5 Steps to a 5 AP Psychology, 2014-2015 Edition (2013)
STEP 1. Set Up Your Study Plan
Chapter 2. How to Plan Your Time
IN THIS CHAPTER
Summary: The right preparation plan for you depends on your study habits and the amount of time you have before the test.
Key Idea
Choose the study plan that’s right for you.
Three Approaches to Preparing for AP Exams
What kind of preparation program for the AP exam should you follow? Should you carefully follow every step, or are there perhaps some steps you can bypass? That depends not only on how much time you have, but also on what kind of student you are. No one knows your study habits, likes, and dislikes better than you. You are the best one to decide the approach for you to adopt to prepare successfully for the Advanced Placement Psychology Exam. This chapter presents three possible study plans, labeled A, B, and C. Look at the brief profiles below. These may help you determine which of these three plans is right for you.
You’re a Full-School-Year Prep Student If:
1. You are the kind of person who likes to plan for everything very far in advance.
2. You arrive at the airport hours before your scheduled flight because you never know when something can happen.
3. You like detailed planning and to have everything in its place.
4. In order to be comfortable, you must feel thoroughly prepared.
5. You arrive early for appointments.
6. You hate surprises.
If you fit this profile, consider Plan A.
You’re a One-Semester Prep Student If:
1. You plan a graduation party or vacation a few months in advance so that people you invite will be likely to be available, and you can get everything you need.
2. You generally get to the airport in enough time to pass through security without feeling hassled, and get to the gate before boarding has begun.
3. You are willing to plan ahead to feel comfortable in stressful situations, but are okay with skipping some details.
4. You feel more comfortable when you know what to expect, but a surprise or two are cool.
5. You arrive on time for appointments.
If you fit this profile, consider Plan B.
You’re a 6-Week Prep Student If:
1. You buy your best friend a gift for his or her birthday, but you need to include a belated card because you missed it by a couple of days.
2. You work best under pressure and tight deadlines.
3. You feel very confident with the skills and background you’ve learned in your AP Psychology class.
4. You decided late in the year to take the exam.
5. Surprises energize you.
6. You feel okay if you arrive 10–15 minutes late for an appointment.
If you fit this profile, consider Plan C.
Table 2.1 Three Different Study Plans for AP Psychology
Calendar for Each Plan
Plan A: You Have a Full School Year to Prepare.
Use this plan to organize your study during the coming school year. Although its primary purpose is to prepare you for the AP Psychology exam, this book can enrich your study of psychology and help you develop your analytical and free-response writing skills.
SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER (Check off the activities as you complete them.)
— Determine the student mode (A, B, or C) that applies to you.
— Carefully read the Preface, Introduction, and 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.
— Begin to integrate boldfaced words into your vocabulary.
— Get on the Web and take a look at the AP Web site(s) listed at the back of this book.
— Skim the review chapters in Step 4 of this book. (Reviewing the topics covered in this section will be part of your year-long preparation.)
— Buy a few color highlighters.
— Flip through the entire book. Break the book in. Write in it. Toss it around a little bit; highlight it.
— Get a clear picture of your own school’s AP Psychology curriculum.
— Begin to use the book as a resource to supplement the classroom learning.
NOVEMBER (The first 10 weeks have elapsed.)
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 Web site 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 Web site 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 Behavior. Answer all Review Questions.
— Review Chapters 5–13.
MARCH (30 weeks have now elapsed.)
— Read and study Chapter 17, Treatment of Abnormal Behavior. Answer all Review Questions.
— Read and study Chapter 18, Social Psychology. Answer all Review Questions.
— Review 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 Web sites that offer additional questions for you to answer.
MAY (THIS IS IT!)
— Review all Step 4 chapters.
— 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 Web site 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 Web site 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 Behavior. Answer all Review Questions.
— Review Chapters 5–16.
APRIL
— Read and Study Chapter 17, Treatment of Abnormal Behavior. 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.
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 Diagnostic/Master Exam starting on p. 19.
— 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 AP Psychology 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 AP Psychology Practice Exam 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.