Each question is worth 1 point on the AP exam. Write your response, then click Grade with AI for instant feedback. Or click Show Rubric to self-grade and see a full-credit example response. Pay close attention to the action word — identify, describe, explain, and propose each require different types of responses.
✍ FRQ Practice · Research method + operational definition
Researchers wanted to know whether one night of poor sleep affects high school students' attention. They recruited 60 students and randomly assigned half to a 'restricted sleep' group (4 hours in bed) and half to a 'normal sleep' group (8 hours in bed). The next morning, all students completed a sustained-attention task in which they pressed a button whenever a target letter appeared on a screen. The restricted-sleep group missed an average of 14.2 targets out of 50; the normal-sleep group missed an average of 4.8 targets out of 50.
Adapted study, Unit 1: Sleep and attention
Identify the research method used in this study and state the operational definition of attention as used by the researchers.
Key Points for Full Credit
Identifies the method as an experiment (random assignment to two sleep conditions)
Operational definition of attention = number of target letters missed out of 50 on the sustained-attention task
Must be specific and measurable — not just 'how well they paid attention'
Rubric note: Award the point only if the response (1) identifies the method as an experiment (random assignment to two conditions confirms this), AND (2) gives a measurable definition of attention referencing the number of target letters detected or missed on the sustained-attention task. A vague answer like 'how well they paid attention' does NOT earn the point.
✍ FRQ Practice · Interpret a statistic
A team of neuroscientists studied reuptake of serotonin in 80 adults with depression. After 6 weeks, the group taking an SSRI medication scored a mean of 12.4 on a depression inventory (lower scores = less depression). The group taking a placebo scored a mean of 19.1 on the same inventory. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01).
Adapted study, Unit 1: Neurotransmitters
Describe what the difference in mean depression scores between the SSRI group and the placebo group indicates in relation to the study.
Key Points for Full Credit
SSRI group mean (12.4) was lower than placebo group (19.1)
Lower score = less depression, so the SSRI group had less severe symptoms
This suggests the medication was effective at reducing depressive symptoms
Must interpret the numbers — not just list them
Rubric note: Award the point only if the response interprets the means in context. A correct response describes that the SSRI group had a LOWER mean score, indicating LESS depression than the placebo group, and that this suggests the medication reduced depressive symptoms. Simply listing the numbers (12.4 vs 19.1) without interpretation does NOT earn the point.
✍ FRQ Practice · Identify ethical guideline
Researchers studying brain plasticity recruited 40 stroke survivors for a study on rehabilitation exercises. Before participating, each person was given a written explanation of the procedures, including the possibility of mild fatigue, and signed a form indicating they agreed to take part. Participants were also told they could withdraw at any time without penalty. After the study ended, all participants received a written summary of the findings.
Adapted study, Unit 1: Brain plasticity
Identify at least one ethical guideline applied by the researchers in this study.
Key Points for Full Credit
Identifies informed consent (written explanation + signed form before the study)
OR right to withdraw (could stop at any time without penalty)
OR debriefing (written summary of findings sent after the study)
Must connect the guideline to a specific feature of THIS study
Rubric note: Award the point if the response correctly identifies an ethical guideline that was actually applied in the study — such as informed consent (the explanation + signed form), the right to withdraw, or debriefing (the post-study summary). The response must connect the guideline to a specific feature of THIS study. Identifying confidentiality is NOT correct since it is not described in the stimulus.
✍ FRQ Practice · Generalizability
A study examined how circadian rhythms affect alertness. Researchers recruited 75 college students, all between the ages of 18 and 22, from a single university in California. Each participant completed reaction-time tests at 8 a.m., 2 p.m., and 10 p.m. for one week. The researchers found that reaction times were slowest at 8 a.m. and fastest at 2 p.m.
Adapted study, Unit 1: Circadian rhythms
Explain the extent to which the findings of this study can be generalized, using specific evidence about the participants.
Key Points for Full Credit
Makes a claim that findings cannot be generalized broadly
Cites specific evidence: only ages 18–22, single university, all from California
Explains why: results may not apply to older adults, different time zones, or other populations
Rubric note: Award the point if the response makes a claim about generalizability AND backs it up with specific participant evidence from the stimulus. Acceptable evidence: narrow age range (18-22), all from one university, all from California. The response must reference a relevant population. A vague answer like 'the study is generalizable because the sample was big' does NOT earn the point.
✍ FRQ Practice · Argumentation: support/refute
Researchers compared the brains of 25 people who had practiced meditation daily for over 10 years with the brains of 25 people who had never meditated. MRI scans showed that long-term meditators had significantly thicker gray matter in the prefrontal cortex (a region linked to attention and decision-making) than non-meditators of the same age.
Adapted study, Unit 1: Brain plasticity
Explain how the research findings support or refute the concept of brain plasticity.
Key Points for Full Credit
Uses specific finding: thicker gray matter in prefrontal cortex in long-term meditators vs. non-meditators
Connects it to brain plasticity — the brain physically changed in response to repeated experience
Must link the finding to the concept
Rubric note: Award the point only if the response (1) uses a specific finding from the study (the thicker prefrontal cortex in long-term meditators), AND (2) accurately connects it to the concept of brain plasticity (the brain reorganizing itself in response to experience). A response that mentions only the finding OR only the concept, without linking them, does NOT earn the point.
✍ FRQ Practice · Propose a defensible claim
A researcher is preparing a paper arguing for or against the importance of getting at least 8 hours of sleep per night for teenagers. The researcher has access to studies showing that sleep-deprived teens have worse memory consolidation, slower reaction times, and more frequent mood swings than well-rested teens.
Unit 1: Sleep
Propose a specific and defensible claim, based in psychological science, about whether teenagers should aim for at least 8 hours of sleep per night.
Key Points for Full Credit
Takes a specific, defensible position (e.g., teenagers SHOULD aim for 8 hours)
Grounds it in psychological science: sleep deprivation impairs memory consolidation, reaction time, and mood
Must be more than 'sleep is important' — needs to commit to a claim
Rubric note: Award the point only if the response proposes a SPECIFIC, defensible claim that takes a position grounded in psychological science. Acceptable: 'Teenagers should aim for at least 8 hours of sleep because sleep deprivation impairs memory and mood.' NOT acceptable: 'Sleep is important.' / Restating the question without taking a position.
✍ FRQ Practice · Research method + statistic interpretation
Researchers surveyed 200 adults online, asking them to rate how often they listen to white noise (rarely, sometimes, often) and to estimate how well they can hear faint sounds in everyday life. Adults who reported listening to white noise 'often' rated their hearing as slightly better (mean self-rating = 7.2 out of 10) than those who 'rarely' listened (mean = 6.8 out of 10).
Adapted study, Unit 1: Sensation
Identify the research method used in this study and describe what the difference in the mean self-ratings indicates in the context of the study.
Key Points for Full Credit
Identifies the method as correlational / survey (no manipulation or random assignment)
Interprets the difference (7.2 vs. 6.8) as a small positive association — not causation
Must NOT call this an experiment
Rubric note: Award the point only if the response (1) correctly identifies this as a correlational or survey study (NOT an experiment — no random assignment or manipulation), AND (2) interprets the small difference in means (7.2 vs 6.8) as a weak association between white-noise listening and self-rated hearing. A response that identifies the method as 'experiment' does NOT earn the point.
✍ FRQ Practice · Argumentation: support/refute
In a controlled experiment, researchers gave 60 adults with mild anxiety either a drug that increases GABA activity or a placebo, in a double-blind design. After two weeks, the GABA group reported a 38% decrease in self-rated anxiety, while the placebo group reported only a 6% decrease. The difference was statistically significant.
Adapted study, Unit 1: Neurotransmitters
Explain how the findings support or refute the role of GABA as an inhibitory neurotransmitter that influences anxiety.
Key Points for Full Credit
Uses specific finding: 38% decrease in anxiety for GABA group vs. 6% for placebo
Connects it to GABA's role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter that calms neural activity
Supports GABA's involvement in anxiety — must link data to mechanism
Rubric note: Award the point only if the response (1) uses a specific finding from the study (38% decrease vs. 6%), AND (2) accurately connects it to GABA's role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter that calms neural activity and reduces anxiety. A response that just restates findings without explaining GABA, or explains GABA without referencing the data, does NOT earn the point.