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- Should my student take the AP Psychology Exam in the Spring?
- When is the AP Psychology Exam?
- How is the Exam set up?
- How much does the AP Psychology Exam cost?
- Are there any study guides available for the AP Psychology Exam?
- What is Advanced Placement (AP)?
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Should my student take the AP Psychology Exam in the Spring?
I expect all students enrolled in AP Psychology to take the AP Exam in May. Colleges look more
favorably toward a student that attempts the AP Exam (even if they do not pass), than a student that
takes an AP class and does not take the exam. Every student in this class has the information and
the potential to do very well on the Exam - they just have to review and S-T-U-D-Y!
In a recent study, the College Board (the group who creates and distributes the AP Exams) found
that:
1). 33% of all college students graduate within 4 years.
2). 45% of college students who have taken just one AP course (whether they passed the AP Exam or
not) graduate from college in 4 years.
3). 61% of college students who have taken two AP courses (whether they passed the AP Exam or
not) graduate from college in 4 years.
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When is the AP Psychology Exam?
The Exam will be Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 11:30am in Room 1300. Students are expected to
arrive at least 15 minutes early, and be prepared with pens and pencils. Also, make sure you bring a
watch to time yourself for the two essay questions. You may NOT bring a cell phone, iPod, or any
electronic device.
The Exam is expected to end between 4:00 and 4:30pm. You must stay for the entire examination
period (even if you finish early), so plan accordingly.
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How is the Exam set up?
The AP Psychology Exam is made up of 2 sections. The first section has 100 multiple choice
questions and is worth 2/3 of the grade. Students have 70 minutes to answer the multiple choice
section. The second section is 2 essay questions (students must answer both questions) within 50
minutes. This section is worth 1/3 of the score.
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How much does the AP Psychology Exam cost?
The total cost is $84 for the first AP Exam taken and $30 for each additional AP Exam a student
registers to take.
There are fee reductions forms for students who qualify. The forms are available from their AP
teacher or the AP Coordinator (Mr. Sutton). If a student qualifies for a fee reduction, they will only
have to pay $5 per AP Exam. The deadline for submitting the fee reduction form is Friday, March 7,
2008.
No student should abstain from the test for financial reasons. I will find you funding - see me if you
have questions or concerns.
All payments for AP Exams are due by Friday, March 7, 2008.
Please do NOT wait until the last day to make your payment. We have hundreds of students who
take AP Exams (and only one Finance Clerk to process each request), so the line can get very long.
Save yourself time by planning ahead!
The test can be paid for by cash, cashier's check, or credit card (NO CHECKS) at the Finance Office
(next to the Dawg House) in the quad.
Or, you can pre-order the exam online using your credit card through the Helix website
(www.helixcharter.net). Click on "Student Store Online" in the left hand column and then "AP Tests".
However, if you choose this option, you can NOT qualify for a fee reduction.
The teacher in charge of AP Exams is Mr. Sutton. Please e-mail him (rsutton@helixcharter.net) if you
have additional questions.
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Are there any study guides available for the AP Psychology Exam?
I have looked at several (if not all) of the study guides available for the AP Psychology Exam and my
favorite (easy to ready, sample quizzes with explanations, and relevant) is Barron's "How to Prepare
for the AP Psychology Exam" by Robert McEntarffer and Allyson Weseley. The runner-up is the
Princeton Review's "Cracking the AP Psychology Exam" by Robert Sternberg.
One of the newer review books that is very impressive is McGraw-Hill's "5 Steps to a 5: AP
Psychology" by Laura Lincoln Maitland. It is a little longer and more detailed than the above ones,
and includes some interesting strategies.
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What is Advanced Placement (AP)?
The Advanced Placement ProgramŽ is a cooperative educational endeavor between secondary
schools and colleges and universities. Since its inception in 1955, the Program has provided
motivated high school students with the opportunity to take college-level courses in a high school
setting. Students who participate in the Program not only gain college-level skills, but in many cases
they also earn college credit while they are still in high school. AP courses are taught by high school
teachers who follow course guidelines developed and published by the College Board.
The Program's success is rooted in the collaborative efforts of motivated students, dedicated
teachers, and committed schools. By participating in the Program, secondary schools make the
commitment to organize and support at least one class that is equivalent to a first-year college
course.
If you have additional questions about the Advanced Placement program, you may want to check out
their website: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html
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