5 Steps to a 5 AP Psychology, 2010-2011 Edition (5 page)

If your class is learning topics in a different order, it would be beneficial for you to substitute the corresponding Step 4 chapters in this book.

—Read and study
Chapter 5
, History and Approaches. Answer all Review Questions.

—Read and study
Chapter 6
, Research Methods. Answer all Review Questions.

—Read and study
Chapter 7
, Biological Bases of Behavior. Answer all Review Questions.

DECEMBER

—Read and study
Chapter 8
, Sensation and Perception. Answer all Review Questions. If you have time, visit the San Francisco Exploratorium website to do related activities.

—Read and study
Chapter 9
, States of Consciousness. Answer all Review Questions.

—Read and study
Chapter 10
, Learning. Answer all Review Questions.

—Review
Chapters 5
–
7
.

JANUARY
(20 weeks have elapsed.)

—Read and study
Chapter 11
, Cognition. Answer all Review Questions. If you have time, visit the Exploratorium website to do activities dealing with cognition.

—Read and study
Chapter 12
, Motivation and Emotion. Answer all Review Questions.

—Read and study
Chapter 13
, Developmental Psychology. Answer Review Questions

—Review
Chapters 8
–
10
.

FEBRUARY

—Read and study
Chapter 14
, Personality. Answer all Review Questions.

—Read and study
Chapter 15
, Testing and Individual Differences. Answer all Review Questions.

—Read and study
Chapter 16
, Abnormal Psychology. Answer all Review Questions.

—Review
Chapters 5
–
13
.

MARCH
(30 weeks have now elapsed.)

—Read and study
Chapter 17
, Treatment of Psychological Disorders. Answer all Review Questions.

—Read and study
Chapter 18
, Social Psychology. Answer all Review Questions.

—Review all Step 4
Chapters 5
–
18
.

APRIL

—Take Practice Exam 1 the first week in April.

—Score your answers.

—Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.

—Study appropriate chapters to correct your weaknesses.

—Go over previous AP Psychology exams you took.

—Go to suggested websites that offer additional questions for you to answer.

MAY
(THIS IS IT!)

—Review all Step 4
Chapters 5
–
18
.

—Take Practice Exam 2.

—Score your answers.

—Study appropriate material to correct your weaknesses.

—Get a good night’s sleep before the exam. Fall asleep knowing that you are well prepared.

I hope the test questions give you an opportunity to show how well prepared you are!

Plan B: You Have One Semester to Prepare

If your class is learning topics in a different order, it would be beneficial for you to substitute the corresponding Step 4 chapters in this book.

JANUARY–FEBRUARY

—Carefully read
Chapters 1
–
4
of this book.

—Take the Diagnostic Exam and get an idea of what you’ll need to know to succeed in this course.

—Read and study
Chapter 5
, History and Approaches. Answer all Review Questions.

—Read and study
Chapter 6
, Research Methods. Answer all Review Questions.

—Read and study
Chapter 7
, Biological Bases of Behavior. Answer all Review Questions.

—Read and study
Chapter 8
, Sensation and Perception. Answer all Review Questions. If you have time, visit the San Francisco Exploratorium website to do related activities.

—Read and study
Chapter 9
, States of Consciousness. Answer all Review Questions.

—Read and study
Chapter 10
, Learning. Answer all Review Questions.

MARCH
(10 weeks to go)

—Read and study
Chapter 11
, Cognition. Answer all Review Questions. If you have time, visit the Exploratorium website to do activities dealing with cognition.

—Read and study
Chapter 12
, Motivation and Emotion. Answer all Review Questions.

—Read and study
Chapter 13
, Developmental Psychology. Answer Review Questions.

—Review
Chapters 5
–
10
.

—Read and study
Chapter 14
, Personality. Answer all Review Questions.

—Read and study
Chapter 15
, Testing and Individual Differences. Answer all Review Questions.

—Read and study
Chapter 16
, Abnormal Psychology. Answer all Review Questions.

—Review
Chapters 5
–
16
.

APRIL

—Read and Study
Chapter 17
, Treatment of Psychological Disorders. Answer Questions.

—Read and study
Chapter 18
, Social Psychology. Answer all Review Questions.

—Take Practice Exam 1.

—Score your answers.

—Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.

—Study appropriate chapters to correct your weaknesses.

—Review all Step 4
Chapters 5
–
18
.

MAY
(first 2 weeks) (THIS IS IT!)

—Take Practice Exam 2.

—Score your answers.

—Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.

—Study appropriate material to correct your weaknesses.

—Get a good night’s sleep before the exam knowing that you are well prepared.

I hope the test questions give you an opportunity to show how well prepared you are!

Plan C: You Have Six Weeks to Prepare

When time is short, you need to use this book as a specific guide to the AP Psychology exam. Rather than rereading an introductory psychology college textbook, you can read through the Step 4
Chapters 5
–
18
, focusing on the Key Terms and Names. Answer all of the questions at the end of the chapters, and check your answers.

APRIL 1–15

—Skim
Chapters 1
–
4
of this book.

—Skim
Chapters 5
–
11
.

—Carefully go over the Rapid Review sections of
Chapters 5
–
11
.

—Complete the Micro Practice Exam 1.

—Score yourself and analyze your errors.

—Skim and highlight the Glossary at the end of the book.

APRIL 15–MAY 1

—Skim
Chapters 12
–
17
.

—Carefully go over the Rapid Review sections of
Chapters 12
–
17
.

—Complete the Macro Practice Exam 1.

—Score yourself and analyze your errors.

—Continue to skim and highlight the Glossary at the end of the book.

MAY
(first 2 weeks) (THIS IS IT!)

—Carefully go over the Rapid Review sections of
Chapters 5
–
17
.

—Take both Practice Exams 2.

—Score yourself and analyze your errors.

—Get a good night’s sleep before the exam knowing that you are ready for a challenge.

I hope the AP exam asks exactly what you know best.

CHAPTER 3 Take a Diagnostic Exam

IN THIS CHAPTER

Summary
: Get started in your review by answering the questions in the diagnostic exam. Use the answer sheet to record your answers. After you’ve finished answering the questions, check your answers with the answer key. The review chapter to which the question applies is indicated at the beginning of each answer in the key. Your results should give you a good idea of how well you’re prepared for the AP exam at this time. Follow the directions regarding scoring and interpretation. If you get all of the questions right, pass this book on to someone who needs it! Note those chapters that you need to study the most, and spend more time on them. Ready, set, go!

Key ideas

Practice the kind of multiple-choice questions you will be asked on the AP Psychology exam.

Answer questions that approximate the coverage of topics on the real exam.

Check your work against the given answers.