How are AP exams scored?
AP exams are scored on a 1 to 5 scale. A computer scores the multiple-choice section, and AP teachers and college faculty score the free-response questions and projects at the annual AP Reading. For most exams, the section results are weighted and added into a composite score, which College Board converts to a 1 to 5 using cut points set from research. A 3 means qualified.
In more detail
Multiple choice is the number of correct answers, with no penalty for wrong ones, so answer every question. Free-response answers are scored against a rubric by trained readers, who go through repeated calibration sessions so scoring stays consistent. The AP Reading takes place during the first 2 weeks of June.
The composite is not a percentage. College Board converts it to a 1 to 5 with statistical processes designed so that a 3 this year reflects the same level of achievement as a 3 last year. The cut points come from research: college faculty compare AP questions with their own exams, and AP scores are checked against how students did in comparable college courses. So the raw points needed for a 3 differ from exam to exam.
Not every exam works this way. AP Seminar, AP Research, AP Computer Science Principles, the three AP Art and Design courses and AP African American Studies have different assessments, with performance tasks or portfolios counting toward the score. Your course page on AP Students shows the exact format. For release dates, see when AP scores come out.
The AP score scale (College Board)
| AP score | College Board's label | College course grade equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Extremely well qualified | A+ or A |
| 4 | Very well qualified | A-, B+ or B |
| 3 | Qualified | B-, C+ or C |
| 2 | Possibly qualified | No equivalent given |
| 1 | No recommendation | No equivalent given |
Step by step
- 1
Find your exam's format on its AP Students course page: the sections, the question counts and what each section is worth.
- 2
Practice both sections. Multiple choice counts only correct answers, so never leave a question blank.
- 3
Score your free-response practice against the released scoring guidelines and sample responses from past exams on AP Central.
- 4
Treat score calculators as a rough guide only, because cut points differ by exam.
- 5
Look up the AP credit policy of each college you are considering, since every college sets its own.
How StudyPDF helps
Upload your AP textbook chapters, class notes or slides, and StudyPDF builds a practice exam from them in sections, with a timer if you want one and no feedback until you submit, like exam day. The graded report shows your result per section, and the concepts you miss feed your next quiz. The questions are not official AP questions, so use College Board's released free-response questions to practice the scoring. A free account needs no card.
See also
- AnswerWhen do AP scores come out?
- AnswerHow many questions are on the Series 7?
- AnswerHow do you study for an exam?
- AnswerCan you pass an exam without studying?
- AnswerHow much does an AP exam cost?
- AnswerHow long are AP exams?
- Practice testAP Calculus BC Practice Test: BC-Only Topics
- StudyPDFAI Exam Generator
More questions
What is a good AP score?
A 3 or higher is the usual benchmark. College Board calls a 3 qualified, and college faculty generally support score distributions in which 60% to 80% of AP students get a 3 or higher. A 4 or 5 is stronger, and some colleges ask for one before they give credit.
Is a 3 on an AP exam good?
Yes. A 3 is a qualifying score that matches a college grade of B-, C+ or C, and many US colleges grant credit or placement for a 3 and above. Each college sets its own policy, so check its AP credit page before you count on it.
Do it on your own course
Upload your lectures and ask Bo. Cited answers, plus flashcards, exams, and more built from your material.