AP Psychology 3.5.B: Human Language Development
Practise explaining human language development by interpreting age-and-fluency evidence and recognising overgeneralization of learned grammar rules.
- Syllabus
- Effective Fall 2025
- Course
- AP Psychology
Exam points
- Interpret age-and-fluency data or an applied scenario using the critical-period explanation
- Identify overgeneralization when a learner applies a regular grammar rule to an irregular verb
3.5.B—Explain how language develops in humans question 1
[Maximum number: 1]
Savannah is a junior in high school and is preparing for an exam in her beginning Japanese course. The exam
will consist of both written and spoken portions. Although it is her first course in Japanese, Savannah is
confident that she will do very well on the exam.
Describe how each of the following may hinder Savannah as she prepares for and takes the exam.
- Encoding failure
Age and language acquisition
Point 6: Age and language acquisition
To earn this point students must accurately describe how Savannah's age might hinder her language
acquisition while preparing for or taking the exam. They may explain that:
A. Older students are less successful in acquiring a language, OR
B. The critical/sensitive period for language acquisition has passed, OR
C. Older students are more likely to speak a second language with the accent of their first-learned
language.
Example: "Savannah will have a harder time learning Japanese because she has passed the critical
period."
Do not score
- Responses that focus on the memory of vocabulary as negatively influenced by age. The focus
must remain on language acquisition.
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