An AP (Advanced Placement) Exam is graded on a 5-point scale, which indicates a student's level of qualification for college credit and placement. The grading process involves evaluating both multiple-choice and free-response sections, converting raw scores into a final scaled score.
The AP Scoring Process
The grading of an AP Exam is a comprehensive process designed to ensure fairness and consistency across all subjects and years. It typically involves two main components:
1. Multiple-Choice Section
This section is scored by computers. Students earn points for correct answers, and typically, no points are deducted for incorrect or unanswered questions. The total number of correct answers constitutes the raw score for this section.
2. Free-Response Section
The free-response questions are graded by thousands of experienced high school and college educators from around the world, known as AP Readers. These readers undergo rigorous training and use standardized rubrics to score student responses consistently and fairly. Each question is scored independently, often by different readers, to ensure objectivity.
- Rubrics: Specific scoring guidelines are developed for each free-response question, detailing what constitutes an excellent, good, or poor answer.
- Training: AP Readers participate in intensive training sessions to ensure a common understanding and application of the rubrics.
- Consistency Checks: Throughout the grading process, various quality control measures are in place to monitor reader accuracy and consistency.
From Raw Scores to the 5-Point Scale
After both sections are scored, the raw scores from the multiple-choice and free-response sections are combined and weighted according to the specific exam's design. This combined raw score is then converted into a final, standardized score on the 5-point scale. The conversion process is adjusted each year for each exam to account for slight variations in difficulty, ensuring that a score of, for example, a '3' in one year represents the same level of achievement as a '3' in another year.
Understanding the 5-Point AP Scale
The final score on an AP Exam provides a recommendation about how qualified a student is to receive college credit and placement for an introductory college-level course.
Here's a breakdown of what each score generally signifies:
| AP Score | Interpretation | College Course Equivalent | College Credit/Placement Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Extremely Well Qualified | Equivalent to an A in a college course | Strongly recommend |
| 4 | Well Qualified | Equivalent to an A-, B+, or B | Recommend |
| 3 | Qualified | Equivalent to a B-, C+, or C | Potentially recommend |
| 2 | Possibly Qualified | Equivalent to a D in a college course | No recommendation for credit |
| 1 | No Recommendation | No college course equivalent | No recommendation for credit |
It's important to remember that while the AP score offers a recommendation, each college and university makes its own decisions about which scores it will grant credit or placement for. Policies vary widely among institutions, so students should check specific college websites for their AP credit policies. You can often find detailed information about specific college AP policies on the College Board's AP website.
By earning a qualifying score (typically a 3, 4, or 5), students may:
- Earn college credit, reducing tuition costs.
- Place out of introductory courses, allowing them to take more advanced courses sooner.
- Stand out in the college admissions process.
