Key Takeaways
- The AP Psychology exam lasts for two hours and includes 100 multiple-choice questions and two free-response questions.
- To pass the AP Psychology exam, students must score a 3 or higher on a scale of 1 to 5.
- You can prepare for the exam by enrolling in an AP Psychology course or using study guides and practice exams.
The AP Psychology exam can be an opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. The exam can be tough, but knowing what to expect and being prepared can help you tackle the test. Discover what the AP Psychology exam is, what the test covers, and what you need to do to prepare.
What Is the AP Psychology Exam?
Advanced Placement Psychology, more commonly referred to as AP Psychology, is a college-level introductory psychology course offered at many high schools.
The course is offered as part of the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program, allowing students to earn college credit. The course prepares students to take the AP Psychology Exam, a comprehensive test that covers material found in a typical college introductory psychology class.
Basics
Before you take the exam, you should first become familiar with the basic structure of the test as well as the content covered.
- The AP Psychology exam lasts for two hours.
- The test consists of a multiple-choice section and a free-response section. There are 100 multiple-choice questions and two free-response questions.
- Students have 70 minutes to complete the multiple-choice section and 50 minutes to complete the free-response section.
- The multiple-choice portion of the exam accounts for two-thirds of the score, while the free response section makes up the remaining one-third of the score.
- To pass, students must score a 3 or higher on a scale of 1 to 5.
According to the College Board, a total of 262,700 students took the AP Psychology test in 2021. Of these students, 55% earned a passing grade on the test, scoring a 3 or higher. As you can see from looking at the exam statistics, the AP Psychology test is by no means easy. The test is challenging and covers a considerable amount of information about psychology.
If you plan to take the AP Psychology test, be sure to start planning well in advance so that you can review the subject thoroughly.
Content Covered in the AP Psychology Exam
The exam covers subject matter that is typically taught in a college-level introductory psychology course. Some content areas of psychology have more test questions dedicated to it than others:
How to Register
If AP psychology classes are offered at your school, talk to your counselor about enrolling in AP Psychology. If you are homeschooled or your school does not offer AP courses, you can still enroll in independent study or possibly take an online AP course if it is offered in your state.
If your school has an AP Coordinator, inform them that you would like to take the test. The coordinator will then register you for the test, collect the exam fees, and let you know when and where the test will take place.
Homeschooled students will need to locate a school to take the AP Exam as early in the school year as possible. Each school has its own deadline for registering, but is usually near November 15th each year. The College Board provides an AP Course Ledger that provides an up-to-date list of schools that are providing AP exams. You will have to call the school and ask to speak to the AP coordinator to find out if they are allowing homeschooled students to take the exam at their location.
If you are homeschooled and have questions or need assistance with this process, contact AP Services. They can help you locate a school willing to administer the exam to homeschooled students.
You can also learn more about the registration process by visiting the registration page on the College Board website.
How to Prepare
Perhaps the best way to prepare for the AP Psychology test is to enroll in an AP Psychology course, but it is not required. The class will take you through the material that will be covered in the exam, so if you do well in class you should be adequately prepared to take the test. However, there are other preparation materials available to students not enrolled in the course or for those who feel they need extra help.
You can also find a variety of AP Psychology books, study guides, and practice exams that can help you prepare for the exam. These materials can be helpful for supplementing your classroom lectures and readings.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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