Ap Government Exam Score Calculator

AP Government Exam Score Calculator

Section 1: Multiple Choice Questions

Section 2: Free Response Questions (FRQs)

Concept Application

Quantitative Analysis

SCOTUS Comparison

Argument Essay

function calculateAPGovScore() { var mcqCorrect = parseFloat(document.getElementById('mcq_correct').value) || 0; var frq1 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('frq1').value) || 0; var frq2 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('frq2').value) || 0; var frq3 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('frq3').value) || 0; var frq4 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('frq4').value) || 0; // Cap inputs at their max limits if (mcqCorrect > 55) mcqCorrect = 55; if (frq1 > 3) frq1 = 3; if (frq2 > 4) frq2 = 4; if (frq3 > 4) frq3 = 4; if (frq4 > 6) frq4 = 6; // Scoring Logic: // Section 1 (MCQ) is 50% // Section 2 (FRQ) is 50% // The exam is often scaled to 120 composite points total. // Multiple Choice: 55 questions scaled to 60 points var mcqScaled = (mcqCorrect / 55) * 60; // Free Response: Total of 17 points scaled to 60 points var frqTotalRaw = frq1 + frq2 + frq3 + frq4; var frqScaled = (frqTotalRaw / 17) * 60; var compositeScore = Math.round(mcqScaled + frqScaled); var finalScore = 1; var bgColor = "#e74c3c"; // Default red // Approximate conversion based on historic curves if (compositeScore >= 101) { finalScore = 5; bgColor = "#27ae60"; // Green } else if (compositeScore >= 87) { finalScore = 4; bgColor = "#2ecc71"; // Light Green } else if (compositeScore >= 72) { finalScore = 3; bgColor = "#f1c40f"; // Yellow } else if (compositeScore >= 55) { finalScore = 2; bgColor = "#e67e22"; // Orange } else { finalScore = 1; bgColor = "#e74c3c"; // Red } var resultArea = document.getElementById('result-area'); resultArea.style.display = "block"; resultArea.style.backgroundColor = bgColor + "22"; // 22 is transparency resultArea.style.border = "2px solid " + bgColor; document.getElementById('final-score-display').innerText = finalScore; document.getElementById('final-score-display').style.color = bgColor; document.getElementById('composite-score-text').innerText = "Estimated Composite Score: " + compositeScore + " / 120″; document.getElementById('score-breakdown').innerHTML = "MCQ Weighted Points: " + mcqScaled.toFixed(2) + " / 60FRQ Weighted Points: " + frqScaled.toFixed(2) + " / 60″; }

---

How the AP U.S. Government & Politics Exam is Scored

The AP US Government exam consists of two sections, each weighted equally at 50% of your total grade. To calculate your predicted score of 1 through 5, you must determine your raw scores for both the Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) and the Free Response Questions (FRQ).

Section Breakdown

• Section I: Multiple Choice (50%) – 55 questions in 80 minutes. There is no penalty for guessing, so you should answer every question.
• Section II: Free Response (50%) – 4 questions in 100 minutes.
  • Concept Application (3 pts): Explaining a political concept in a real-world scenario.
  • Quantitative Analysis (4 pts): Interpreting a map, chart, or graph.
  • SCOTUS Comparison (4 pts): Comparing a required Supreme Court case to a non-required case.
  • Argument Essay (6 pts): Constructing a claim supported by evidence from foundational documents.

The Composite Score Calculation

The College Board uses a specific weighting formula to reach a composite score (usually out of 120 points). This calculator uses the following common approximation:

1. MCQ Weighted Score: (Correct Answers / 55) × 60
2. FRQ Weighted Score: (Total FRQ Points / 17) × 60
3. Composite Score: MCQ Weighted + FRQ Weighted

Score Ranges (Approximate)

Composite Score	AP Grade
101 – 120	5
87 – 100	4
72 – 86	3
55 – 71	2
0 – 54	1

Preparation Tips for a 5

To reach the top score, focus heavily on the Argument Essay. It is worth 6 raw points, making it the highest-value individual question on the exam. Additionally, mastering the 15 required Supreme Court cases and the foundational documents (like the Federalist Papers and the Constitution) is essential for succeeding on both Sections I and II.