AP grades

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
1

<p>How are AP composite scores claculated for:</p>

<p>a) AP us history
b) AP biology</p>

2

<p>anyone???</p>

3

<p>The multiple-choice section is scored by computer. Each answer sheet is scanned and the total multiple-choice score is computed by adding the number of correct responses and subtracting a fraction for each incorrect response as an adjustment for haphazard guessing.
The free-response section is scored at the annual AP Reading held during the first two weeks in June. Specially appointed college professors and experienced AP teachers evaluate free-response answers.
The total scores from the free-response section and the multiple-choice section are combined to form a composite score.
From Composite Score to AP Grade
The process of grade setting—establishing the AP grade boundaries (determining how many composite score points equals what AP grade)—takes place immediately after the Reading.</p>

<p>AP Exam grades are reported on a 5-point scale as follows:</p>

<p>5 Extremely well qualified*
4 Well qualified*
3 Qualified*
2 Possibly qualified*
1 No recommendation**</p>

<p><em>Qualified to receive college credit or advanced placement
*</em>No recommendation to receive college credit or advanced placement</p>

<p>During grade-setting sessions (there is one for each AP Exam) composite scores are translated into AP grades by setting boundaries for each grade based on a statistical technique called equating.</p>

<p>Equating relates an AP Exam from one year to an AP Exam from another year so that performance on the two exams can be compared. This is accomplished by looking at how well AP students performed on a set of multiple-choice questions that is common to both exams. These particular multiple-choice questions cover the curriculum content and represent a broad range of difficulty; they can therefore provide information about the ability level of the current group of students and indicate the current exam’s level of difficulty. This same set of questions may show up on next year’s AP Exam and the one after that too. That’s why you aren’t supposed to talk about or share the multiple-choice questions from the AP Exam with anyone; it’s all because of equating!</p>

<p>from: <a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools;

4

<p>Short answer: It depends on the year.</p>