AP Psychology is a course that involves learning about how and why people think and behave the

way they do. This class has undergone a few significant changes that are being administered as of this

school year. The College Board intends for the AP experience to be similar to the college experience and

these changes are to help accomplish that. Julie Tuuk and Jennifer DeYoung teach all of the AP

Psychology classes and have both been involved in the process of these changes to the course as well

as the exam. There were terms added and some removed throughout the units, each for different

reasons. The unit on the history of psychology was removed from the curriculum. Students will not be

tested on or have to memorize as many psychologists and researchers and instead will focus more on

analysis and application. Since Psychology is technically a science, the class has shifted more into

studies and analyzing the parts of a scientific study.

“Mrs. DeYoung and I are excited to work together as we prepare our students for the test in May!”

said Tuuk. The exam has changed to include less definitional questions and instead have more questions

that require application and analysis. Their goal is to shift away from questions on the AP exam that

would just ask for definitions of concepts.“Psychology is a science and it is important that students

develop a scientific attitude as they study human behavior and cognition,” said DeYoung. The FRQ’s

(free response questions) have changed and the psychology teachers plan to prepare their students

accordingly.