AP Psychology Test Taking Strategies

AP Psychology Test Taking Strategies

Multiple Select

Identify the key words in the sentence. check all that apply

Angie is a scientist who is interested in the physical basis of psychological phenomena such as motivation, emotion, and stress. She is called a(n)

• physical basis

• psychological phenomena

• interested

• motivation, emotion, stress

Multiple Select

Identify the key words

One of the primary tools of the school of structuralism was

• primary tools

• school

• structuralism

Multiple Select

Identify the key words

Binocular cues provide important cues for depth perception because

• binocular cues

• depth

Multiple Select

Identify the key words

The recognition-by-components theory asserts that we categorize objects by breaking them down into their components parts and then

• Recognition-by-components

• theory

• categorize objects

• breaking them down

• component parts

Strategy #2 - Example

How would you ask this question in your own words?

Angie is called a person who is into the physical basis of psychology.

With your answer in mind, look at each answer choice.

A - psychologist

B - anthropologist

C - physical therapist

D - paleontologist

E - biopsychologist

Now, use your answer in mind, look at each answer choice and choose your answer...

• Is a psychologist a person who's into the physical basis of psychology? No, this person is into more than just the physical basis.

• Is an anthropologist a person who's into the physical basis of psychology? No, an anthropologist is into cultures.

• Is a physical therapist a person who's into the physical basis of psychology? No, this person is not into the psychology part.

• Is a paleontologist a person who's into the physical basis of psychology? No, idea what this person is.

• Is a biopsychologist a person who's into the physical basis of psychology? Yes

Your answer?

Choice (E) biopsychologist. By predicting the answer to the question before reading the answer choices, you were able to avoid getting tripped up in the first three answer choices. Plus, you realized the answer had to be (E), biopsychologist, without necessarily knowing anything about (D), paleontologist (a paleontologist studies fossils, by the way).