AP Psychology · Exam guide
AP Psychology Evidence-Based Question: Concepts to Pair with Evidence, Unit by Unit
Most of the Evidence-Based Question's points come from explaining evidence with a concept. If you can name a fitting concept quickly, you can write a strong explanation. This guide lists concepts by unit and shows how to pair one with a piece of evidence. The evidence statements are made up.
Concepts by unit
| Unit | Concepts that often explain evidence |
|---|---|
| 1: Biological Bases of Behavior | Neurotransmitters, neuroplasticity, brain structures, sleep stages, circadian rhythm, selective attention, sensory adaptation |
| 2: Cognition | Encoding, retrieval, consolidation, working memory, the testing effect, schemas, confirmation bias, the availability heuristic |
| 3: Development and Learning | Classical and operant conditioning, reinforcement, observational learning, attachment, the stages of cognitive development |
| 4: Social Psychology and Personality | Conformity, obedience, attribution, cognitive dissonance, the bystander effect, social facilitation, Big Five traits |
| 5: Mental and Physical Health | Stress and coping, the biopsychosocial model, cognitive-behavioral therapy, diagnostic criteria, protective factors |
A pairing exercise
| Evidence | A concept that fits | How it explains the evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Students who practiced recalling the list scored higher than students who reread it. | The testing effect | Retrieving information strengthens the pathway to it, so it is easier to find later. |
| Participants more often gave the same answer as the group, even when it was clearly wrong. | Conformity | People adjust their responses to match a group, in order to fit in or because they trust the group's judgment. |
| Children who watched an adult hit a doll later hit the doll more. | Observational learning | People learn behavior by watching a model and the consequences the model receives. |
| Participants slept less before the test and had more trouble paying attention. | Selective attention | Attention is how information first enters memory, so a tired person encodes less of what they are exposed to. |
Turning a pairing into a paragraph
It cites specific evidence, names a concept, and explains how the concept accounts for the evidence.
Choosing a different concept for each source
The rubric asks for a different concept for each source. If both sources seem to fit the same concept, look at what each one shows. One may be about how information enters memory (attention), while the other is about how it is kept (consolidation or retrieval).
Common mistakes
- Naming a concept and stopping. The explanation is where the points are.
- Reusing the same concept for both sources.
- Choosing a concept from another unit that sounds right but does not fit the evidence.
- Paraphrasing the source instead of explaining it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to memorize every concept?
No, but you should know the core concepts of each unit well enough to name one that fits a piece of evidence.
Can I use a concept that the sources do not mention?
Yes. The concepts come from your own knowledge, and the sources give the evidence.
What if I am unsure which concept fits?
Pick the closest one you know and explain how it connects to the evidence. A clear explanation can still earn credit.
How many concepts do I need?
Two, one for each source you use, and they have to be different.
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 and five Evidence-Based prompts, each with the research summaries, a timed writing space that scores against the official rubric, and a 7 out of 7 model response. 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 Psychology FRQ Guide: The Article Analysis and Evidence-Based Questions
- AP Psychology Article Analysis Question (AAQ) Explained: How to Earn 7 Points
- AP Psychology Evidence-Based Question (EBQ) Explained: How to Earn 7 Points
- AP Psychology Research Methods and Ethics Explained: Naming the Method and the Guideline
- AP Psychology Statistics in Context: Interpreting the Mean, Correlation, Effect Size and p-Value
- AP Psychology Multiple-Choice Guide: The Three Question Styles and How to Answer Them
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.