How are free-response questions graded?

The free-response section of an AP Exam is graded by a team of highly experienced and trained AP teachers and college faculty. This process takes place every June during an event known as the AP Reading. Graders are trained to use detailed scoring guidelines, or rubrics, to ensure that their evaluations are consistent, fair, and accurate across all exams.

Each free-response question is scored on a scale of 0 to a set number of points, with specific points awarded for demonstrating certain skills, knowledge, or reasoning. For example, an essay might be graded on its thesis, use of evidence, analysis, and synthesis. A math problem would be graded on the correct setup of the problem, the steps shown, and the final answer. While the official grading is done by humans, many modern edtech prep platforms use AI-powered grading tools to provide students with instant feedback on their practice essays and FRQs. These AI systems analyze the student's response against the official rubric, checking for keywords, structure, and argumentation. While not a perfect substitute for human grading, this technology provides invaluable immediate feedback that can help students improve their writing and problem-solving skills in preparation for the real exam.