<p>I thought it would be interesting to see how AP classes are scored in different schools. At my school, just about every single AP class is curved (even though in different ways), except for AP Economics, AP Calculus BC, AP Physics I and AP Physics II (more on this later). The curves range from a percent curve (ex. original test is out of 100 and I get a 76; with a 75% curve, I got a 76/75, or a 101) to a "top-student" curve (ex. I have the highest test score with a 97; everyone gets +3 on their test grades) to a bell-curve (self-explanatory, although I'd like to add it was especially fitting that my AP Statistics teacher did this).</p>
<p>The reason I'm posting this is because I currently have a B in AP Physics II because there's no curve. Not griping too much, since I guess I should put more effort into mastering the material, but my teacher is honestly an idiot. He never goes over material and just focuses on about 3 practice problems per day, rushing through them and ignoring any questions we have about how he got to the solution. AND--here's the kicker--when we do poorly on our tests because of poor instruction, he goes on a 30-minute lecture about how his 5-year-old child could do better. It's pretty pathetic, and I'm disgusted.</p>
<p>Anyway, not my life story here. What do you guys have in your schools?</p>
<p>No curve on individual grades in any class in my HS. After getting the final report card, there is a 5% weight added to Enriched classes and a 10% weight added to AP/College-level classes. </p>
<p>Just want to note:</p>
<p>I do get a sticker with a smiley face from my AP Bio teacher when I get above a 50% on a test. So far I’ve gotten a sticker on every test :)</p>
<p>AP US/AP World/AP Lang/AP Calc/AP Computer Sci does/did not have a curve. My AP stat class has a combination of both the square-root curve and bell-curve. My AP Physics II class follows the AP test curve(not sure what it is but essentially a C is like an A apparently). I’m, luckily, test-free in AP Lit. </p>
<p>AP Environmental and AP Bio are the only classes I had that would curve tests. In AP Bio, my teacher would curve the tests after everyone took them. The curves were the only reason that anyone ever got A’s on the tests. I remember one test where I got a 62% before the curve and then after the curve, it was a 98%.</p>
<p>In APES, my teacher just builds extra credit into her tests. For example, a test may have 50 questions, but she would make the tests 45 points.</p>
<p>Depends on the teacher at my school. I know one of the AP Physics teachers uses a square-root curve (for example, a 81% would become a 90%, while a 100% would stay 100%).</p>
<p>major curves otherwise most of the kids would be failing and we know they are all above average kids!! teachers have to curve and give good grades or the parents and principal come down on them hard. may be why so many kids have A’s on their report cards and 1 or 2 on the AP tests ( one kid told me his test must have been mis-graded since he for sure deserved a 5!) sigh!</p>
<p>There’s never been a curve for any of the AP classes that I’ve been in (and I’ve taken 8) and our GPA isn’t weighted either. Additionally, none my classes offer retakes, even when a student gets below a 50%. </p>
<p>The only thing I have at my school is test corrections for psych but I’m not sure how much that helps. </p>
<p>AP Chem - Curve on tests and curve on grade at end of year. No retakes. Average test grade with curve is ~50%.
AP Stat - No curves
AP Gov - Usually no curves</p>
<p>Physics C (very generous curve using the AP scale for tests…so 55-90/90 is a 5/100%, and so on…and that’s ON TOP of a 14 point scale (86-89 A-, 90-100: A) for grades after the curve is taken into account)
Chemistry: Sometimes the tests are curved a couple points, but the grading scale is 90-100=A, 85-89=A-, 80-84=B+, and so on
Government: Every test is curved to the 2nd highest scorer.</p>
<p>@Kawaiiii Maybe not at your school, but some classes at my school you’re lucky to have a 40-50% on a test for some AP’s, thus, if there’s no curve, you have every reason to cry. For these classes, no one would be able to get a C or B without a curve. </p>