Psychology – Practice Exam Q&A for
Revision
Date: June 12, 2025
Instructions
This practice test includes 15 advanced multiple-choice questions for 2025 psychology exam re-
vision, such as AP Psychology or GRE Subject Test in Psychology, covering biological, cogni-
tive, developmental, social, abnormal, and research methods topics. Each question includes four
answer choices and a step-by-step solution to reinforce key concepts and boost exam readiness.
Read questions carefully, select the best answer, and review solutions to solidify understanding
for effective revision.
1 Multiple-Choice Questions
1. Which brain structure is most critical for regulating emotional responses in 2025
stress studies?
A. Hippocampus
B. Amygdala
C. Hypothalamus
D. Prefrontal cortex
Correct Answer: B. Amygdala
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Identify the function: Emotional regulation, especially in stress, involves processing
fear and arousal.
2. Match to brain structure: The amygdala is central to emotional responses, per 2025
stress research.
3. Eliminate alternatives: Hippocampus (A) handles memory, hypothalamus (C) regu-
lates bodily functions, and prefrontal cortex (D) manages decision-making.
4. Confirm: Amygdala’s role in stress-related emotions is well-documented.
Revision Tip: Associate brain structures with emotional functions for quick recall.
2. A person assumes a rare disease is common after reading a vivid case study. This
reflects:
A. Confirmation bias
B. Availability heuristic
C. Framing effect
D. Representativeness heuristic
Correct Answer: B. Availability heuristic
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Analyze the scenario: Overestimating likelihood due to a vivid example suggests a
cognitive bias.
2. Identify bias: The availability heuristic bases judgments on easily recalled information,
like a case study.
3. Eliminate alternatives: Confirmation bias (A) seeks confirming evidence, framing
effect (C) depends on presentation, and representativeness heuristic (D) uses prototypes.
1
, 4. Confirm: The vivid case study drives overestimation.
Revision Tip: Differentiate heuristics by their cognitive triggers.
3. In 2025 developmental studies, what most promotes secure attachment in toddlers?
A. Consistent caregiver sensitivity
B. High parental income
C. Early language skills
D. Genetic temperament
Correct Answer: A. Consistent caregiver sensitivity
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Define attachment: Secure attachment involves trust in caregivers, per Ainsworth’s
Strange Situation.
2. Identify key factor: 2025 studies emphasize caregiver sensitivity for secure bonding.
3. Eliminate alternatives: Income (B), language (C), and temperament (D) are secondary
influences.
4. Confirm: Sensitivity fosters secure attachment behaviors.
Revision Tip: Link attachment to caregiver actions for clarity.
4. A group suppresses dissent to maintain harmony during a project. This is an exam-
ple of:
A. Social loafing
B. Groupthink
C. Bystander effect
D. Social facilitation
Correct Answer: B. Groupthink
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Analyze the scenario: Suppressing dissent for harmony suggests a group dynamic.
2. Identify phenomenon: Groupthink (Janis) prioritizes consensus over critical thinking.
3. Eliminate alternatives: Social loafing (A) reduces effort, bystander effect (C) involves
inaction in emergencies, and social facilitation (D) enhances performance.
4. Confirm: Suppressing dissent aligns with groupthink.
Revision Tip: Match group behaviors to social psychology terms.
5. Which 2025 DSM-5 criterion is most central to social anxiety disorder?
A. Intrusive thoughts
B. Fear of social scrutiny
C. Mood swings
D. Delusions
Correct Answer: B. Fear of social scrutiny
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Define the disorder: Social anxiety disorder involves excessive fear in social settings.
2. Match to criterion: Fear of scrutiny is central, per DSM-5 (2025).
3. Eliminate alternatives: Intrusive thoughts (A) relate to OCD, mood swings (C) to
bipolar disorder, and delusions (D) to psychosis.
4. Confirm: Social scrutiny defines the disorder.
Revision Tip: Use DSM-5 criteria for precise diagnosis.
6. A study examines music’s effect on concentration. What is the independent vari-
able?
A. Concentration levels
2
Revision
Date: June 12, 2025
Instructions
This practice test includes 15 advanced multiple-choice questions for 2025 psychology exam re-
vision, such as AP Psychology or GRE Subject Test in Psychology, covering biological, cogni-
tive, developmental, social, abnormal, and research methods topics. Each question includes four
answer choices and a step-by-step solution to reinforce key concepts and boost exam readiness.
Read questions carefully, select the best answer, and review solutions to solidify understanding
for effective revision.
1 Multiple-Choice Questions
1. Which brain structure is most critical for regulating emotional responses in 2025
stress studies?
A. Hippocampus
B. Amygdala
C. Hypothalamus
D. Prefrontal cortex
Correct Answer: B. Amygdala
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Identify the function: Emotional regulation, especially in stress, involves processing
fear and arousal.
2. Match to brain structure: The amygdala is central to emotional responses, per 2025
stress research.
3. Eliminate alternatives: Hippocampus (A) handles memory, hypothalamus (C) regu-
lates bodily functions, and prefrontal cortex (D) manages decision-making.
4. Confirm: Amygdala’s role in stress-related emotions is well-documented.
Revision Tip: Associate brain structures with emotional functions for quick recall.
2. A person assumes a rare disease is common after reading a vivid case study. This
reflects:
A. Confirmation bias
B. Availability heuristic
C. Framing effect
D. Representativeness heuristic
Correct Answer: B. Availability heuristic
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Analyze the scenario: Overestimating likelihood due to a vivid example suggests a
cognitive bias.
2. Identify bias: The availability heuristic bases judgments on easily recalled information,
like a case study.
3. Eliminate alternatives: Confirmation bias (A) seeks confirming evidence, framing
effect (C) depends on presentation, and representativeness heuristic (D) uses prototypes.
1
, 4. Confirm: The vivid case study drives overestimation.
Revision Tip: Differentiate heuristics by their cognitive triggers.
3. In 2025 developmental studies, what most promotes secure attachment in toddlers?
A. Consistent caregiver sensitivity
B. High parental income
C. Early language skills
D. Genetic temperament
Correct Answer: A. Consistent caregiver sensitivity
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Define attachment: Secure attachment involves trust in caregivers, per Ainsworth’s
Strange Situation.
2. Identify key factor: 2025 studies emphasize caregiver sensitivity for secure bonding.
3. Eliminate alternatives: Income (B), language (C), and temperament (D) are secondary
influences.
4. Confirm: Sensitivity fosters secure attachment behaviors.
Revision Tip: Link attachment to caregiver actions for clarity.
4. A group suppresses dissent to maintain harmony during a project. This is an exam-
ple of:
A. Social loafing
B. Groupthink
C. Bystander effect
D. Social facilitation
Correct Answer: B. Groupthink
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Analyze the scenario: Suppressing dissent for harmony suggests a group dynamic.
2. Identify phenomenon: Groupthink (Janis) prioritizes consensus over critical thinking.
3. Eliminate alternatives: Social loafing (A) reduces effort, bystander effect (C) involves
inaction in emergencies, and social facilitation (D) enhances performance.
4. Confirm: Suppressing dissent aligns with groupthink.
Revision Tip: Match group behaviors to social psychology terms.
5. Which 2025 DSM-5 criterion is most central to social anxiety disorder?
A. Intrusive thoughts
B. Fear of social scrutiny
C. Mood swings
D. Delusions
Correct Answer: B. Fear of social scrutiny
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Define the disorder: Social anxiety disorder involves excessive fear in social settings.
2. Match to criterion: Fear of scrutiny is central, per DSM-5 (2025).
3. Eliminate alternatives: Intrusive thoughts (A) relate to OCD, mood swings (C) to
bipolar disorder, and delusions (D) to psychosis.
4. Confirm: Social scrutiny defines the disorder.
Revision Tip: Use DSM-5 criteria for precise diagnosis.
6. A study examines music’s effect on concentration. What is the independent vari-
able?
A. Concentration levels
2
