<p>
[quote]
Calculus AB Subscore for the Calculus BC Exam
A Calculus AB subscore is reported based on performance on the portion of the exam
devoted to Calculus AB topics (approximately 60 percent of the exam).
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The cutoff for a 5 has historically been around 60% for the AP Calc BC exam. Since 60% of the exam is purely AB topics, doesn't that mean one could just skate by with a 5 knowing nothing but AB (or AB with minimal BC knowledge)? Lewl? Am I tripping out here?</p>
<p>One can probably get away with that if they made absolutely no mistakes on the AB portion, but that doesn’t happen of course. The BC exam has ~50% 5 rate, that’s right, 5. So the curve is pretty nice.</p>
<p>Theoretically, yes. But that would mean that you would be able to get a 100% on the Calc AB Exam. I wouldn’t plan on it.</p>
<p>Wait — you know how for the BC exam you also get an AB subscore? Does the BC score = everything on the test OR just the BC/non-AB topics?</p>
<p>The BC score is the whole thing.</p>
<p>Ok just making sure.</p>
<p>Happened to me. I took AP Calc AB, and signed up for the BC exam, but was too lazy to study any of the BC material. Yet, I still earned an overall score of 5.</p>
<p>no wonder the US has such a low education ranking for math :/</p>
<p>^ That relates more to the style of education in the countries that do well. With few exceptions, e.g., Finland, the countries with high math rankings get there by forcing children to memorize very large quantities of information, and they are then able to reproduce the various procedures necessary to do well on international tests. It’s a difference in priorities. We’re not geared, as a culture, towards regimented, regurgitation-based education-- though the way education here is headed, that’ll change soon enough.</p>
<p>@HSMCCP: Wow, I never knew that!!</p>
<p>LOL high five Ryan</p>
<p>Haha, thanks. It was kinda a waste as I took Calc 2 the next year anyways.</p>
<p>Just because the questions devoted on Calc AB topics doesn’t mean they are actually questions from the AP Calculus AB exam (although some are). They are probably more difficult and extensive. BC students are expected to be better at math than AB students.</p>
<p>^Actually that’s not true. The college board’s policy is that both exams are of equal difficulty, with the BC exam covering more topics. 3 of the FRQs are identical. I’m not sure how many of the multiple choice questions are the same.</p>
<p>
Source:
<a href=“Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board”>Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board;
(page 9)</p>