Insights From 2006 Score Distributions

oasis
Sat, 07 Jul 2007 12:41:16 +0000

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.

(Exam name (abbreviated to 4 letters to achieve uniformity)…percentage getting 5’s…percentage that passed (3+)…total exam takers)

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

(From: CB 2006 Score Distributions)

From this list, we can reach some conclusions:

(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.)

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

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

*Top 5 APs Hardest to Pass/i

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%

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%

*Most Popular APs/i

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

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

Anyways, those are just some interesting data.

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?