AP-Psychology
Section outline
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Refer to this link to get information from College Board about the AP exams.
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Refer to this link for information specific to the AP - Psychology exam.
The next exam is tentatively scheduled to be administered on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
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Activities: 1
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Objective
You'll study behaviors and mental processes from a biological perspective and explore the effects of the interaction between human biology and our environment.
Topics may include:
- The interaction of inherited traits, environment, and evolution in shaping behavior
- Structures and functions of nervous systems
- Neural firing and the influence of psychoactive substances
- The study of the brain, including its structures and functions
- Sleep
- Sensation
On The Exam
15%–25% of exam score
Activities: 12 -
Objective
You'll examine the complex nature of how memory, intelligence, and other mental processes impact human behavior.
Topics may include:
- Perception
- Biases and errors in thinking, creative thinking, and problem-solving strategies
- The cognitive and physiological processes that make up memory
- Forgetting and typical memory errors
- Defining and measuring intelligence and achievement
On The Exam
15%–25% of exam score
Activities: 13 -
Objective
You'll study how physical and social changes over humans' lifespans can influence behavior and mental processes from a variety of perspectives and how learning works.
Topics may include:
- Research methods used in developmental psychology
- Physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development across the lifespan
- Gender and sexual orientation
On The Exam
15%–25% of exam score
Activities: 6 -
Objective
You'll study how the social experience influences behavior of individuals and groups and how personality is studied and develops.
Topics may include:
- Attribution theory and person perception
- Attitude formation and change
- The psychology of social situations
- Psychodynamic, humanistic, social cognitive, and trait theories of personality
- Motivation
- Emotion
On The Exam
15%–25% of exam score
Activities: 12 -
Objective
You'll learn how psychologists promote mental and physical health and evaluate, study, and treat a range of psychological disorders.
Topics may include:
- An introduction to health and positive psychology
- Standards for diagnosing and approaches to explaining psychological disorders
- Neurodevelopmental and schizophrenic spectrum disorders
- Bipolar, depressive, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders
- Dissociative and trauma- and stress-related disorders
- Eating disorders and personality disorders
- Historical developments in psychological treatment
- Modern treatment options and methods
On The Exam
15%–25% of exam score
Activities: 16