What are the curves for AP exams?

Test Preparation
1

<p>Does anyone have the link to where they have this sort of information?</p>

2

<p>If you want a reply with information, remove the Ws from the location field in your profile.</p>

3

<p>sorry ♠♠♠♠♠</p>

4

<p>That's better.</p>

<p>Generally, you need a raw score of 60-70%. It varies by test and administration and the only released curves are those from released exams.</p>

5

<p>you mean for a 5?</p>

6

<p>Regardless of the test, if you can make a mid-B (ie. 85% or higher) on the exam, then you can make a five. That's how I see.</p>

7

<p>It varies on each test collegeboard publishes the percentages of people who get 1,2,3,4, and 5 on each test. I think they curve the tests to conform roughly to a desired distribution, sometimes 20-20-20-20-20, or sometimes 10-20-40-20-10, or sometimes another</p>

8

<p>Most are NOT 20-20-20-20-20, especially not the histories. Check here for the 2004 report: <a href="http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/repository/gradedistbysubject_39023.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/repository/gradedistbysubject_39023.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>The curves are usually pretty generous, moreso with the "light" APs like Environmental Science, Stat, and Psych. I managed a 5 on APES without learning a thing all year -- I know I completely bombed on of the four free reponse questions and missed quite a few multiple choice. I got a 5 on APUSH, too, but I'm pretty sure I got 8s or 9s on my essays and 90 percent plus on the MC.</p>

<p>The curve is made to conform to a desired distribution, at least on the essays. Each essay (English and history tests, different numbers for other FR) is scored out of 9 and then stuck in a computer to curve to the 5 point scale. Generally, a 7-9 gets a 5. On the multiple choice, I've heard APUSH can be as low as 50 percent for a 5, though it generally hovers around 60-65. Euro's pretty similar. Basically, if you pass the test, you'll get at least a 4.</p>

9

<p>Ya, for a 5. I've been told by people on this site that the curve for the science tests and statistics is very generous- something like 65% for 5. I was curious what it is for calc, econ, and others</p>

<p>Does the collegeboard publish this info (not the distribution of scores)?</p>

10

<p>The collegeboard does not publish information about the AP exam curves, but many test prep books give rough guidelines. According to the Princeton Review books, the cutoffs (not ranges) are roughly 65-70% = 5, 50-60% = 4, 35-45% = 3, 25%-35% = 2.</p>

11

<p>is that for every test?</p>

12

<p>bc calc, stats, chem, and bio are around 60-65%</p>

13

<p>"The curve is made to conform to a desired distribution, at least on the essays. Each essay (English and history tests, different numbers for other FR) is scored out of 9 and then stuck in a computer to curve to the 5 point scale. Generally, a 7-9 gets a 5. On the multiple choice, I've heard APUSH can be as low as 50 percent for a 5, though it generally hovers around 60-65. Euro's pretty similar. Basically, if you pass the test, you'll get at least a 4." I don't think you're right on the desired distribution thing for the essays. They create a rubric and grade based on that. In no case do they put each essay score to convert to a 5 point scale. They add all elements of your score up at the end of the grading and then convert it to the 5 point scale. Nothing is based on quota or anything like that. And the 5 cutoff varies greatly.</p>