Insights From 2006 Score Distributions

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
1

<p>I know the 2007 Grade Distributions aren't out yet, but I compiled this from the CB 2006 Grade Distributions (I actually don't know if CB already has a list of this in .pdf form ready and stuff). I think it's quite insightful...actually, on some trends that we've been seeing.</p>

<p>(Exam name (abbreviated to 4 letters to achieve uniformity)...percentage getting 5's...percentage that passed (3+)...total exam takers)</p>

<p>AHIS....8.4...56.8....17977
BIOL...19.6...61.1...131783
CALA...22.3...61.4...197181
CALB...41.9...81.3....58602
CHEM..17.0...57.8....87465
COMA..21.9...58.5....14662
COMB..33.7...70.6.....4939
MACE..12.7...53.5....52599
MICE...16.4...63.2....33092
ELAN....5.4...50.9...256722
ELIT.....7.1...62.2...281111
ESCI....9.3....50.4....44698
EHIS...12.0...69.2....91040
FLAN...11.3...55.3....21572
FLIT....16.3...64.7.....2009
GLAN...24.9...68.6.....5139
CGOV...13.0..53.3....12742
UGOV....8.0...54.9...143980
HGEO...16.9...58.4....21003
ILAN....16.5...51.7.....1597
LLAN....22.2...66.1.....3333
LVER....17.9...63.0.....4844
MTHE...19.2...66.5....11809
PHYB....12.8...60.4....50987
PHCE....34.6...70.8....10481
PHCM...24.2...69.9....24480
PSYC...19.5...67.7...101221
SLAN...23.4...75.8...101473
SLIT....11.8...61.9....14287
STAT...12.6...60.1....88237
SARD...10.7...67.0....12580
SAR2....7.7...65.2....11803
SAR3...10.3...66.8.....2019
UHIS...11.0...53.1...311000
WHIS...10.4...51.0....84143</p>

<p>(From: CB 2006 Score Distributions)</p>

<p>From this list, we can reach some conclusions:</p>

<p>(Disclaimer: I am not claiming this to be 100%, or even 50% to be scientific because the exams and number of test takers vary so much between exams - almost all language exams also have less credibility because of the issue of native speakers in the language APs. In addition, some exams (like Computer AB, Physics, or Studio Art) might only be taken by people who are really into the subject, affecting the resulting curve..etc. etc. there are very many interferring factors. So I'm acknowledging all of these factors beforehand! However, I posted this because I think there are some valuable trends, regardless.)</p>

<p>Top 5 APs Hardest to Get 5s
1. English Language
2. English Literature
3. Studio Art: 2-D Design
4. US Government
5. Art History</p>

<p>Top 5 APs Easiest to Get 5s
1. Calculus BC
2. Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
3. Computer Science AB
4. German Language (probably mostly native speakers taking)
5. Physics C: Mechanics</p>

<p>**Top 5 APs Hardest to Pass*<a href="I%20think%20there's%20less%20credibility%20to%20this%20because%20this%20includes%203s,%204s,%20and%205s...not%20all%20APs%20have%20a%20perfect%20bell%20curve">/i</a>
1. Environmental Science - 50.4%
2. English Language - 50.9%
3. World History - 51.0%
4. Italian Language - 51.7%
5. US History - 53.1%</p>

<p>Top 5 APs Easiest to Pass
1. Calculus BC - 81.3% (!!)
2. Spanish Language - 75.8%
3. Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism - 70.8%
4. Computer Science AB - 70.6%
5. Physics C: Mechanics - 69.9%</p>

<p>**Most Popular APs*<a href="Now%20this%20is%20indisputable">/i</a>
1. US History - 311,000 (!!)
2. English Literature - 281,111
3. English Language - 256,722
4. Calculus AB - 197,181
5. US Government - 143,980</p>

<p>Least Popular APs
1. Italian Language - 1,597
2. French Literature - 2,009
3. Studio Art: 3-D Design - 2,019
4. Latin Language - 3,333
5. Latin: Vergil - 4,844</p>

<p>Anyways, those are just some interesting data.</p>

<p>It does seem that it is somewhat more difficult to get 5's in AP English (this might be skewed by the number of people who took the test unprepared, though). And AP Government is definitely not an easy self-study AP that I had anticipated. This probably also supports the fact that a lot of people who took Gov this year, who expected to get 5s, got 4s. And why is there traditionally such a generous curve for Calculus BC? Comment?</p>

2

<p>It's not that there's a generous curve for AP Calculus BC. Many schools offer the selection of either AP Calculus AB or AP Calculus BC, and not both. Accordingly, the smarter students tend to take BC and the weaker students tend to take AB.</p>

3

<p>wow those r interesting
about the calc bc thing: u usually have to pass ab to get to bc in the first place. and since most of bc covers ab topics, if u passed ab, it shouldnt be hard to pass bc because its mostly review</p>

4

<p>i agree with chickenboi8008, and ab and bc are on the same day, so you would have to make a choice. but i do agree that bc is just a tad bit harder than ab.</p>

5

<p>lol we either take AB or BC....it's not hard to take BC without AB...I did it and got a 5, and I've never even qualified for USAMO!</p>

6

<p>AIME is wayyyy harder than Calc BC will ever be. AP classes are watered down so high school students can successfully pass the AP tests. Doing well enough on AIME to reach USAMO is highly respectable...But then again, some people (ahem...piccolojunior) just destroy all academia anyway so...</p>

<p>This is highly interesting...It looks like I'll be self-studying more APs than I originally anticipated, haha. It seems like too many people are passing AP tests ;)</p>

7

<p>i dont think u can compare the two
I qualified for USAMO last year as a sophmore, and I have absolutely no calculus experience. They are two completely different subjects i think</p>

8

<p>AMC/AIME/USAMO test mathematical talent (it's hard to train a kid to do AMC/AIME unless you start when that kid's really young and work consistently up - or if that kid is already very gifted in math).</p>

<p>SAT/SAT 2/AP Calc tests mathematical ability (this can be learned through practice and/or a teacher - it's MUCH harder to learn AMC math through a regular classroom setting)</p>

<p>And also, the whole AMC series (going all the way up to IMO) does not test Calculus at all.</p>