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AP Psychology Practice Test

This AP Psychology practice test helps you prepare for the College Board AP Psychology exam. Use these sample questions to review major psychological concepts, research methods, and the biological bases of behavior.

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Sample AP Psychology questions

Try these practice questions to test your knowledge. Select an answer to see if you got it right.

AP Psychology Sample Questions

Practice quiz

1. In a study, researchers find that students who sleep more tend to have higher grades. This demonstrates:

2. Which neurotransmitter is most associated with the pleasure and reward system in the brain?

3. According to Piaget, the ability to understand that objects continue to exist even when not visible develops during which stage?

4. A dog salivates when hearing a bell after the bell has been repeatedly paired with food. In this example, the bell is the:

5. The cocktail party effect demonstrates:

6. Which part of the brain is most involved in forming new explicit memories?

7. Conformity to a group even when the group is obviously wrong, as shown in Asch's line experiments, demonstrates:

8. A person with damage to Broca's area would most likely have difficulty with:

9. According to the psychoanalytic perspective, the part of personality that operates on the reality principle is the:

10. Schizophrenia is characterized by which type of symptoms?

11. In Milgram's obedience studies, participants were most likely to obey when:

12. Which defense mechanism involves attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts to others?

13. A test is considered reliable if it:

0 of 13 answered

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Exam at a glance

AP Psychology is a College Board exam that introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. The course covers major theories, research methods, and applications.

Detail	Information
Exam length	2 hours
Multiple-choice questions	100 questions in 70 minutes
Free-response questions	2 questions in 50 minutes
Exam weight	Multiple-choice: 66.7%; Free-response: 33.3%

Source: College Board AP Psychology · Last reviewed Oct 22, 2026

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AP Psychology content areas

Unit 1: Scientific Foundations of Psychology

History of psychology, research methods, statistics, and ethical guidelines.

Unit 2: Biological Bases of Behavior

Neurons, brain structure, neurotransmitters, endocrine system, and genetics.

Unit 3: Sensation and Perception

How sensory information is received, processed, and interpreted.

Unit 4: Learning

Classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning.

Unit 5: Cognitive Psychology

Memory, thinking, problem-solving, language, and intelligence.

Unit 6: Developmental Psychology

Physical, cognitive, and social development across the lifespan.

Unit 7: Motivation, Emotion, and Personality

Theories of motivation and emotion, personality theories and assessment.

Unit 8: Clinical Psychology

Psychological disorders, diagnosis, and treatment approaches.

Unit 9: Social Psychology

Social influence, attitudes, group behavior, and interpersonal processes.

Study tips for AP Psychology

Learn key researchers

Know major figures like Freud, Piaget, Skinner, Bandura, and Milgram and what they studied.

Master research methods

Understand correlation vs. causation, experimental design, and common biases. These concepts appear frequently.

Use mnemonics for brain structures

Create memory aids for brain regions and their functions. Knowing neuroanatomy is essential.

Practice free-response format

FRQs require applying concepts to scenarios. Practice writing clear, direct answers that address all parts of the question.

Connect concepts across units

Psychology topics overlap. Classical conditioning relates to therapy; brain structure relates to disorders. See the connections.

Clear answers

AP Psychology FAQ

How long is the AP Psychology exam?+

The AP Psychology exam is 2 hours total: 70 minutes for 100 multiple-choice questions and 50 minutes for 2 free-response questions.

What topics are covered on the AP Psychology exam?+

The exam covers nine units: Scientific Foundations, Biological Bases of Behavior, Sensation and Perception, Learning, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Motivation, Emotion, and Personality, Clinical Psychology, and Social Psychology.

Is AP Psychology difficult?+

AP Psychology is often considered one of the more accessible AP exams because it covers familiar human experiences. However, it requires memorizing many terms, theories, and researchers.

What score do I need for college credit?+

AP Psychology credit policies differ by school. Many universities grant introductory psychology course credit for a score of 3 or higher. Competitive programs may require a 4 or 5. Review your intended major requirements at each school.

How should I prepare for the free-response questions?+

FRQs require you to apply psychological concepts to scenarios. Practice by reading the prompt carefully, identifying required terms, and writing clear definitions and applications.

What percentage of students pass AP Psychology?+

Pass rates vary by year, but AP Psychology typically has relatively high pass rates compared to other AP exams. Passing is considered a score of 3 or higher.

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