AP Exam Scores
What AP scores represent
Each AP Exam score is a weighted combination of the student's score on the multiple-choice section and the free-response section. The final score is reported on a 5-point scale:
5 = extremely well qualified to receive college credit and/or placement
4 = well qualified to receive college credit and/or placement
3 = qualified to receive college credit and/or placement
2 = possibly qualified to receive college credit and/or placement
1 = no recommendation for receiving college credit and/or placement
Periodically, the AP Program conducts college comparability studies for each AP subject by administering a portion of the AP Exam to college students enrolled in equivalent courses. The Program then compares the performance of these students on the sample AP Exam with their actual course scores. Results indicate that:
- AP Exam scores of 5 are equivalent to grades of A in the corresponding college course.
- AP Exam scores of 4 are equivalent to grades of A-, B+, and B in college.
- AP Exam scores of 3 are equivalent to grades of B-, C+, and C in college.
Find out how your institution can participate in a college comparability study.
Subscores
In addition to the AP score based on their performance on the overall exam, students who take the AP Calculus BC and AP Music Theory Exams receive subscores.
- A Calculus AB subscore is reported for students who take the AP Calculus BC Exam, based on their performance on the portion of the exam devoted to AB topics (approximately 60 percent of the exam).
- Aural and non-aural subscores are reported for students who take the AP Music Theory Exam based on their performance on the portion of the exam devoted to aural and non-aural material. Half of the exam consists of aural material, and half consists of non-aural material.
Subscores are designed to give colleges and universities more information about the student. Although each college and university sets its own policy for awarding credit, placement, or both for AP Exams, it is recommended that institutions apply the same policy to the subscores that they apply to the overall score.
How is a score determined?
1. The multiple-choice answer sheets are scored by computer.
Each answer sheet is run through an electronic scanner. This transfers the information directly to cartridges, creating a record for that sheet. The scanning cartridge is processed by computer. The computer program checks each record for invalid or missing identification data and scores the student's responses.
Total scores on the multiple-choice section are based on the number of questions answered correctly. Points are not deducted for incorrect answers and no points are awarded for unanswered questions.
2. The free-response questions are scored at the annual AP Reading.
Unlike the multiple-choice section, which is scored by machine, the free-response section is scored by Readers at the annual AP Reading. To learn more about this unique gathering of college and university faculty and AP teachers, visit Scoring AP Exams.
3. The composite score is calculated.
For each AP Exam, there is a formula for combining the scores for the multiple-choice and free-response sections or subsections into a maximum weighted score (composite score). Once the weights have been decided and the free-response section scored, computing each student's composite score is a purely mechanical process and is done by computer.
Deciding on the cut-off point between each of the five scores is not a simple process. The statistical processes of equating and scaling are used to make adjustments to the cut-off scores each year. These adjusted cut-off scores are presented to the Chief Readers along with other information about the students' performance on the exam. The Chief Reader then makes the final decision about the four cut-off scores which determine the five AP Exam scores.