AP Human Geography Score Predictor
Section 1: Multiple Choice
Section 2: Free Response Questions (FRQ)
Typical FRQs are scored out of 7 points each.
How is the AP Human Geography Exam Scored?
The AP Human Geography exam consists of two primary sections: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) and Free Response Questions (FRQ). Each section accounts for exactly 50% of your final composite score. To calculate your result, the College Board uses a weighted formula to convert your raw points into a composite score, which is then mapped to the 1-5 scale.
The Scoring Formula
While the exact "curve" varies slightly every year depending on the difficulty of the test, the standard weighting follows this logic:
- Multiple Choice (50%): There are 60 questions. Each correct answer earns 1 point. There is no penalty for guessing.
- Free Response (50%): There are 3 FRQs, usually worth 7 points each (21 points total). To make this equal to the MCQ section, your total FRQ score is multiplied by approximately 2.857.
Score Conversion Table (Estimated)
| Composite Score Range | AP Grade | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 88 – 120 | 5 | Extremely Well Qualified |
| 73 – 87 | 4 | Well Qualified |
| 58 – 72 | 3 | Qualified |
| 43 – 57 | 2 | Possibly Qualified |
| 0 – 42 | 1 | No Recommendation |
Tips for Increasing Your AP Human Geography Score
To reach a 5, you generally need to answer at least 50 multiple-choice questions correctly and average 5 out of 7 points on each FRQ. If you find the FRQs difficult, you must compensate with a near-perfect MCQ score.
Focus on master vocabulary. AP Human Geography is heavily dependent on specific terminology (e.g., "gentrification," "transhumance," or "irredentism"). In the FRQ section, ensure you pay attention to the task verbs: "Define" requires a simple meaning, while "Explain" requires a cause-and-effect relationship.
Example Calculation
If a student gets 42 correct on the MCQ and scores 5, 4, and 5 on their FRQs:
- MCQ Raw: 42
- FRQ Raw: 5 + 4 + 5 = 14
- Weighted FRQ: 14 × 2.857 = 39.99
- Composite Score: 42 + 39.99 = 81.99
- Predicted Grade: 4