How are AP Exams scored?

AP Exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. This scoring system is designed to provide colleges with a standardized measure of a student's performance. The process of converting your raw score (the number of questions you answered correctly on multiple-choice and the points you earned on free-response) into the final 1-5 score is a complex statistical process called equating.

Here’s what the scores mean:

5 = Extremely Well Qualified

4 = Well Qualified

3 = Qualified

2 = Possibly Qualified

1 = No Recommendation

The multiple-choice section is scored by a computer, while the free-response section is scored by a team of experienced AP teachers and college faculty during an event called the AP Reading. These graders use detailed scoring guidelines, or rubrics, to ensure consistency and fairness across all exams. The equating process adjusts for slight variations in difficulty between different versions of the exam, ensuring that a score of 4 on one year's exam represents the same level of achievement as a score of 4 on another year's exam. This means your score is a reliable reflection of your knowledge, regardless of when you took the test.