How the AP World History (Modern) Score is Calculated
The AP World History: Modern exam consists of four distinct sections, each weighted differently to determine your final composite score between 1 and 5. This calculator uses the official College Board weightings to provide a realistic estimate of your performance.
Multiple Choice (MCQ): 55 questions in 55 minutes. This accounts for 40% of your total score. Each correct answer earns 1 raw point.
Short Answer Questions (SAQ): 3 questions in 40 minutes. This accounts for 20% of your total score. Each question is worth 3 points, for a maximum raw score of 9.
Document-Based Question (DBQ): 1 question in 60 minutes. This is the most heavily weighted single prompt, accounting for 25% of your total score. It is graded on a 7-point rubric.
Long Essay Question (LEQ): 1 question in 40 minutes. This accounts for 15% of your total score and is graded on a 6-point rubric.
Scoring Example
Imagine a student achieves the following raw scores:
MCQ: 40 / 55 correct
SAQs: 7 / 9 points total
DBQ: 5 / 7 points
LEQ: 4 / 6 points
Using the weighted formula, the composite score would be approximately 71.8. According to typical curves, this would result in a 5 on the AP Exam.
Tips for Success
To reach a score of 4 or 5, focus heavily on the DBQ rubric. Since it represents 25% of your grade with only one essay, mastering the "Contextualization" and "Evidence from Documents" points is the fastest way to boost your score. In the MCQ section, aim for at least 38-40 correct answers to provide a safety net for the written portions.
function calculateAPWHScore() {
var mcqRaw = parseFloat(document.getElementById('mcq').value) || 0;
var saq1 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('saq1').value) || 0;
var saq2 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('saq2').value) || 0;
var saq3 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('saq3').value) || 0;
var dbqRaw = parseFloat(document.getElementById('dbq').value) || 0;
var leqRaw = parseFloat(document.getElementById('leq').value) || 0;
// Boundary checks
if (mcqRaw > 55) mcqRaw = 55;
if (saq1 > 3) saq1 = 3;
if (saq2 > 3) saq2 = 3;
if (saq3 > 3) saq3 = 3;
if (dbqRaw > 7) dbqRaw = 7;
if (leqRaw > 6) leqRaw = 6;
var saqTotalRaw = saq1 + saq2 + saq3;
// Weights (Approximate based on 100-point scale conversion)
// MCQ: 40 points / 55 items = 0.7272 per item
// SAQ: 20 points / 9 items = 2.2222 per item
// DBQ: 25 points / 7 items = 3.5714 per item
// LEQ: 15 points / 6 items = 2.5 per item
var mcqWeighted = mcqRaw * 0.727272;
var saqWeighted = saqTotalRaw * 2.222222;
var dbqWeighted = dbqRaw * 3.571428;
var leqWeighted = leqRaw * 2.5;
var compositeScore = mcqWeighted + saqWeighted + dbqWeighted + leqWeighted;
var finalGrade = 1;
// Standard AP Curve mapping (Variable by year, but these are reliable estimates)
if (compositeScore >= 69) {
finalGrade = 5;
} else if (compositeScore >= 53) {
finalGrade = 4;
} else if (compositeScore >= 39) {
finalGrade = 3;
} else if (compositeScore >= 27) {
finalGrade = 2;
} else {
finalGrade = 1;
}
document.getElementById('result-area').style.display = 'block';
document.getElementById('final-ap-score').innerText = finalGrade;
var breakdownText = "Your estimated composite score is " + compositeScore.toFixed(2) + ". ";
if (finalGrade === 5) {
breakdownText += "Excellent! This is a top-tier score reflecting mastery of the material.";
} else if (finalGrade === 4) {
breakdownText += "Great job! You are well-qualified for college credit.";
} else if (finalGrade === 3) {
breakdownText += "Good work. This is a passing score at most universities.";
} else if (finalGrade === 2) {
breakdownText += "You're close! Review the DBQ rubric and SAQ techniques to move into the 3+ range.";
} else {
breakdownText += "Focus on the MCQ section and basic essay structure to improve your score.";
}
document.getElementById('score-breakdown').innerHTML = breakdownText;
}