How to Ace the 2021 AP Psychology FRQ: Tips and Sample Answers

Well now, if you’re lookin’ to learn ’bout them AP Psychology FRQs from 2021, I reckon I can give ya a hand. Don’t matter if you ain’t too good with all that fancy talk, I’ll break it down in a way that’s easy to understand, just like I would tell a neighbor over some sweet tea. Now, these FRQs, they’re them Free-Response Questions, where you gotta answer a couple questions on the exam, and each one’s worth a heap of points.

See, when you take this AP Psych test, you got two big questions in Section II, and each one’s worth 25 points. So, you get yourself a total of 50 points just from them two questions. It’s real important, mind you, to answer ’em right, ’cause this is where you can really show off what you know ’bout psychology. Now, these questions ain’t no simple yes or no kinda deal. You gotta put your thoughts down clearly, show how you understand them ideas, and make sure you explain things so the person readin’ can follow along, even if they ain’t got a clue what you’re talkin’ about at first.

Let’s talk about a good ol’ example. Imagine you got a question like this: Malia’s got herself a research paper to write, and she’s got weeks to work on it before she turns it in. The question might ask, “How does Malia’s belief in her own abilities affect how she approaches the task?” Now, don’t just tell ’em the answer like it’s a grocery list. You gotta talk ’bout how Malia’s got what they call “self-efficacy,” which is just a fancy way of sayin’ how much someone believes they can get something done. If Malia thinks she can write a good paper, she’s more likely to sit down and do the work without procrastinatin’. If she don’t believe in herself, she might not even try.

Now, this whole idea of “self-efficacy” comes from that feller Albert Bandura. He’s the one who talked ’bout how people’s beliefs in their own abilities can really change how they act. So, when you’re answerin’ these questions, you wanna make sure you mention stuff like that. You also gotta tie it back to psychology, explainin’ what it is and how it works. Ain’t no use just sayin’ “she’ll do it if she thinks she can.” You gotta dig a little deeper.

Another thing to remember is that in these FRQs, there’s often key terms that you need to mention in your answer. If the question talks ’bout “cognitive dissonance” or “operant conditioning,” you best be usin’ them terms in your response. They ain’t just there for decoration, no sir. Each one’s worth somethin’—even if you ain’t sure exactly what they mean, just give it your best guess, and tie it back to the question. If you can show you understand them ideas, you’re well on your way to a good score.

Let me tell ya, time’s another thing you gotta keep an eye on. You don’t wanna sit there like a deer in the headlights, not knowin’ what to write. You got 50 minutes to answer both questions, so you gotta pace yourself. Start with the easier one, if you can, and make sure you leave enough time for the other. If you’re stuck, don’t spend all day on it. Move on and come back if you need to. And don’t forget, even though it’s called a “free-response,” you ain’t just writin’ down what you know like a journal entry. You gotta be organized, clear, and most of all, thorough.

Also, when you’re practicin’ for these FRQs, it helps to get yourself a few sample questions and answers. They got all sorts of ’em out there on the interwebs, and I reckon it wouldn’t hurt to take a look at them. These sample answers can show you how to lay things out. You’ll see how you can apply them fancy psychology terms and tie ‘em into real-world situations. Plus, it’ll help you get comfortable with the kind of questions you might see on the real exam.

It’s all about connectin’ the dots between what you know and what the question asks. Like when you were a youngun’, if someone asked you how a chicken lays an egg, you might’ve said something simple like “Well, the hen just sits there and lays it.” But if you wanted to sound smart, you’d throw in the part ‘bout the process of ovulation or whatever that’s called. That’s what you gotta do with these psychology questions. Make sure you connect your answer to the bigger picture, and don’t forget to back it up with real psychology concepts. Even if it feels like you’re just makin’ things up, as long as it makes sense, you’re good.

So, to wrap things up, remember this: each FRQ’s got some points at stake, so don’t take it lightly. Answer the questions fully, show off them key terms, and pace yourself. If you do all that, I bet you’ll do just fine. It’s just like anything else in life—takes a little bit of practice, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be cruisin’ right through those AP Psych FRQs without breakin’ a sweat.