AP Data 2008
AP Program participation and performance statistics
Gauging individual success on an AP Exam is relatively straightforward—most students view a grade of 3 or higher as a successful grade. How can performance be evaluated for an entire grade level, type of school, or state relative to other grade levels, comparable schools, and similar states?
The AP Program compiles a vast amount of data each year on AP Exam participation, performance, and volume that can be used to compare and contrast exam-takers worldwide. Available in both PDF and Excel formats, the reports include detailed data separated into a number of categories that can be used to evaluate relative performance during a single school year or over a span of years.
The data also show how participation in the AP Program has grown, which exams are taken by the greatest number of students, which states have increased the number of students taking AP Exams, which colleges receive the greatest number of AP Exam grades, and much more.
Summary reports
The following reports provide a broad overview of AP Program participation.
- Program Summary Report 2008 (.pdf/22K)
- Program Summary Report 2008 (.xls/27K)
- Annual AP Program Participation 1956–2008 (.pdf/18K)
- Annual AP Program Participation 1956–2008 (.xls/24K)
- AP Program Size and Increments 1984–2008 (.pdf/17K)
- AP Program Size and Increments 1984–2008 (.xls/29K)
Grade distributions
These reports include detailed information about which AP grades were earned.
- Student Grade Distributions 2008 (.doc/36K)
- Student Grade Distributions 2008 (.pdf/29K)
- Student Grade Distributions 2008 (.xls/57KB)
- AP Grade Distributions—All Subjects 1988–2008 (.pdf/21K)
- AP Grade Distributions—All Subjects 1988–2008 (.xls/22K)
- AP Grade Distributions for Specific Student Grade-Level Groups 2008 (.pdf/19K)
- AP Grade Distributions for Specific Student Grade-Level Groups 2008 (.xls/22K)
Exam volume
The reports below show how the AP Program has grown.
- AP Examination Volume Changes (1998–2008) (.pdf/30K)
- AP Examination Volume Changes (1998–2008) (.xls/96K)
- AP Examination Volume by Region 2008 (.pdf/37K)
- AP Examination Volume by Region 2008 (.xls/80K)
- AP Student and Examination Volume Per School (2004–2008) (.pdf/27K)
- AP Student and Examination Volume Per School (2004–2008) (.xls/34K)
- Number of AP Examinations Per Student 2008 (.pdf/24K)
- Number of AP Examinations Per Student 2008 (.doc/41K)
- School Report of AP Examinations: Grades 11 and 12 (2008) (.pdf/25K)
- School Report of AP Examinations: Grades 11 and 12 (2008) (.xls/37K)
- Number of Schools Offering AP Exams 1999–2008 (.pdf/25K)
- Number of Schools Offering AP Exams 1999–2008 (.xls/45K)
- College Report of AP Examinations by State 2007–2008 (.pdf/25K)
- College Report of AP Examinations by State 2007–2008 (.xls/191K)
Other information and data
These reports provide supplemental information.
- 200 Top Colleges & AP Grades 2008 (.pdf/33K)
- 200 Top Colleges & AP Grades 2008 (.xls/54K)
- AP Reading Reader Participation 1999–2008 (.pdf/21K)
- AP Reading Reader Participation 1999–2008 (.xls/12K)
- AP Scholar Data 2008 (.xls/80K)
National and state summary reports
2008 national and state summary reports are available in the student section of collegeboard.com