Practice is the whole game on the free-response section. Below are five full practice prompts in the current 2025 format — three Article Analysis Questions (AAQ) and two Evidence-Based Questions (EBQ). Read each, write a real response, then grade it on AimFive to see exactly which rubric points you earned. New to the format? Start with the AAQ walkthrough and EBQ walkthrough.
AAQ Practice #1 — Caffeine and Reaction Time
Study summary: Researchers randomly assigned 60 adults to drink either caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee, then measured reaction time on a computer task. The caffeine group averaged 280 ms; the decaf group averaged 310 ms. All participants gave informed consent and were debriefed afterward.
Answer all six parts (A–F): (A) Identify the research method and the feature of the study that makes it that method. (B) Identify the operational definition of reaction time. (C) Interpret the difference in the two group means — what does it suggest? (D) Identify one ethical guideline the researchers used and describe how they applied it. (E) Explain one limitation on generalizing these findings. (F) Make a defensible claim about whether the evidence supports the hypothesis that caffeine speeds reaction time.
AAQ Practice #2 — Mood and Helping Behavior
Study summary: In a field study, researchers observed whether people who had just unexpectedly found a coin were more likely to help a stranger pick up dropped papers. 84% of the coin-finders helped, compared with 4% of those who found nothing. Behavior was recorded without participants' knowledge; the study was approved by an ethics board and all identities were kept confidential.
Answer all six parts (A–F): (A) Identify the research method. (B) Identify the dependent variable as it was operationally defined. (C) Interpret the 84% vs. 4% difference. (D) Identify one ethical guideline relevant here and describe how the researchers addressed it (consider the lack of consent in a public field study). (E) Evaluate generalizability given how the sample was obtained. (F) Make a claim about whether positive mood increases helping, supported by the data.
AAQ Practice #3 — The Testing Effect
Study summary: Students studied a list of facts, then were randomly assigned either to re-read the list or to take a practice test on it. One week later, the practice-test group recalled 65% of the facts; the re-reading group recalled 42%. Participants gave consent and could withdraw at any time.
Answer all six parts (A–F): (A) Identify the method and why. (B) Operationally define the measure of memory. (C) Interpret the 65% vs. 42% result. (D) Identify and describe one ethical guideline the researchers applied. (E) Note one factor limiting generalizability. (F) Make an evidence-based claim about whether testing beats re-reading for retention.
EBQ Practice #1 — Does More Sleep Improve Academic Performance?
Sources: Source A (experiment): students assigned to a consistent 8-hour sleep schedule scored higher on a cumulative exam than a free-schedule control group. Source B (correlational): a survey of 1,000 students found a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.35) between average nightly sleep and GPA. Source C (review): memory and performance benefits of sleep level off beyond about nine hours per night.
Prompt: Using the sources, make and defend a claim about whether more sleep improves academic performance. (A) State a defensible claim. (B) Support it with specific evidence from at least two of the three sources. (C) Explain your reasoning with a psychological concept, and account for the source that complicates a "more is always better" claim.
EBQ Practice #2 — Does Social Media Use Harm Adolescent Well-Being?
Sources: Source A (correlational): heavier daily social media use was associated with higher self-reported anxiety in teens (r = 0.30). Source B (experiment): teens who reduced social media to 30 minutes per day reported improved mood after three weeks. Source C (review): effects depend on how the platform is used — passive scrolling relates to worse mood than active connecting with friends.
Prompt: Using the sources, make and defend a claim about whether social media use harms adolescent well-being. (A) State a defensible, specific claim. (B) Cite evidence from at least two sources. (C) Reason through it with a psychology concept and address the nuance Source C raises.
Grade Your Responses Instantly
Write any of these out, then run it through AimFive's grader — it scores AAQ and EBQ responses point-by-point on the official criteria and shows you which points you earned and what to fix, with published accuracy data against College Board scoring materials. That write → grade → revise loop is the fastest way to move your free-response score.
Practice & grade on AimFive · AAQ vs EBQ · AP Psych FRQ Format · AP Psych Study Guide
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