AP PsychologyBest courses
Summary: Best AP Psychology prep resources (2025 - 2026)
- Best for live instruction: Kaplan AP Psychology
- Best study guide for in-depth review sessions: Barron's AP Psychology
- Best book for practicing problems: Princeton Review AP Psychology
- Instructor and student-favorite: 5 Steps to a 5: AP Psychology
- Honorable mention for free review: CrashCourse Psychology
Advanced Placement (AP) courses provide high school students with the opportunity to engage in college-level coursework and earn academic credit. While many APs can be taken in lieu of standard classes in core subjects like math or English, courses like AP Psychology allow students to explore new topics that are not always part of the standard high school curriculum.
AP Psychology teaches students about key psychological concepts, theories, and social science research methods, preparing them for more advanced undergraduate coursework. The official curriculum covers the biological bases of behavior, how development, learning, and cognition function, and the connections between mental and physical health. The entire course is conducted over a full academic year, ending with a cumulative final exam designed to assess each student's mastery of the material.
To excel on the AP Psychology exam, students must go beyond memorizing terms or diagnostic criteria and should be able to apply psychological concepts in different contexts. While a score of 3 demonstrates mastery of the subject matter, many students aim for a 4 or 5, which increases the likelihood that their course will be accepted for college credit. Earning credit for AP Psychology can help fulfill undergraduate social science requirements early on, which is useful for all students regardless of their intended major. While preparing for the test, students often seek out external resources to supplement classroom instruction, turning to review tools provided directly by the College Board or reputable third-party vendors.
If you are currently enrolled in AP Psychology and seeking to enhance your skills, or if you plan to start the class in the future and want to prepare ahead of time, our roundup showcases today's leading AP Psychology exam prep resources. The list features solutions from respected providers, including Kaplan, Barron's, Princeton Review, 5 Steps to a 5, and CrashCourse. Each provider offers distinct advantages, such as comprehensive study materials or adaptive problem sets, addressing different learning styles and needs within AP Psychology test preparation. By presenting provider highlights and real user feedback, we help you compare their AP Psychology prep courses and determine which option is the most effective fit for you.
Some user reviews have been slightly edited for length and clarity.
How we evaluated these resources
Our top picks for AP Psych preparation include options that cater to every study schedule and content competency level, ranging from self-guided textbooks to programs with live instruction. We chose our selections based on:
- Cost
- Are the materials reasonably priced based on what's offered?
- Variety
- Does the study manual or other core study material come with other features that add value, like flashcards, live instruction, etc.?
- Coverage
- Does the material include all major sections on the exam? Which resources are best for holistic preparation, and which are better suited for quick reviews on specific topics?
- Accessibility
- Does the vendor prioritize breaking down concepts in an approachable way for maximum retention? Do their products cater to specific learners or a range of different learning styles?
- Community feedback
- Do students tend to recommend this vendor for AP Psych preparation? What do learners like about their instructional materials, practice tests, and other resources?
- Score boosters
- Is the program enough to pass the exam, or is it rigorous enough to get you to a 4 or a 5 within your timeframe?
For each vendor, we list the key features, pros, and cons of their study aids and tools, highlighting provider strengths and potential limitations. Our guide below can help you make an informed decision about how to best prepare for this conceptually complex and vocabulary-heavy exam.
Best for live instruction: Kaplan AP Psychology
- Kaplan's live and recorded AP review courses are the most immersive preparation options on our list. Taught by top instructors, Kaplan's courses can be accessed online anywhere.
- Full-year and second-semester courses are available for those who need extra review throughout the entire course or are seeking targeted support closer to the test date.
- Live instruction supplemented by other tools, such as multiple practice questions
- Students can access recordings of all live classes, guided self-paced modules, content reviews, and videos for maximum flexibility
- No cheaper, self-study option available
- $100 more expensive than Kaplan's other AP courses
- Course is structured around Barron's highly regarded AP book
- Full-length practice exams with detailed answer explanations
- Interactive topic reviews, digital flashcards, and content summaries
- Quizzes for each core topic
Kaplan's AP Psychology course is designed to provide students with a robust preparation experience for the AP Psychology Exam by combining expert-led instruction with focused strategies on both content and testing techniques. The course includes live instruction and recorded lessons that cover all the major topic areas tested on the exam. Alongside that, Kaplan emphasizes practical tools, such as timed practice tests, quizzes, study packets, and flashcards, to help identify weaknesses, reinforce terminology, and improve pacing, especially for the multiple-choice section.
Beyond pure content review, Kaplan's course focuses on exam strategy and structure, guiding students on how to analyze free-response questions, how to interpret and apply psychological research methods, and how to make informed guesses when necessary. Depending on the amount of time a student has (eight weeks, four weeks, or two weeks), Kaplan offers flexible study paths that help students prioritize their review and maximize score improvement with targeted practice.
For truly ambitious students, Kaplan offers an unlimited prep subscription, which provides access to resources for multiple AP classes and major college entrance exams, such as the SAT and ACT. Each enrollment comes with a trusted test prep book from Barron's, a leading name in college readiness materials. At over $2,000, the subscription is best reserved for students who plan to use Kaplan to prepare for all their college-related tests.
“Kaplan's Unlimited Prep option provides students with access to all of the platform's AP review courses, plus SAT and ACT prep, in a single package. This option is ideal for preparing for multiple AP exams or tackling college entrance exams.”
“The accompanying books are well-written and contain helpful, easy-to-learn tips... I recommend getting the unlimited plan to serious students who plan on taking APs because Kaplan does AP prep fairly well.”
Bottom line: Kaplan's AP Psych provides a robust online learning instruction package for students requiring guided instruction in their preparation. For more options, students can opt to sign up for the unlimited pass for all classes, although it comes at a sizable cost.
Best study guide for in-depth review sessions: Barron's AP Psychology
- For students seeking an exhaustive but self-paced review, Barron's study manuals are renowned for their breadth and depth.
- Along with the study guide and practice test, Barron's AP books come with flashcards for active recall, test-taking tips, and detailed question walk-throughs.
- Detailed, step-by-step overviews of key concepts
- Printed materials accompanied by helpful online resources
- Though Barron's is known for its detail, the book's language is more approachable than standard textbooks
- Fewer overall resources than other providers
- The scope of the book may be too much for students looking for more targeted practice
- 3 practice exams (2 printed and 1 online) with detailed answer explanations
- Practice questions at the end of each section
- Instructive diagrams, illustrations, and real-life examples throughout the books
Barron's guide provides a comprehensive review of the entire AP Psychology curriculum, aligned with the latest course outline and updated for the 2025 exam format. It covers all major units, from research methods and the biological bases of behavior to cognition and development, social psychology, and mental & physical health, with clear summaries, key-term lists, and practice questions for each chapter. The book emphasizes student success by providing detailed strategies for each section of the exam (both multiple-choice and free-response), as well as full-length practice tests and digital-platform options so learners can simulate timed, exam-style conditions.
Beyond the core review text, the Barron's system incorporates supplementary online resources, such as practice tests delivered through their "Online Learning Hub," interactive timed-test options, and free unit-based study notes posted on the publisher's website. These extras are designed to deepen understanding, reinforce areas of weakness, and replicate the digital nature of the current AP exam format. Altogether, this makes the package a strong all-in-one toolkit for students aiming to maximize their AP Psychology score.
“Barron's is enough [to get a 5]; you can also make flashcards of the terms mentioned in the Barron's review book to study for the test, and then you should be good.”
“I used the Barron's book to prep for the Psych exam...I thought [the questions] felt pretty similar [to the actual test].”
Bottom line: This guide provides a comprehensive, up-to-date review of the AP Psychology course, combining detailed content summaries with practical tools, both in print and online, to help students master the material and prepare effectively for the exam.
Best book for practicing problems: Princeton Review AP Psychology
- Princeton Review provides a variety of test-prep resources, from self-paced study guides to "crash courses."
- Princeton Review's books, in particular, have become a trusted resource for AP students and are most effective for reviewing material rather than learning it for the first time.
- Flexible options available for students who only need self-assessments and reviews, and learners who require more direct support
- Many students found the additional practice questions and explanations helpful to their preparation
- More expensive packages allow for access to preparation resources for several different AP subjects
- Students may register for free tests online
- No tutoring available like other AP courses
- Only the Premium version of the book comes with a digital practice exam, which more closely mirrors the format of the actual test
- Full-length practice exams
- Test-taking tips
- Cram Course offers live online instruction
The Princeton Review AP Psychology Premium Prep book is a comprehensive guide crafted specifically for the newest version of the AP Psychology Exam (digital-format included). It offers full-length content reviews covering all the major units aligned with the exam's updated structure. The latest edition features four full-length practice tests (two in the book and two online), diagnostic study plans, exclusive digital flashcards, and end-of-chapter drills.
In addition to deep content review, this guide emphasizes test-taking strategies and realistic exam practice. It helps students "work smarter, not harder" by including pacing tips, logical guessing strategies, and ways to avoid common traps. The online tools complement the print material via timed practice (simulating the digital exam interface) and downloadable PDFs for flexible review. This blend of content, strategy, and digital simulation makes it a solid all-in-one resource for students preparing for the AP Psychology test. For students who want a more intensive preparation plan, Princeton also offers a "Cram Course" featuring two 3-hour LiveOnline sessions.
“I used the Princeton Review book to study for psych, and it was a good resource...I think they have more textbook-like explanations [and] I also enjoyed the practice exams...”
“This is an essential textbook for high school sophomores taking AP classes. You can use it to preview the material covered in class and deepen your understanding. Before exams, it also helps you review any sections you didn't fully grasp. Be sure to check the publication year before purchasing; older editions may differ in content.”
Bottom line: The Princeton Review AP Psychology Premium Prep book is an all-in-one, strategy-focused study guide offering comprehensive content review, realistic practice tests, and digital tools tailored to the newest AP Psychology exam format.
Instructor and student-favorite: 5 Steps to a 5: AP Psychology
- Many students and instructors alike recommend using 5 Steps To A 5: AP Psychology as an accompaniment to detailed in-class instruction, especially for its practice questions and assessment tools.
- The guide is well-aligned with classroom instruction, making it easy for students to follow along with the book as they progress through the course.
- All instructional content is available in print and digital formats for studying on the go
- Hundreds of practice questions with detailed answer explanations
- Half the price of other study guides
- Better as a supplement rather than a detailed study resource
- 3 full-length sample tests
- Interactive practice problems
- Analytics, flashcards, games, and other online features
- A self-guided study plan with daily goals
The 5 Steps to a 5 AP Psychology guide presents a structured five-step system designed to help students transition from their initial exposure to confident performance on the AP Psychology Exam. It begins with foundation-building, explaining the exam format, key psychological domains, and effective study planning techniques. From there, it transitions into targeted content review, featuring chapter-by-chapter treatments of major topic areas, illustrated concepts, and built-in practice questions. According to the publisher, this edition is fully updated to reflect the current exam blueprint and includes multiple full-length sample tests, allowing students to simulate real exam conditions.
Beyond the core textbook material, the package provides supplementary tools to reinforce learning and tracking of progress. These include hundreds of additional practice exercises with detailed answer explanations, an online/digital component (interactive practice tests, digital flashcards, personalized study plans, and analytics), and teacher manuals (for classroom use) in some cases. The aim is not just to review content, but to build "exam muscle memory" through consistent, structured practice and to guide students toward their best possible score by melding content mastery, exam strategy, and time management.
“The 5 Steps book is great, it helped me so much when I was revising for the AP.”
“5 Steps is really good for practice tests/small quizzes, but Princeton/Barrons are your better options for actually learning and reviewing content.”
Bottom line: 5 Steps is a structured system that reinforces learning with extensive practice resources and offers updated, full-length exams to help students confidently prepare for the AP Psychology test.
Honorable mention for free review: CrashCourse Psychology
- CrashCourse is a popular YouTube series featuring highly engaging videos on a number of topics. Their Psychology series, taught by Hank Green, is based on the content outline of the AP Psychology course.
- Students cite their videos as an invaluable resource for clarifying key subjects and making connections that help the material stick.
- Library of 40+ videos makes learning vocabulary, memorizing signs and symptoms of different conditions, and studying important figures fun
- Abstract concepts are explained using pop culture references and approachable language, helping bring dense material to life
- While helpful, CrashCourse's videos are not a replacement for an actual study program
- The course is based on the 2013 AP Psychology course and exam, so it's less up-to-date than other resources
- Interactive practice problems
- Review quizzes after each main topic
- Downloadable handouts and worksheets
- Engaging videos and lesson notes
The CrashCourse AP Psychology series consists of approximately 40 engaging episodes that map out the core topics of introductory psychology, many of which align with the content tested on the AP Psychology Exam. Hosted and narrated in a fast-paced, visually rich style, the videos cover a wide range of topics, all taught by best-selling author and science communicator Hank Green. The format emphasizes clear explanations of major concepts (e.g., neurons, classical conditioning, memory systems, bias), often with mnemonic devices, real-life examples, graphics, animations, and a dash of humor, designed to help students absorb dense material in manageable segments.
In terms of how you might use it as a prep resource, the series works well as a supplemental review tool: it helps reinforce content you've already learned in class or via a textbook, provides visual and auditory reinforcement for key topics, and can function as a quick way to revisit and refresh units. Because each video is relatively short and topic-focused, it's good for review sessions, "just in time" refreshing before the exam, or as a way to introduce a new topic before deeper study. However, it's not a full replacement for dedicated exam-prep books, timed practice tests, or full-length quizzes: you'll still want structured practice and question banks to master the format and pacing of the AP exam.
“[CrashCourse videos are] good as long as they're not the only thing you use to study. They go through everything fast, but it's helpful in just hearing and visualizing the vocab.”
Bottom line: CrashCourse has become a favorite study resource for students looking for easy-to-follow videos on specific topics. Many learners recommend incorporating CrashCourse's videos into a more complete study plan.
Why it matters
A wide range of AP Psychology exam prep providers offer comprehensive study materials and student support to help you succeed on the AP Psychology exam. Taking AP Psychology, along with other Advanced Placement courses, provides students with a valuable opportunity to:
- Demonstrate academic proficiency to colleges by performing well in advanced courses
- Prepare for rigorous, university-level classes
- Earn college credit or advance beyond introductory courses as a first-semester student
Choosing a prep program with high-quality resources, well-designed AP Psych practice tests, and dependable support is key to achieving your academic goals.
Wrapping up
As you compare top AP Psychology courses and review programs, be sure to review their features, content quality, and access to practice tests before deciding which one is the right fit for you. Try to find a study option that balances price with your availability and time commitments. Some will find studying from a review book sufficient, while others may need a full preparation course to feel comfortable with the material. Regardless, prioritize study programs with a proven track record of effectiveness, as evidenced by student reviews, and incorporate numerous practice exams into your routine. Good luck finding the option that best fits your learning needs!