Curriculum fit: US AP Psychology. Format and units follow College Board's AP Central pages checked on 6 November 2026. Always check AP Central for the current year, because College Board can change timings and question types.
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What Is It?
AP Psychology is a US college-level course that ends in a digital exam taken in the Bluebook app. The exam has two sections: a multiple-choice section and a free-response section.
Section I has 75 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes and counts for about two thirds (66.7%) of your score. Section II has 2 free-response questions in 70 minutes and counts for the other third (33.3%).
The course has five units. Each unit is worth 15% to 25% of the multiple-choice section, so no unit can be skipped. Knowing the format first lets you practise the right skills instead of only rereading notes.
Key Formulas and Ideas
- Section I: 75 multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes, 66.7% of the score.
- Section II: 2 free-response questions (an Article Analysis Question and an Evidence-Based Question), 70 minutes, 33.3% of the score.
- Units: 1 Biological Bases of Behavior, 2 Cognition, 3 Development and Learning, 4 Social Psychology and Personality, 5 Mental and Physical Health.
- Multiple-choice skills: Concept Application 65%, Research Methods and Design 25%, Data Interpretation 10%.
Worked Examples
Time per Multiple-Choice Question
Section I gives 90 minutes for 75 questions. How long is that per question on average?
- Divide the time by the number of questions: 90 ÷ 75.
- 90 ÷ 75 = 1.2 minutes.
- Convert to seconds: 1.2 × 60 = 72 seconds.
✓ Answer 72 seconds per question
Sharing Your Study Weeks
You have 10 weeks. Each of the five units is weighted about equally (15% to 25%). Plan the time with 2 weeks for review and practice tests.
- Weeks left for new content: 10 − 2 = 8.
- Five units share 8 weeks: 8 ÷ 5 = 1.6 weeks each.
- Give 2 weeks to the units you find hardest and about 1 week to the others.
✓ Answer About 1.6 weeks per unit, adjusted for your weak spots
Which Section Is Worth More?
A student scores perfectly on the free response but misses many multiple-choice questions. Which section carries more weight?
- Multiple choice is 66.7% of the score.
- Free response is 33.3% of the score.
- So multiple choice counts twice as much.
✓ Answer Multiple choice, about twice as much as free response
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Studying only definitions. About two thirds of the multiple-choice section is concept application, so practise using ideas on new situations.
- Ignoring research methods because they are not a unit. They are tested across every unit.
- Leaving the free-response questions until the last week. They need practice writing, not just reading.
- Spending the same time on every unit without checking which ones you find hardest.
Practice Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the AP Psychology exam?
There are 75 multiple-choice questions and 2 free-response questions. The multiple-choice section lasts 90 minutes and the free-response section lasts 70 minutes.
When is the AP Psychology exam in 2027?
AP Central lists the 2027 exam for Friday 14 May 2027, in Session 2. Check AP Central again nearer the date in case the schedule changes.
Do I need to know research methods for AP Psychology?
Yes. Research methods and design makes up 25% of the multiple-choice questions and it is also the heart of the Article Analysis Question in the free-response section.
Keep Going With These Guides
AP Psychology Research Methods and Statistics
The research methods and statistics ideas AP Psychology tests: variables, experiments, correlation, sampling, ethics, the normal curve and standard deviation.
APHigh SchoolAP Psychology Free Response: The AAQ and EBQ
How to answer AP Psychology's Article Analysis Question and Evidence-Based Question, with the six AAQ parts, the three EBQ parts and a worked plan.
APHigh SchoolActive Recall: The Best Way to Revise (With Examples)
Learn why testing yourself beats rereading, and four simple ways to use active recall: flashcards, blank-page recall and practice questions.
KS3GCSEA-LevelMiddle School+3Spaced Repetition: How to Remember What You Revise
Review material at increasing gaps to remember it long term, with an example schedule and the Leitner box system.
KS3GCSEA-LevelMiddle School+3Sources and Review
Reviewed by StudyMorrow editorial review on 6 Nov 2026.