The AP Psychology course is a comprehensive curriculum that focuses on developing content understandings and skills in students. It consists of nine course units and three course skills, with each unit having its own weights in the MCQ section of the exam. The workload for an AP class is comparable to a college course, with 30 to 40 minutes of homework per class, along with a review of notes, chapter tests/quizzes, comprehensive unit tests, and 2 or 3 class presentations projects.
Advanced Placement classes require a significant time commitment outside of school, with a work-load comparable to a college course. The homework load will vary based on the individual class, but an average of 30–45 minutes per night would be a reasonable amount. For example, AP Chemistry typically involves 30-50 pages of homework, 1-2 hours of weekly homework, and 1 or 2 post-laboratory assignments per chapter. If the in-class time is about 4 hours per week, it should have about 2 hours per week of reading, homework, and studying outside of class.
Homework from AP Psychology usually ends up being 30-60 minutes per class. Oftentimes, there is also a crash course video to go with the course. Taking OL Psych before taking AP can help students get a simple grasp on the curriculum, which can be an advantage when going to AP.
In 2021, 262,700 students took the AP Psychology test, with 55 earning a passing grade on the test. Students can access more practice questions through AP Classroom, a new digital tool that teachers can use to assign homework and give out questions to students.
📹 Jordan Peterson – Failing A Class
Original source: https://www.youtube.com/embed/F3n5qtj89QE Psychology Professor Jordan B. Peterson talks about hitting …
How many hours is AP Psychology?
The AP Psychology examination is two hours in duration and comprises both a multiple-choice section and a free-response section. The multiple-choice section assesses the ability to comprehend concepts, analyze data, and conduct scientific investigations.
What are the hardest AP exams?
The list of the hardest AP classes and tests includes United States History, Biology, English Literature, Calculus BC, Physics C, and Chemistry. These classes have large curriculums, tough tests, and conceptually difficult material. The difficulty varies based on the student, with Calculus BC being easier for math-savvy students and AP English Literature being harder for those with a strong foundation in math.
How hard is it to pass the AP Psych exam?
AP Psychology is a high school course that introduces students to the study of human behavior and mental processes. With over 70% of test-takers earning a passing score, it ranks about average in difficulty. In 2020, nearly 300, 000 high schoolers took the exam, and over 70 earned a passing score. Students interested in human behavior, psychological disorders, and data analysis often thrive in AP Psychology classes. Before enrolling, it is important to understand the expectations for AP Psychology.
How much homework do you get in AP?
It is recommended that students allocate a minimum of one hour per night to homework assignments for each AP course they are taking.
How much homework do Harvard students have?
A majority of respondents anticipate studying between 20 and 29 hours a week in college, with more expecting to study 50 or more than 10 hours. In contrast, a majority spent less than 10 hours a week in high school. Academics were ranked as the top priority, followed by extracurriculars. Additionally, 23 percent of respondents plan to pursue both a secondary and a language citation at Harvard, while 28 percent plan to pursue neither.
Is AP Psych just memorization?
AP Psychology is a non-math-intensive course that requires students to familiarize themselves with various theories, terms, and case studies. Although conceptually easier than many other science courses, it demands significant memorization. Students must remember various psychologists, experiments, and theoretical perspectives. The AP exam consists of multiple-choice questions and free-response questions, testing knowledge and application of concepts in various scenarios.
Despite not being the most challenging AP course, consistent study and engagement are necessary to achieve a high score on the exam. AP Psychology is a great first AP course due to its interesting material and straightforward content, but it should not be underestimated. Factors affecting AP Psychology difficulty can vary greatly, influenced by personal and environmental factors. Understanding these can help prepare for the course and potentially ease the study process.
Has anyone gotten a 100% on an AP exam?
It is uncommon for an individual to achieve a score of 100, which can be reported. While the significance of AP scores in the context of the overall application may be limited, it is nevertheless the case that the majority of educational establishments do not take them into account during the review process. Nevertheless, an institution of higher education will continue to take note of the examination results.
Is AP Psych really hard?
AP Psychology is a relatively easy AP class, with a difficulty rating of 3. 5/10 by alumnae. It ranks 2nd-easiest out of 28 large AP classes surveyed. The course is primarily based on vocabulary and memorization, making it manageable with good study habits. It is suitable for students interested in human behavior and mental processes, aiming to earn college credits in high school. AP Psychology is not considered too hard for first-time students due to its manageable content and engaging nature of psychology. It is recommended for those curious about psychological theories, development, and research methods.
Is AP Psych easy or hard?
AP Psychology is considered one of the easiest AP courses, with a difficulty rating of 3. 5 out of 10. It has a pass rate of around 60 and 17 students earn top scores of five on the exam. However, many students have taken other AP courses, which may prepare them for the course. The coursework only pushes some students to study more on average. AP Psychology is also a great class for self-study, as most schools don’t have every AP class option due to teacher changes. If available teachers aren’t available or your school doesn’t offer AP psychology, self-studying for the exam can be done with a text or review book and guidance on writing the exam essay.
What is the average IQ score AP Psych?
The Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is a standardized cognitive score that measures a person’s intelligence. It falls on a normal curve, with 68. 26 of the population falling within one standard deviation of the mean. IQ scores below 70 and above 130 can help identify mental retardation and exceptional giftedness. Belief perseverance can hinder our ability to solve problems, as we may choose the solution that makes us the happiest, which may not be the best overall solution.
Is AP Psych easy to self study?
The AP Psychology course and examination provide an accessible introduction to the subject matter, presented in a straightforward format comprising 100 multiple-choice questions and two free-response questions designed to assess practical application.
📹 What NO ONE tells you about majoring in PSYCHOLOGY
This video discusses the realities of majoring in psychology, focusing on the potential mismatch between what students learn in introductory courses and the actual job market. The creator shares their personal experience and emphasizes the importance of understanding the need for a PhD to pursue many of the exciting career paths often associated with the field.
Hey everyone! Psychologist here. This article showed up on my feed. I’d say it like this: You can really harm someone if you’re not properly trained. I have a doctorate and there are some things I choose not to treat because I’m not competent in that area. You learn so much with a PhD or PsyD, but even with those degrees, you’ve only scratched the surface of mental health. Undergrad professors and career counselors need to be more transparent with students. Lastly, being a psychologist is absolutely amazing. It’s a long road to become a psychologist, but totally worth it!
To become a psychologist you’ll need an undergraduate degree and a doctorate. Which means you’ll have to go to graduate school to get your PhD or your psyD. Both PhD and psyD is well respected. PhD focus more on research so if you want to be a professor and teach others on a specific field in psychology or you like researching and want to do more on a certain area etc… then a PhD is right for you. If you want to do more clinical work like being a therapist, school counselor or clinical psychologist etc… you should just get your psyD plus your psyD takes less time than your PhD but it really depends on what you want to do. Both are great and will be difficult to get.
Unless you’re getting an undergrad degree in engineering or a STEM field, your criticism applies to every major not just psychology. Liberal arts degrees aren’t trade school or job training. A degree in liberal arts proves you can learn new ideas, write about them intelligently, and research problems independently and communicate your results. Those skills apply to nearly every professional job. My undergrad degree was in psychology and philosophy and I was able to get a job in software implementation without any additional school. Most of my colleagues were in the same boat. If you enjoy psychology, I highly encourage you to stick with it knowing that it prepares you for nearly any career out there.
This is a great article for people considering psychology! It’s always a good idea to have a plan B as well. I am currently doing my MA in psychology. I want to apply to PhD programs in clinical psychology but I already know I most likely won’t get in. So my backup is to be a faculty member at community college and/or an RA after my MA🙂 I am going to be a graduate instructor in the Fall for an undergrad psychology class and will be doing a research internship to help build my CV for a PhD or future job. If you really want to do psychology as a major you should go for it, just know to set realistic expectations, have backup plans, and gain relevant experience! I wish the best for everyone on their journey!
This article is misleading.This girl failed to mentioned some crucial details here. Yes, BA in psychology gives you limited jobs opportunities/or jobs you’re not interested in. However, master in counseling is 2 years program and it makes a big difference. You can choose so many different paths/ different jobs. PhD is necessary only if you’re into research or your goal is to be a professor.
i’m in highschool and it’s my dream to be a psychologist, i knew before i even considered it that i needed a PHD to do anything and i’m willing to work for it i’m just so nervous because you’re right,it is sooo competitive and that scares me a little because this is such a huge dream of mine that i’ve been working for and it’s hard to get a PHD from everything i’ve read :/ !
Thanks for your article, Julia — it’s really insightful! To the psychology majors and high school students interested in being a therapist or counselor — you can do so with a Master’s Degree in most states. Please look into this and don’t be discouraged! You don’t necessarily have to get a PhD to practice as a mental health therapist/ counselor.
I really appreciate the article! I’m a teen in my Senior year and I’ve been seriously considering going into the Psychology field. This article helped me out a lot! I’m grateful that you broke down the pros and the cons for me, and especially highlighted the struggle of getting a PhD or psyD. It’s rough, but I’ll need that cold hard truth in the future. Thank you for taking your time to post this, it has really helped me!
You can now counsel with a masters. Insurance companies let you bill them now as a master degree holder. I have been told this by more than one Psychologist. They also said a phd doesn’t matter unless you are going into a research area in psychology. It doesn’t make you a better psychologist by having a PhD. Psychologist told me this. Also you can get a bachelors in anything and get a masters in psychology and you are in.
Thank you for this candid article. You probably did not guess that this article would reach adult students contemplating returning to school. It eliminates the mystery surrounding psyche and injects reality in real time. It reminded me of the long haul I will be facing if I wanted to pursue this field when returning to school Thanks and best to you in your education and career!
I’m 13 and ever since I was 10/11 I’ve been hugely into true crime and how the brain works. I’ve been thinking of what I want to do with my life so I can pick a high-school that is right for me. I have a gifted iep so I know academically I’m pretty well off. I never knew what I wanted to do with my life and recently I’ve been thinking psychology is for me. I’ve always been really good at trying to understand minds of people and everything. I genuinely think psychology is something I wanna do, and I’ve always known that I wanted to go to college and get some kind of degree bc I’m a very education and career oriented person. This is very helpful and I thank you for making this article 💕
I’m 13 and for the past 9 months, my mental health was doing very badly. By that I mean like extremely bad. Because of that I got into being interested in psychology. Finding neuropsychology was probably one of my biggest motivation boosts because I realised that that’s exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I knew that you had to get your PhD or PsyD to work in that field but what I failed to consider how competitive it actually was to get into there programs. I was aware that a neuropsychology MA and PhD were hard but I kind of thought that it’s something that everyone does. I was more focused on my postdoc path. Thank you for making this article, it helps me research and be prepared for my future.
I’ve been through a lot. I helped lots of friends with dealing with their mental state (depression, abusive fathers,etc) and I always enjoyed helping others. Many people I’ve became friends with, told me that only after one day of talking to eachother, they felt that I was giving good vibes.I was always told that I give a “safe to talk to” feeling and it almost feels like having some sort of aura of “safe and trust”. I loved Psychology in highschool and I just feel like it’s the right thing to do for me because not only I’ve helped many friends and people going through suicidial thoughts and crises but I also feel so good after I know that I made a big change in a person’s life. I feel like psychology goes hand in hand with my desires. Like it’s not just a subject I fell in love with in highschool, it’s not the salary. I feel like it’s part of me, of who I am and what I truly enjoy to do. I walk in crutches because I have leg problem, it’s a long story. But to sum it up, I might be using those for all my life. I always was told by my parents or other strangers to get a degree in IT just because I walk in crutches and I need to sit most of the time. That and the fact that Im able to fix basic stuff on pc (stuff that can be fixed by anyone with a search on google in the most “severe” cases) and installing windows which nowadays is as easy as powering up your pc. They always tried to scare me off with “Psychology is hard, you have to read lots of books, you may become crazy and really stressed out with your cases” but I always told them that if u truly are passionate about a career, it’s not hard.
Hey Julia. Great article, all true and I’m a Psych major specifically BA from South Africa, I had no idea the struggle is the same, haha. Anyway, I just want to say, Your Psych Bachelor’s can land you a great spot for teaching English abroad. I remember applying playfully on job sites and in just 1 day I had all these emails from Asia recognizing me simply because I majored in Psychology. They didn’t even care about my lack of experience in formal teaching and they were right, I am great with kids and people in general and I credit that to my Degree. I also got a small gig writing on social issues for this other blog, I only wrote one article I prefer writing blog-style so I declined further requests but even those guys specifically picked me because they recognized the Degree I have and understood that a BA gives you a better outlook and understanding of life and the social issues for lack of a better word. Anyway I hope things work out for everyone.
I just earned a BA in Psychology and a BS in Criminal Justice at the same time. I’m in a MS in Psychology program, and am taking the research route to a PhD in Psychology. I will become an adjunct professor at some community colleges once I earn my masters to get experience, then work towards tenure track positions at universities. Don’t sleep on non-profit jobs, they are diamonds in the rough that people overlook. Tons of experience working in the Autism Spectrum and severe mental health field in group homes, etc. In the Psychology field you have to be creative, open-minded, and create your path individually. 😀
What I planned on doing was getting my bachelors in psychology and then go get get my masters to become a mental health counselor. I know my school I want to transfer to has many master degree programs for psychology. I feel like the only way to get through a major in psychology is to move on up in it not just get your bachelors but get your masters or your PhD otherwise you won’t get the job you truly want with just a bachelors.
the words and acronyms can feel intimidating, but if you really want to make a difference in people’s lives, it’s so important to be willing to put in the work. in most cases you’re taking part in the trajectory of adults and children’s lives. it’s a serious commitment and responsibility. academic psychological education isn’t for everyone, and there’s a reason the degrees take 4+ years. if you’re passionate about it enough, this sacrifice will be worth your while. if you’re just doing it for the check or title, maybe find a different major/discipline. i’m sure Julia doesn’t want you to second guess your choice, but the purpose of the article (from my perspective) is to encourage you to think about how seriously you’re taking your career in psychology. sort out what’s best for you. your experience with education is always unique.
Honestly great advice 💯. I was hesitant going down the psych route because I was aware that the jobs that I was interested in required a PhD. Though, I found out about a career that somewhat aligns with psych and is in the tech industry. User experience design or digital product design does involve psychological thinking which is pretty cool! So after doing some research, I now realize that I am confident I want to major in psychology.
There is an intermediary step. After a psychology undergraduate degree, an individual can get a Masters degree in mental health counseling. This would enable the person to become a licensed mental health counselor or clinical counselor in their state. Consequently, they can do therapy, bill insurance companies, and do everything a psychologist would do if the psychologists were restricting his or her practice to therapy. Another option is a Masters in clinical social worker which also gives you the right to do therapy once you are licensed. If you get a PhD in psychology you can do services beyond therapy (e.g. psychological testing). So just a little more schooling beyond the four-year college degree allow someone to use what they learned in psychology and do psychotherapy with clients.
I’m in highschool and it’s been really hard for me to pick between psychology and engineering since I love psychology and I’ve been determined(I try to study ahead and go deeper into subjects I learn in my psychology classes) but money has always been an important factor in my life. From what I’ve heard a psychology degree doesn’t pay well… to add to that I’m a little bit interested in physics; not nearly as much as psychology but engineering seems to be a much more stable major. I really don’t know what to do. People keep telling me “do what you love”, but if we’re being honest here I’m scared I won’t be able to provide for myself or my family if I do pick psychology. Sorry to anyone reading this, it’s really just me ranting nonsense-
I now graduated with a psychology degree, and I really want to say that, if you are interested in studying psychology and do some really cool stuff, actually you don’t have to study psychology, there are some universities that have some elements like Neuroscience or like psychology in some of their modules, they are really cool . I regret myself for selecting in psychology, and I am not trying to discourage anyone who wants to do psychology but, i want you to know that you can still study psychology in some other courses at universities and I wished I knew that before ..the lectures in my university weren’t the most interesting, and there are alot of reading and coursework. But if you want to study psychology and become a psychologist then maybe getting a major in psychology is appropriate? Literally, you can Google your university and find all the science courses they have, have a look and maybe even have a look at all their modules for all the science courses they offer, I promise you, you will find something that you like that INCLUDE psychology element . You will do great things there.
I wish I saw this article before I already started my degree in psychology. I had no idea that i had to major in psych to actually be what i wanna be. Nevertheless, I’m grateful to see that there are people who actually care about others that they wanna inform them of stuff that even acadmeic staff don’t. Thanks for all the useful info
I’m undeclared at the moment but I’ve already registered for the prerequisite classes for the psychology major this Fall Quarter. Fresh out of high school and community college, I made the decision to pursue this major cause I thought my PSYCH 100 class was pretty cool. I was so excited about it. But then, a few days later (today), it came to my attention that a Bachelors in Psychology is pretty useless for many people, and I’m just a little paranoid that it might apply to me as well. 😔 But the thing is—I’m not necessarily expecting to get a job that’s directly psychology related by doing this like everyone else who is regretting the degree. I just enjoy the subject so much and believe that if I combine it with another field of expertise, I could land an amazing job in a slightly different field like some of the success stories I’ve read. My instincts tell me that I’m only halfway done selecting my major and that I should keep psychology as a complimentary major to something else.
I m Studying business, but a lot people think I am going for Psychology basically I have taken psychology, and I love it. I agree 100% with u, I have friend graduated from it owning thousands of dollars and doing something totally different. I think if u are a person that lives with ur parents or have another source of income, but unfortunately u won’t get money right away with that career. 👍🏼
I’m currently a senior in high school and i love psychology! taking AP psych right now and it’s definitely my favorite class. but I’m really conflicted because i chose public health as my first choice major and psych as my second, and I got into UCI’s public health program. I kinda regret not choosing psych as my first choice 🙁 I initially picked public health because I thought it was more practical, but now I’m thinking psych would have been the better idea because I’m going into grad or med school either way, and over the last few months I realized I really want to do research in psychology 😭
I thought about going to school for psychology after high school mainly because I read that it’s the easiest major to take in college which does sound promising at first but after she said that a lot of jobs requires a PhD which btw, according to google, it takes between 5 to 7 years to complete, absolutely not
With passion, drive and the right reason for doing it in the first place you will be guided to the correct path, you can get your own clients privately, I never attended school let alone uni but I’m just about to take the plunge at 35, I can read anyone in a instant and study peoples energy and use my personal experiences to help people, I’m a spiritual person also anyone wanting to do it make sure it aligns with you as a person xx
If you’re interested in being a therapist there are lots of options that don’t involve a PhD! You can go to graduate school and do a master’s in social work or master’s in counseling and then become a licensed counselor or licensed clinical social worker (both of which enable you to work in a therapist role) after you graduate. Coming from a BA in psychology graduate, social work is a great field to get into and it definitely still utilizes a lot of theories from psychology but also teaches you how to view individuals through more of a strengths based approach. PhDs are only really necessary if you are interested in doing research, but are not so much necessary for a clinical role working one-on-one with individuals.