<p>I'm taking the AP Computer Science A exam next Tuesday and was wondering what I need for a 5. I usually score anywhere from 27 to 33 on the practice M.C. tests, but I go over the time limit or just barely finish in time. On the free response I always score over 30. I'm much quicker and more confident on the free response. So what is the minimum score I need for a 5? What scale is the free response multiplied by to make it equal with the multiple choice?</p>
<p>I would use this site to get an idea where you might stand: [AP</a> Pass - AP Computer Science Calculator](<a href=“http://appass.com/calculators/computerscience]AP”>AP Computer Science Test Score Calculator - AP Pass)</p>
<p>For your worst case scenario (27 multiple choice, 30 free response), you’ll barely fall under the threshold for a 5, but otherwise, it looks like you’re easily gonna get a 5. I’m also taking the AP Comp Sci test next Tuesday, so good luck! =)</p>
<p>My teacher says that in 2011 the cutoff for a 5 was 83%. Will that continue, or will the cutoff go back down in 2013?</p>
<p>The various grade cutoffs vary from year to year. They aren’t set until after all of the exams are scored, so that the ETS folks can look at the results and see if the questions were easier or harder than in previous years. The folks who write the exam try to design a set of questions (particularly the FRQs) of similar difficulty to previous years, but one never knows if a given problem will be easy or hard when the students take it.</p>