AP score estimators
AP score calculators
By the CollegePrepRoom editorial team · Updated · How we write and check content
Pick your exam, enter your practice results, and see an approximate 1–5 score along with how close you are to the next cutoff. Each calculator explains how its exam is weighted, so you can see which parts carry the most points.
AP English Language
Multiple-choice · Synthesis essay · Rhetorical analysis essay · Argument essayAP English Literature
Multiple-choice · Poetry analysis essay · Prose fiction analysis essay · Literary argument essayAP US History
Multiple-choice · Short-answer points · DBQ · LEQAP World History
Multiple-choice · Short-answer points · DBQ · LEQAP US Government
Multiple-choice · Concept application · Quantitative analysis · SCOTUS comparison · Argument essayHow AP scores are calculated
Each of these AP exams combines a multiple-choice section with a free-response section. Raw results from each part are weighted, added into a composite, and then converted to the 1–5 scale. The weights are published in each course and exam description; the cutoffs between scores are set each year and vary by exam.
| Exam | Multiple choice | Free response |
|---|---|---|
| AP English Language and Composition | 45 questions, 45% | Synthesis essay 18.3%; Rhetorical analysis essay 18.3%; Argument essay 18.3% |
| AP English Literature and Composition | 55 questions, 45% | Poetry analysis essay 18.3%; Prose fiction analysis essay 18.3%; Literary argument essay 18.3% |
| AP U.S. History | 55 questions, 40% | Short-answer points (3 questions) 20%; DBQ 25%; LEQ 15% |
| AP World History: Modern | 55 questions, 40% | Short-answer points (3 questions) 20%; DBQ 25%; LEQ 15% |
| AP U.S. Government and Politics | 55 questions, 50% | Concept application 12.5%; Quantitative analysis 12.5%; SCOTUS comparison 12.5%; Argument essay 12.5% |
Because free-response parts often have few raw points but large weights, a single rubric point carries substantial weight. On AP U.S. Government, for example, each point on the 3-point concept application question is worth about four percentage points of the composite.
What AP scores mean
| AP score | College Board description |
|---|---|
| 5 | Extremely well qualified |
| 4 | Very well qualified |
| 3 | Qualified |
| 2 | Possibly qualified |
| 1 | No recommendation |
Colleges decide for themselves whether and how to award credit or placement for AP scores.
AP score calculators: FAQ
How are AP exams scored?
Each exam has a multiple-choice section and a free-response section. Section scores are weighted and combined into a composite, and the composite is converted to the 1–5 AP scale using cutoffs set for that year's exam.
Why do AP score calculators disagree with each other?
Because current cutoffs are not published, each calculator uses its own approximations. Treat any calculator, including these, as a rough guide to where you stand.
Is there a penalty for wrong answers on AP multiple choice?
No. AP multiple-choice sections score only correct answers, so an unanswered question and a wrong answer count the same.
When are AP scores released?
AP scores are usually released in early July. Check the College Board's AP site for the current year's date.
Want to understand the rubrics first? Read the AP free-response guides. Also see the SAT and ACT score calculators.