Online Access to AP Exam Scores

This year, the College Board is transitioning to online score reporting for students. This system should have some distinct advantages, the main one being that students will be able to access their scores faster than in previous years. However, this means you will NOT get a printed score report in the mail. All students must access their scores online, and you need to set up a student account to do so. If you don't have regular Internet access at home, you'll want make plans for access--seek out a friend with Internet, visit a public library--for registration and for retrieving your scores in July.

Be sure to write down your username and password when you register, since you will need these later in July. The College Board recommends emailing these pieces of information to yourself, since you will always be able to look them up that way.

Basically, the process will work like this:

1. Students set up online accounts. 
2. Students then simply need to wait until an email arrives (at the address provided during registration) in early July, indicating their scores are available for viewing. See the 2013 Early Access Schedule. Wisconsin students will be able to view and send AP scores during an early "window" on July 6th; all score reports will be available for regular viewing by July 8th.
3. When the email arrives, you'll need your account username and password that you created during registration, as well as your AP Number that you were provided during (pre)registration. (Remember those barcode stickers? Remember how your guidance counselor told you not to lose that number?)

For more information about online score access, visit AP Online Scores for Students. 

Online Resources for AP Psych Review

If you are the type that prefers to use online tools for your test preparation, you've got plenty of options in preparing for the AP Psych exam. You might find yourself gravitating toward "old reliables," like Quizlet flashcards, or perhaps you're looking for something new. Look no further.

However, keep in mind that at this point (with just days or hours remaining until the AP exam), you are looking to develop MASTERY of course content, not simple familiarity. Strategies that you used to develop familiarity with content when first presented with it are now best replaced with methods that put your understanding to the test by requiring you to recall or manipulate information in the same way you will be expected to on the AP Exam. For example, some research has suggested that simply re-reading text actually results in WORSE performance on tests because when you read something that is familiar, you may mistake that familiarity with true understanding and fail to adequately prepare.

That means, be cautious about simply reading chapter or topic summaries (for example, in an Exam Prep manual) or passively viewing a video, thinking to yourself, "Oh yeah. I know this," and then moving on. Those resources may be helpful for clarifying misunderstandings or as a reference ("What is the 3rd stage in Piaget's model of cognitive development? Oh here it is...") BUT, to find out how much you really know, PUT YOURSELF TO THE TEST. Here are some ways to do that:

Quizlet Links

You may have used these before for familiarity (just flipping through them?). This time, try using one of the study modes that forces you to commit to answer before revealing correctness: the "Learn," "Spacerace," and "Test" modes are good for that.

Remember, if you take a few minutes to sign up for a free account, you can combine different sets to create a more random review sequence!

• History and Approaches (Prologue)
• Research Methods (Ch. 1)
• Neuroscience (Ch. 2)
• Nature & Nurture of Behavior (Ch. 3)
• Developmental Psych (Ch. 4)
• Sensation & Perception (Ch. 5 & 6)
• Learning (Ch. 8)
• Memory (Ch. 9)
• States of Consciousness (Ch. 7)
• Thinking & Language (Ch. 10)
• Testing & Intelligence (Ch. 11)
• Motivation (Ch. 12)
• Emotion (Ch. 13 & selected portions of Ch. 14)
• Personality (Ch. 15)
• Psychological Disorders & Treatment (Ch. 16 & 17)
• Social Psychology (Ch. 18)
• And....most challenging of all, FAMOUS PSYCHOLOGISTS!

Videos

Need a quick review of a difficult topic? Try some of these sites.

Mr. Schallhorn's Review Videos - YouTube videos that give you a quick, but accurate overview of some of psychology's most challenging topics.

Education Portal Academy - Brief lectures on almost every major topic in AP Psych, with quizzes to follow. Not as detailed as in class lectures, but PLENTY for those needing a difficult topic re-explained.

Games

AP Psych Jeopardy - Play with up to five teams! (Requires Flashplayer)

Psychology Vocab Game - Challenging, timed vocabulary quiz. You can select the length depending on time available. FYI: Requires Flashplayer.

Famous Psychologists - Only 20 psychologists, but some fun interactive games. Good for beginners?

Jeopardy Reviews by Topic - Access this psychology course's home page and scroll down to find "Jeopardy Reviews for the AP Exam." These are Powerpoint files. Kudos to their creator (not me)!

Practice Questions

Online Practice Tests on Specific AP Psych Topics - some of these I have posted previously as we encountered them during the year. Good opportunities to return to difficult content and try again.

Previous FRQs - The College Board releases free-response questions from previous years, along with scoring rubrics and samples of student work. I'll have these available for viewing at our study session, but if you're working from home they're worth a look. 

Previously Released AP Psych Exams - Although these are only available in .pdf form (meaning there is no online or automatic scoring), this would be another opportunity to take a practice test. Keep in mind, these exams are OVER TEN YEARS old (that's why they are available to the public), so they may not be totally current in their content). However, you may find it a helpful challenge to take and score the 1999 or 1994 exams.

AP Psych Exam: Final Reminders

This Monday, you'll be taking the AP Psych Exam. Here's what Chippewa Falls AP Psych students need to know:

• The exam begins at 12:00 at the National Guard Armory. (See Map below) Arrive a few minutes early, if possible, to locate your testing room, as there will likely be more than one testing room for this exam. (NOTE: Not all AP subject exams will be at this location. If you are taking a different subject AP exam later in the week, be sure you know where to go for that).
• You will be excused 4th - 7th hours (release @ 11:12 AM).
• Since there will be little time between the end of your 3rd hour class and the exam start, consider packing a LIGHT lunch to eat on the way/before the exam begins. However, you can't bring food into the exam rooms. You may pack a snack in your backpack, though.
• You need to provide your own transportation to the test site. Arrange carpools ahead of time, if necessary. Don't wait until the last minute!
• Be sure to practice a solid pre-test regimen: get plenty of sleep the night before, eat healthful meals, and of course, review your course materials!

BRING:

1. A couple of #2 pencils (for the MC part).
2. A couple of pens (blue or black) for the F-R part. Be sure to have a couple in case one runs out of ink!
3. A watch (that does not beep!), in case you are seated in a place where the clock is not easy to see.
4. A sweatshirt? It's ideal to dress in layers so you can adjust if you're too hot/cold.

DO NOT BRING:

1. Cellular phones, beepers, MP3 players, or personal data assistants (PDAs)
2. Books, correction fluid, dictionaries, highlighters, or notes
3. Scratch paper (notes can be made on portions of the exam booklets)
4. Calculators
5. Watches that beep or have an alarm
6. Portable listening or recording devices (even with headphones) or photographic equipment
7. Clothing with psych-related information on it (e.g. sorry, even Psych Club shirts are a no-no)
8. Food or drinks

Good luck, everyone! You can do it!

Map to testing site:

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