AP Psychology · Exam guide

AP Psychology Article Analysis Question (AAQ) Explained: How to Earn 7 Points

The AAQ gives you a short summary of a study and asks about it in labeled parts. You have 25 minutes, including 10 for reading. The question is worth 7 points, and each point comes from using the study's own details. The study below is made up for practice.

A made-up study

Researchers recruited 120 first-year students at one college and randomly assigned half to practice recalling material from memory and half to reread it. After a week, the students took a 100-point test. The recall group had a mean score of 78 and the rereading group had a mean of 70. Parents gave consent and students could withdraw at any time.

Row A: the research method

Does not earn the pointThey studied students to see how they learn.

It describes the idea but never names a research method.

Earns the pointThe researchers used an experiment, because they randomly assigned students to two conditions and manipulated how they studied.

It names the method and gives the feature of the study that shows it.

Row B: the operational definition

Does not earn the pointThey measured how well students learned.

It restates the variable instead of saying how it was measured.

Earns the pointLearning was operationally defined as a student's score out of 100 on the test given a week later.

It names the instrument and the score used in this study.

Row C: interpreting the statistic

Earns the pointThe mean score of the recall group was 8 points higher than the rereading group (78 against 70), which suggests that practicing recall led to better memory of the material in this study.

It says what the numbers mean for the study's question, not just what a mean is.

Row D: an ethical guideline

Earns the pointThe researchers applied informed consent, because the students agreed to take part and could withdraw at any time.

It names the guideline and ties it to a detail from the summary.

Row E: generalizability

Earns the pointThe findings may not apply to everyone, because all participants were first-year students at one college. Older learners or students in other settings might respond differently.

It names a feature of the sample and explains why that limits the conclusion.

Row F: argumentation (2 points)

Typically you are asked to make a claim and support it with evidence from the study and a concept from psychology.

Earns both pointsPracticing recall helps memory more than rereading. The recall group scored 78 and the rereading group scored 70, and the testing effect explains why: retrieving information strengthens the memory pathway to it, which makes the information easier to find later.

The claim is clear, the evidence comes from the study, and the concept explains the result.

Common mistakes

  • Describing the procedure without naming the method.
  • Giving a dictionary definition of the variable instead of how it was measured.
  • Reporting the number without interpreting it.
  • Naming a guideline that the summary does not support.
  • Calling the sample a limitation without saying why.

Frequently asked questions

How many points is the AAQ worth?

Seven: one each for the method, the operational definition, the statistic, the ethical guideline and generalizability, and two for argumentation.

How long do I have for the AAQ?

About 25 minutes, including 10 minutes of reading.

Can the method be more than one thing?

Name the one that best fits what the researchers did. If the study assigned conditions at random, it is an experiment.

Do I have to use the exact words in the summary?

No, but your answer must use the study's own details.

Where can I find the official scoring rules?

Exam formats change a little from year to year, so check the current course and exam description on the College Board site before test day.

Keep practicing

The AP Psychology course has five Article Analysis prompts with a timed writing space that scores against the official rubric. These free lessons also build the skills the free-response section tests:

See the AP Psychology course Free lessons and lesson list

Other free-response guides:

AP is a registered trademark of the College Board, which is not affiliated with and does not endorse this site. This guide is our own explanation of the question types and scoring. For the official scoring guidelines, see the College Board.