Harsher AP World History Curve in 2012 and 2013?

Test Preparation AP History & Social Sciences
1

Hi everyone!</p>

I was wondering if the AP World History curve has become a lot harsher starting from 2012. </p>

In 2009, 11.1% of the test takers got a score of 5 (15,950 people)
In 2010, 9.8% of the test takers got a score of 5 (16,480 people)
In 2011, 9.5% of the test takers got a score of 5 (17,855 people)</p>

So generally, in 2011 and all the years before that, usually around 9%-11% of the people would get fives. However, the pattern starts to change in 2012.</p>

In 2012, 6.9% of the test takers got a score of 5 (14,557 people)
In 2013, 5.9% of the test takers got a score of 5 (13,481 people)</p>

What is the reason for the huge drop in the average number of students getting 5s? Is it just because there are more sophomores/freshmen taking it, getting low scores, and thereby dragging the curve down? I have also heard that it’s because the score cutoff is harsher. </p>

Any explanation would be appreciated!</p>

2

<p>I keep hearing it’s because more students are taking AP world as their first/one of their first AP tests.
Scares me a little cause I’m taking the test late and this is my first year of taking AP tests; I hope I don’t fall in that “trap”! </p>

3

<p>From Trevor Packer’s (VP of AP) twitter feed from 6/20/2012:

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4

<p>My AP World teacher said that a lot of schools are throwing this at kids really, really early in their high school career, along with teachers not giving their kids enough information on how to do essays. </p>