There are several AP readers on this list. Maybe then can chime in based on their experiences.
AP psych tends to be a rigorous course because the syllabus has to be approved by ETS with consultation with the APA education directorate. The guidelines are extensive. I have seen them. At least this is technically what I believe is true, to the best of my knowledge. Generally students meet every day, so for 5 hours per week, for a much longer than 15 weeks semester (let alone 10 week quarter)--if not for an entire year--and so the depth and breadth of coverage is amazing. Most use very encyclopedic texts--much broader and deeper than what I use in my college intro to psych course--no "briefer" versions. The test is also very rigorous. The scoring is very precise and the training for inter-rater reliability is rigorous. There are two essays, which tend to be integrative across a variety of subtopics. Each reader scores just one of the essays. Generally,, most of a full 8-hour day is dedicated to learning the rubric. You can go online and see the old essays. Each reader has their assigned scores back-checked. The multiple choice items are HARD IMHO. I go online and download and use some of them in my tests. (I do the same with the GRE items that are free online--much better items than in most test banks.) So I'd say a 3 is easily equivalent to what should be a C or better in a standard college intro course. If that is the criterion we set for passing intro psych then that seems about right considering the greater depth and breadth of knowledge that students are likely to have if they have earned a 3 on the AP exam. We accept a 3 on the AP psych exam at our institution FWIW. Annette ps: so the latest edition of the Oxford English Dictionary added LOL and OMG :) Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph. D. Professor, Psychological Sciences University of San Diego 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> ________________________________ From: Ken Steele [[email protected]] Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 7:40 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] another AP credit question Schools set the minimum score for course credit. I am looking for "translation rules" or guidelines for credit assignment. What does an AP score of 3 mean with reference to an intro psych course in college. Ken --------------------------------------------------------------- Kenneth M. Steele, Ph.D. [email protected] Professor and Assistant Chairperson Department of Psychology http://www.psych.appstate.edu<http://www.psych.appstate.edu/> Appalachian State University Boone, NC 28608 USA --------------------------------------------------------------- --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13534.4204dc3a11678c6b1d0be57cfe0a21b0&n=T&l=tips&o=9575 or send a blank email to leave-9575-13534.4204dc3a11678c6b1d0be57cfe0a2...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=9577 or send a blank email to leave-9577-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
