AP Psychology · Exam guide

AP Psychology Evidence-Based Question (EBQ) Explained: How to Earn 7 Points

The EBQ gives you three short sources and a question, and asks you to write an argument that uses two of the sources as evidence. You have 45 minutes, including 15 for reading. The question is worth 7 points, and most of them come from explaining the evidence with a psychology concept. The example below is made up for practice.

A sample question

Question: To what extent does sleep affect learning in teenagers? Source A reports that students who slept eight or more hours scored higher on a memory test than those who slept six or fewer. Source B reports that sleep-deprived students had a harder time paying attention in class. Source C is about an unrelated topic, school lunch.

Point 1: a defensible claim

Does not earn the pointSleep and learning are related.

It restates the question and could be true of any outcome.

Earns the pointSleep strongly affects teenagers' learning, because it supports both memory and attention.

It answers the question and gives the line the essay will follow.

Points 2 to 4: the first source

You earn one point for specific evidence from a source and two points for explaining how it supports the claim with a psychology concept.

Earns the evidence point onlySource A says students who slept more scored higher on a memory test.

It uses the evidence but never explains it with a concept.

Earns all three pointsSource A shows that students who slept eight or more hours scored higher on a memory test. This supports the claim because sleep helps consolidation, the process by which new memories are stabilized and stored while we sleep.

It cites the evidence and uses a named concept to say why it supports the claim.

Points 5 to 7: a second source and a different concept

Earns all three pointsSource B reports that sleep-deprived students had difficulty paying attention in class. This supports the claim because attention is how information first enters memory (selective attention), so a tired student encodes less of what the teacher says.

It uses a different source and a different concept, and says how the evidence supports the claim.

A 45-minute plan

Minutes	What to do
0 to 15	Read the three sources. Mark the main finding in each and choose the two that fit your claim best.
15 to 20	Write your claim and note one concept for each source you will use.
20 to 40	Write the claim, then a paragraph for each source: evidence, concept, explanation.
40 to 45	Check that each source is tied to a different concept and that you answered the question.

Common mistakes

Using the same concept for both sources. The rubric asks for different concepts.
Quoting a source without saying how it supports your claim.
Using a source that does not actually address the question, such as an unrelated one.
Naming a concept with no explanation of how it applies.

Frequently asked questions

How many points is the EBQ worth?

Seven: one for a defensible claim, then evidence from two sources (one point each) and an explanation of each with a concept (two points each).

How many sources do I have to use?

Two of the three. Using all three does not earn extra points.

How long do I have for the EBQ?

About 45 minutes, including 15 minutes of reading.

Does the essay need an introduction and conclusion?

No. A clear claim followed by two well-built paragraphs earns the points.

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 Evidence-Based prompts with the sources, 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 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.