficial tests are valuable resources, but you should definitely pay more attention to your scores on official tests when judging your progress and skill level.

Going over mistakes on practice tests will help you understand where your weaknesses lie and how you can fix them. If you take multiple practice tests, analyze your mistakes, and plan out your studying responsibly, you can expect high scores on the AP Psych test and any in-class tests you take throughout the year .

What's Next?

Looking for more guidance in preparing for this test? Read my complete AP Psychology study guide to get a collection of helpful notes. You should also check out our description of Stockholm Syndrome (complete with examples) here .

Review books can be great study resources for AP Psych as well. If you're not sure which one to get, take a look at this list of the best AP Psychology books .

What will a high score on an AP test really mean for you in college? Find out how AP classes can lead to college credits .

Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.

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The AP Psychology exam is one of the most popular APs among traditional students and self-studiers alike. Although many students enroll in the class, this particular exam is also well-suited to self-studying due to its heavy emphasis on vocabulary and highly specific theory. If you are interested in taking the AP Psychology exam, whether you have taken the class or have self-studied, read on for a breakdown of the test and CollegeVine’s advice for how to best prepare it.

When is the AP Psychology Exam?

On Tuesday, May 12, at 12 pm, the College Board will hold the 2020 AP Psychology Exam. For a comprehensive listing of all the AP exam times, check out our post, 2020 AP Exam Schedule: Everything You Need to Know .    

About the AP Psychology Exam

The AP Psychology course explores concepts, theories, and behaviors associated with the field and research areas of psychology. Successful students will become familiar with the history of the field, past and current research methods, and the biological and emotional bases for behavior. Because psychology is a rapidly-changing field, students should ensure that they prepare for the test with the most current materials available. 

The AP Psychology exam tests your mastery of both skills and concepts. During the course, you will develop three skills critical for passing the exam. Those skills and the weight they’re given on the AP Psychology exam are: 

The concepts tested on the AP Psychology exam are broken into nine units, focusing on the core principles, theories, and processes of the discipline. Below is a suggested structure of the nine units from the College Board along with the weight each unit is given on the AP Psychology exam: 

AP Psychology Exam Content

The AP Psychology exam is one of the shortest AP exams, clocking in at just two hours, and comprises two sections. The first section features multiple-choice questions and the second section is made up of free response questions. 

Section 1: Multiple Choice 

1 hour 10 minutes | 100 questions | 66.7% of score

Section one takes one hour and 10 minutes, contains 100 multiple-choice questions, and accounts for 66.7% of your total score. You’ll encounter two distinct types of multiple-choice questions: you’ll either be asked to define and explain content from the course topics or apply skills of concept understanding, data analysis, and scientific investigation. 

Example of a multiple-choice question asking you to define a course topic:

The answer to the multiple-choice questions above is B.

Example of a multiple-choice question asking you to apply a course concept: 

Section 2: Free Response

50 minutes | 2 questions | 33.3% of score

The second section takes 50 minutes, contains two free response questions, and accounts for 33.3% of your score. The first of the free response questions tests your grasp of the first course skill, concept understanding, and tasks you with explaining behavior and applying theories and perspectives to real-world situations. The second of the free response questions requires you to demonstrate possession of all three course skills with an emphasis on scientific investigation. On the second free response question, you’ll analyze research studies—including reviewing and interpreting quantitative data. 

Example of a concept understanding free response question: 

Example of a scientific investigation multiple-choice free response question: 

AP Psychology Score Distribution, Average Score, and Passing Rate

In 2019, 64.5% of students who took the AP Psychology exam received a score of 3 or higher. 20.5% of students received the top score of 5, while 22% scored a 1 on the exam. 

Keep in mind that credit and advanced standing based on AP scores varies widely from college to college. While a 3 is generally considered passing, you may need a 4 or 5 to receive credit. Some schools don’t grant credit at all, and only use AP exams for placement. You can find regulations regarding which AP exams qualify for course credits or advanced placement at specific colleges on the College Board’s website . 

A full course description that can help to guide your studying can be found in the College Board AP Psych course description .  If you’re curious about other score distributions, see our post Easiest and Hardest AP Exams .

Best Ways to Study for the AP Psychology Exam

Step 1: assess your skills.

Take a practice test to assess your initial knowledge of the material. Although the College Board’s AP Psychology website provides a number of sample test questions, it does not provide a complete sample test. There are, however, four complete practice tests with scoring guides provided on the College Board AP Psychology teacher website—from 1994 , 1999 , 2012 , and 2016 . You can also find a practice test in many of the commercial study guides, and some even include a diagnostic test to act as your initial assessment.

Once you have taken some kind of formative assessment, score it to identify the areas you already understand and those in need of improvement. It can be helpful to have a teacher or friend score your free response essays, as these are more subjective than the multiple-choice section. From an accurate practice test, you will get a better idea of where to focus your studying efforts.

Step 2: Study the Theory

In order to ace the AP Psychology exam, you will need to master the basic history of psychology along with the fundamental theories and approaches covered in the nine course units. 

You will likely need some study resources to help you as you tackle this content. The Myers’ Psychology For AP textbook is said to be the most comprehensive guide, as it is designed specifically for the AP class. Some criticize it for having too much information and for being particularly expensive, but it does cover all of the theory necessary to study for the exam in-depth. For information that is presented more concisely, you might consider Barron’s AP Psychology 8th Edition study guide. There are also accompanying Barron’s AP Psychology flashcards available.

In addition, there are tons of study resources available online, including many from AP teachers who have posted comprehensive outlines and study guides. There is also a great 40-episode YouTube series focused on the AP Psychology Exam. 

Additionally, a convenient way to study is to use one of the recently-developed apps for AP exams. Make sure you read reviews before choosing one, as their quality varies widely. The Brainscape AP Psych app and Varsity Tutors app are free, and both have positive reviews.

Step 3: Practice Multiple-Choice Questions

Once you have your theory down, test it out by practicing multiple-choice questions. You can find these in most study guides or through online searches. You could also try taking the multiple-choice section of a practice exam. Many sample questions with answers and explanations can be found in the official course description . Varsity Tutors offer numerous free AP Psychology diagnostic tests which contain an abundance of multiple-choice questions to practice with. Study.com also provides a free 50-question practice test . Try to keep track of which concepts and vocabulary are still tripping you up, and go back over this material.

Step 4: Practice Free Response Questions

On the AP Psychology exam’s free response section, you should be prepared to make practical use of your theory. Familiarize yourself with how to apply the most common principles from the field, and know how to effectively design or evaluate a research study.

To effectively master the free response section of your AP Psychology exam, you should have a good understanding of what task verbs you will commonly encounter, and precisely what each is asking you to do. The College Board provides the following definitions for the most commonly encountered directives on this exam:

• Identify requires that students name or point out psychological concepts as they pertain to the question.
• Show or describe require students to detail the essential characteristics or examples of a particular concept, theory, or phenomenon.
• Explain , discuss , and relate require that students make logical and coherent connections among the prompt (or premise), question, and psychological concepts.

Before you begin writing, make a brief, strong outline. It will not count toward your score, but it will help to organize your thoughts. Try to include specific examples from your studying and make sure to clearly introduce them in your writing. Common ways to successfully highlight specific examples include “For example,” or “One example of this is…”

The best way to prepare for the free response prompts is to practice them and study the scoring examples provided by the College Board. The College Board has the free response questions used on the AP Psychology exam dating back to 1999 posted on their website. These authentic student responses with real scoring explanations should give you a good idea of how the free response questions are scored, and where points are commonly lost.  

Step 5: Take Another Practice Test

As you did at the very beginning of your studying, take a practice test to evaluate your progress. You should see a steady progression of knowledge you’ve accumulated, and it’s likely that you will see patterns identifying which areas have improved the most and which areas still need improvement. If you have time, repeat each of the steps above to incrementally increase your score.

Step 6: Exam Day Specifics

If you’re taking the AP course associated with this exam, your teacher will walk you through how to register. If you’re self-studying, check out our blog post How to Self-Register for AP Exams .

For information about what to bring to the exam, see our post What Should I Bring to My AP Exam (And What Should I Definitely Leave at Home)?

Balancing challenging coursework like AP classes, time-consuming extracurricular activities, and social obligations is stressful—don’t let college admissions stress you out even more! CollegeVine’s free chancing engine takes the mystery out of admissions, letting you know your odds of acceptance at over 500 schools, and giving you advice to improve your profile. Sign up for your CollegeVine account today to get a boost on your college journey!

For more guidance about the AP exams, check out these other informative articles: 

2020 AP Exam Schedule

How Long is Each AP Exam?

Easiest and Hardest AP Exams

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Interested in the scientific study of behavior and mental processes? The AP ® Psychology Exam is a college-level exam administered every year in May upon completion of an Advanced Placement Psychology course taken at your high school. If you score high enough, your  AP score  could earn you  college credit !

Check out our AP Psychology Guide for the essential info you need about the exam:

• Exam Overview

Sections & Question Types

• How to Prepare

What's on the AP Psychology Exam?

The College Board requires your AP teacher to cover certain topics in the AP Psychology course. As you complete your Psych review, make sure you are familiar with the following topics:

• Scientific Foundations of Psychology: Introducing Psychology; Research Methods in Psychology; Defining Psychological Science: The Experimental Method; Selecting a Research Method; Statistical Analysis in Psychology; Ethical Guidelines in Psychology
• Biological Bases of Behavior: Interaction of Hereditary and Environment; The Endocrine System; Overview of the Nervous System and the Neuron; Neural Firing; Influence of Drugs on Neural Firing; The Brain; Tools for Examining Brain Structure and Function; The Adaptable Brain; Sleep and Dreaming
• Sensation and Perception: Principles of Sensation; Principles of Perception; Visual Anatomy; Visual Perception; Auditory Sensation and Perception; Chemical Senses; Body Sense
• Learning: Introduction to Learning; Classical Conditioning; Operant Conditioning; Social and Cognitive Factors in Learning
• Cognitive Psychology: Introduction to Memory; Encoding; Storing; Retrieving; Forgetting and Memory Distortion; Biological Bases of Memory; Introduction to Thinking and Problem Solving; Biases and Errors in Thinking; Introduction to Intelligence; Psychometric Principles and Intelligence Testing; Components of Language and Language Acquisition
• Developmental Psychology: The Lifespan and Physical Development in Childhood; Social Development in Childhood; Cognitive Development in Childhood; Adolescent Development; Adulthood and Aging; Moral Development; Gender and Sexual Orientation
• Motivation, Emotion, and Personality: Theories of Motivation; Specific Topics of Motivation; Theories of Emotion; Stress and Coping; Introduction to Personality; Psychoanalytic Theories of Personality; Behaviorism and Social Cognitive Theories of Personality; Humanistic Theories of Personality; Trait Theories of Personality; Measuring Personality
• Clinical Psychology: Introduction to Psychological Disorders; Psychological Perspectives and Etiology of Disorders; Neurodevelopmental and Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders; Bipolar, Depressive, Anxiety, and Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders; Trauma- and Stressor- Related, Dissociative, and Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders; Feeding and Eating, Substance and Addictive, and Personality Disorders; Introduction to Treatment of Psychological Disorders; Psychological Perspectives and Treatment of Disorders; Treatment of Disorders from the Biological Perspective; Evaluating Strengths, Weaknesses, and Empirical Support for Treatments of Disorders
• Social Psychology: Attribution Theory and Person Perception; Attitude Formation and Attitude Change; Conformity, Compliance, and Obedience; Group Influences on Behavior and Mental Processes; Bias, Prejudice, and Discrimination; Altruism and Aggression; Interpersonal Attraction

Read More: Review for the exam with our AP Psychology Crash Courses

The AP Psych exam is 2 hours long and has two sections: a multiple-choice section and a a free-response section. 

Multiple-Choice Questions

The AP Psychology multiple-choice questions test the following skills:

• Concept Understanding
• Data Analysis
• Scientific Investigation

Free-Response Questions

The AP Psych FRQs consists of two questions:

• Question 1 is about Concept Application, assessing a student’s ability to explain and apply theories and perspectives in authentic contexts
• Question 2 is about Research Design, assessing a student’s ability to analyze psychological research studies that include quantitative data.

For a comprehensive content review, check out our book,  AP Psychology Premium Prep

What’s a good AP Psychology Score?

AP scores are reported from 1 to 5. Colleges are generally looking for a 4 or 5 on the AP Psychology exam, but some may grant credit for a 3. Here’s how students scored on the May 2020 test:

Source: College Board

How can I prepare?

AP classes are great, but for many students they’re not enough! For a thorough review of AP Psychology content and strategy, pick the  AP prep option  that works best for your goals and learning style. 

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The Role of Critical Thinking in AP Psychology Exams

In the Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology exam, critical thinking skills are paramount for success. Beyond rote memorization of facts and concepts, AP Psychology challenges students to analyze, evaluate, and apply psychological principles to diverse scenarios. In this guide, we'll explore the central role of critical thinking in AP Psychology exams and provide strategies for students to enhance their analytical skills in preparation for the test.

1. Analyzing Experimental Design:

A significant portion of the AP Psychology exam assesses students' ability to understand and critique research methodology and experimental design. Critical thinking skills are essential for evaluating the strengths and limitations of different research methods, such as experiments, surveys, and case studies. Students must analyze variables, identify confounding factors, and assess the validity and reliability of research findings.

2. Evaluating Psychological Theories:

AP Psychology requires students to demonstrate a nuanced understanding of various psychological theories and perspectives. Critical thinking skills enable students to evaluate the assumptions, evidence, and implications of different theories, such as behaviorism, psychoanalysis, cognitive psychology, and humanistic psychology. Students should analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each theory and consider how they apply to real-world phenomena.

3. Applying Psychological Concepts:

Beyond memorizing definitions and concepts, AP Psychology exams demand the application of psychological principles to hypothetical scenarios and case studies. Critical thinking skills enable students to identify relevant concepts, analyze situational factors, and generate informed hypotheses or solutions. Students should demonstrate an understanding of how psychological principles apply to behavior, cognition, and mental processes in different contexts.

4. Interpreting Data and Statistics:

A key component of the AP Psychology exam is the interpretation of data and statistical analyses in psychological research. Critical thinking skills are essential for understanding graphs, charts, and statistical measures, such as correlation coefficients, t-tests, and ANOVA. Students must analyze data patterns, draw logical conclusions, and evaluate the significance of research findings based on statistical evidence.

5. Formulating Arguments and Explanations:

In essay and free-response questions, AP Psychology tests students' ability to construct coherent arguments and explanations supported by psychological evidence. Critical thinking skills enable students to articulate their ideas clearly, organize their thoughts logically, and provide relevant examples or evidence to support their claims. Students should demonstrate a deep understanding of psychological concepts and theories while synthesizing information from multiple sources.

6. Identifying Biases and Ethical Considerations:

Critical thinking in AP Psychology involves recognizing biases, assumptions, and ethical considerations inherent in psychological research and practice. Students should evaluate the ethical implications of research studies, consider potential biases in experimental design or data interpretation, and demonstrate awareness of cultural and individual differences in psychological phenomena. Ethical reasoning and sensitivity to diverse perspectives are essential components of critical thinking in psychology.

7. Practice and Reflection:

Enhancing critical thinking skills in AP Psychology requires regular practice and reflection. Students should engage in active reading, analyze case studies and research articles critically, participate in class discussions and debates, and seek opportunities to apply psychological principles in real-world contexts. Reflecting on their learning experiences and seeking feedback from teachers and peers can help students identify areas for improvement and refine their critical thinking skills over time.

Conclusion:

Critical thinking is a cornerstone of success in AP Psychology exams, enabling students to analyze, evaluate, and apply psychological concepts and theories effectively. By honing their analytical skills, students can navigate complex research studies, interpret data, formulate arguments, and demonstrate a deep understanding of psychological principles. Through practice, reflection, and engagement with diverse perspectives, students can develop the critical thinking skills necessary for success in AP Psychology and beyond.

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The effects of feedback on performance and factors associated with it were examined in a large introductory psychology course. The experiment involved college students (N 464) working on an essay examination under 3 conditions: no feedback, detailed feedback that was perceived by participants to be provided by the course instructor, and detailed feedback that was perceived by participants to be computer generated. Additionally, these conditions were crossed with factors of grade (receiving a numerical grade or not) and praise (receiving a statement of praise or not). The task under consideration was a single-question essay examination administered at the beginning of the course. Detailed feedback on the essay, specific to individual's work, was found to be strongly related to student improvement in essay scores, with the influence of grades and praise being more complex. Generally, receipt of a tentative grade depressed performance, although this effect was ameliorated if accompanied by a statement of praise. Overall, detailed, descriptive feedback was found to be most effective when given alone, unaccompanied by grades or praise. It was also found that the perceived source of the feedback (the computer or the instructor) had little impact on the results. These findings are consistent with the research literature showing that descriptive feedback, which conveys information on how one performs the task and details ways to overcome difficulties, is far more effective than evaluative feedback, which simply informs students about how well they did.

WPA: Writing Program …

Suzanne Reeve

Alexander Maxwell

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