Anatomy of the Evidence-Based Question (EBQ)
Question 2 of Section II is the Evidence-Based Question (EBQ). Taken digitally in Bluebook, it accounts for 16.65% of your total AP Psychology score (half of the 33.3% free-response section). Each of its 7 raw points is worth roughly of your composite exam score—equivalent to getting about multiple-choice questions right.
You will be given three summarized peer-reviewed studies (Source 1, Source 2, and Source 3) focused on a common topic, followed by a single prompt with five distinct sub-parts. College Board recommends spending 45 minutes of your 70-minute Section II window on the EBQ: 15 minutes reading and planning, and 30 minutes typing.
| Part | Task | Points | Science Practice Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Propose a specific, defensible claim based on the prompt and sources. | 1 | Practice 4: Scientific Argumentation |
| B(i) | Provide one piece of specific, cited evidence from one source. | 1 | Practice 4: Scientific Argumentation |
| B(ii) | Explain how B(i) supports the claim AND apply an outside AP Psychology concept. | 2 | Practice 4 & Practice 1: Concept Application |
| C(i) | Provide one piece of specific, cited evidence from a different source. | 1 | Practice 4: Scientific Argumentation |
| C(ii) | Explain how C(i) supports the claim AND apply a different outside AP Psychology concept. | 2 | Practice 4 & Practice 1: Concept Application |
Part-by-Part Tactics for All 7 Points
Label every single part (A, B(i), B(ii), C(i), C(ii)) on its own line in Bluebook with a blank line between parts. Write in complete sentences.
Part A: The Specific, Defensible Claim (1 Point)
The prompt will ask you to propose a claim about a psychological phenomenon based on the three sources (e.g., “Propose a specific and defensible claim about the most effective methods for reducing test anxiety in adolescents.”).
To earn the point, your claim must take a clear stance that responds to the prompt. Choose one that at least two of the three sources can back up, because Parts B and C need evidence from two different sources (the claim point itself does not depend on Parts B and C).
- Do not simply restate the prompt (“There are effective methods for reducing test anxiety in adolescents.” — 0 points).
- Do not state a vague truism (“Test anxiety is bad for students and should be reduced.” — 0 points).
- Do not summarize a single study’s exact finding as your whole claim (“Source 1 showed that 10 minutes of expressive writing lowered anxiety scores by 4 points.” — 0 points).
The Winning Formula: In [population/context], [specific psychological factor or intervention] leads to/is associated with [specific outcome] because [unifying mechanism bridging two sources].
Parts B(i) and C(i): Cited Evidence (1 Point Each)
You must pull one specific finding from one source for B(i), and one specific finding from a second, different source for C(i). You do not need to use the third source at all.