Forgetting and Other Memory Challenges

Forgetting and Other Memory Challenges is topic 2.7 of AP Psychology, inside Cognition. This page works through three real practice questions on it, with the full reasoning behind each credited answer.

Practise this topic freeThe whole unit
33 questionsConcept Application100% with a figure
Worked examples

Three real forgetting and other memory challenges questions

From the practice pool, not the mock papers — each with the reasoning that produces the answer.

100% of them come with a figure. Reading the graph or diagram correctly is most of the work here before any content knowledge applies.

73% test a single AP skill: Concept Application. That makes this topic unusually predictable to prepare for.

Concept Application · with figure

A student who learned Spanish last year now studies Italian. During an Italian oral exam, Spanish words keep coming to mind and slow the student's responses. Which memory problem is illustrated?

  1. ANewer learning is blocking the storage of every earlier memory.
  2. BEarlier learning is interfering with the use of newer material.correct
  3. CA conditioned stimulus is producing a conditioned response.
  4. DA fixed-ratio schedule is producing fast responding.
Why B is correct

The old language intrudes on the new task, so earlier learning disrupts later performance.

"A student who learned Spanish last year now studies Italian." details toward proactive interference, not just a familiar Cognition label. The credited option, "Earlier learning is interfering with the use of newer material", is supported because Prior Spanish learning disrupts current Italian recall, which is proactive interference. "A conditioned stimulus is producing a conditioned response" is a real-looking alternative, but No conditioned stimulus-response pairing is described; "A fixed-ratio schedule is producing fast responding" also fails because No reinforcement schedule is involved. The aim is to connect the concrete evidence to the psychological mechanism, then reject choices that shift the process, time frame, or research logic away from the scenario pattern.

Concept Application · with figure

A person has trouble learning a new locker combination because the old combination keeps coming to mind. Which memory problem is illustrated?

  1. AProactive interferencecorrect
  2. BRetrograde amnesia
  3. CMisinformation effect
  4. DOverconfidence
Why A is correct

Old information interferes with new learning.

proactive interference explains the evidence in "A person has trouble learning a new locker combination because the old combination keeps coming to mind.". The credited option, "Proactive interference", is supported because Older information disrupts learning or recall of newer information. "Overconfidence" is a real-looking alternative, but No judgment of certainty is described; "Retrograde amnesia" also fails because Retrograde amnesia involves loss of past memories. The aim is to connect the concrete evidence to the psychological mechanism, then reject choices that shift the process, time frame, or research logic away from the scenario pattern.

Data Interpretation · with figure

A list-learning task reports recall after three delays. Which conclusion is best supported?

  1. AThe longest delay produced the highest recall.
  2. BEvery delay produced equal recall.
  3. CThe data prove the words were never learned.
  4. DRecall declines as delay lengthens.correct
Why D is correct

The supported conclusion follows the displayed trend.

"A list-learning task reports recall after three delays." details toward memory interference, not just a familiar Cognition label. The credited option, "Recall declines as delay lengthens", is supported because The values drop from 18 to 13 to 8. "Every delay produced equal recall" is a real-looking alternative, but The values differ; "The data prove the words were never learned" also fails because Some words were recalled at every delay. The aim is to connect the concrete evidence to the psychological mechanism, then reject choices that shift the process, time frame, or research logic away from the table pattern.

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Last reviewed 2026-08-28. Topic and unit names follow the College Board course framework. Question counts describe the PrepScore practice bank, not the exam.
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Work forgetting and other memory challenges until the reasoning is automatic.

Real AP questions with a full explanation on every answer, and a mistake bank that only clears when you get it right.

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