AP Multiple Choice Tips

THE MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS• THERE ARE 60 QUESTIONS IN 45

MINUTES• THERE ARE 5 CHOICES• EVERY ONE WRONG DOES NOT

COUNT ANY POINTS OFF!!!!!!!!!!• NO PENALTY FOR WRONG ANSWER• EVERY BLANK ANSWER COUNTS OFF

0 POINTS• EVERY CORRECT ANSWER COUNTS

AS ONE POINT

• STUDENTS SHOULD GO THROUGH THE EXAM ONCE AND ANSWER WHAT THEY KNOW

• THEN GO THROUGH THE TEST A SECOND TIME AND ANSWER THOSE THAT CAN BE NARROWED DOWN TO 2 POSSIBILITIES

• AN IGNORANT GUESS WILL NOT HURT THE SCORE

EXAM STRUCTURE

• the M/C test is finalized in the fall-winter • the M/C test is divided as follows::::• 6 questions—constitutional

underpinnings• 7 questions—political beliefs and

behavior• 6-7 questions –parties, groups,

media• 27 questions the four institutions• 6 questions on policy• 7 questions on rights and liberties

• there will be nothing on foreign policy except how it is made by the various branches

• nothing on defense policy------look out for the dept of homeland security

• What are deltas?• What are equator questions?

• There are no definition questions• EXCEPT questions• The unique Roman numeral style

questions• there are no double negative

questions• STUDENTS SHOULD PRACTICE

SKIPPING UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ON ANSWER SHEETS SO THEY DON’T GET CONFUSED ON THE REAL EXAM

• Anyone taking comparative: it is NO LONGER FREE if students take the U.S. test. It is now a “stand-alone” test. As with all AP tests students DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE HAD THE COURSE to take it. It is harder than U.S. The scores are always higher (better students and only 10% of the U.S. total). The second test is to be administered as an entirely separate exam. (one in AM, one in PM)

RESULTS: Typical Statistical DataONLY RELEASED M/C TESTS:

1989, 1994, 1999, 2002• If as many as 14 questions are wrong:

– 2.6% receive scores of 3– 30.8% receive scores of 4– 66.6% receive scores of 5

• If as many as 22 questions are wrong:– .6% receive scores of 2– 28.7% receive scores of 3– 55.6% receive scores of 4– 15.1% receive scores of 5

Typical Statistical Data• If as many as 33 questions are wrong:

– .3% receive scores of 1– 14.5% receive scores of 2– 69.3% receive scores of 3– 15.4% receive scores of 4– .5% receive scores of 5

• If as many as 44 questions are wrong:– .9% receive scores of 1– 67.1% receive scores of 2

– 23.6% receive scores of 3– .3% receive scores of 4– 0% receive scores of 5

• If 0-15 questions are correct:– 68% receive scores of 1– 31.4% receive scores of 2– .6% receive scores of 3– 0% receive scores of 4– 0% receive scores of 5

Assumptions & Conclusions

• Students did as well on the free response as the M/C

• About 50% knowledge can still yield a 3 score• More and more schools require 4’s & 5’s to get

credit• Nearly 50% of the students don’t know 50% of

the material • 66% OF FL STUDENTS KNOW LESS THAN 50%• 49% OF GA STUDENTS KNOW LESS THAN 50%

AND THE SAMPLE IS 1/3 THAT OF FLORIDA• Social studies teachers who don’t have majors in

Poly Sci and are new to the program seem to be having a tough time with the content knowledge

Online Teacher Reports

• Measures student knowledge for each of the 6 content requirements

• Measures student’s ability to do analytical reasoning without writing essays

• If the test asks a question not covered by the class it could cost the student 12.5% of the entire exam

• You will need to see the school report which shows all students who took all AP tests in May

• You need to see how your students did compared to the other AP courses and tests