Estimate your exam score (1-5) based on 2024 grading curves.
Section I: Multiple Choice (MCQ)
Enter the number of correct answers for each part.
Please enter valid values for MCQs (Part A: 0-30, Part B: 0-15).
Section II: Free Response (FRQ)
Enter score (0-9) for each question.
FRQ scores must be between 0 and 9.
Estimated AP Score
–
Composite Score: 0 / 108
How Is the AP Calculus AB Exam Scored?
Understanding the grading logic behind the Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus AB exam is crucial for setting study goals. The exam is divided into two main sections: Multiple Choice (MCQ) and Free Response (FRQ), each contributing exactly 50% to your final composite score.
1. Multiple Choice Section (50%)
The MCQ section consists of 45 questions in total. This raw score is scaled to match the 54 points available in the FRQ section.
Part A: 30 questions (No Calculator).
Part B: 15 questions (Graphing Calculator Required).
Calculation: Since there are 45 questions but the section is worth 54 points, the number of correct answers is multiplied by 1.2.
2. Free Response Section (50%)
The FRQ section consists of 6 distinct problems, each graded on a scale of 0 to 9 points by AP Readers.
Part A: 2 questions (Graphing Calculator Required).
Part B: 4 questions (No Calculator).
Calculation: The sum of your scores for these 6 questions (maximum 54 points) is added directly to your composite score without a multiplier.
Total Composite Score Formula:
(MCQ Correct × 1.2) + (Sum of FRQ Scores) = Composite Score (Max 108)
AP Score Cutoffs (Estimated)
The College Board adjusts the curve slightly every year based on the difficulty of the exam. However, historical data suggests the following ranges for the composite score (out of 108):
5 (Extremely Well Qualified): Composite score of approx. 68–108
4 (Well Qualified): Composite score of approx. 53–67
3 (Qualified): Composite score of approx. 41–52
2 (Possibly Qualified): Composite score of approx. 30–40
1 (No Recommendation): Composite score of 0–29
Tips for Maximizing Your Score
To achieve a 5, you typically need to earn about 65% of the total available points. Focus on mastering the "Big Idea" concepts: Limits, Derivatives, and Integrals. In the FRQ section, ensure you show all your work; even if the final answer is incorrect, partial credit is often awarded for correct setup and methodology.
function calculateAPScore() {
// Clear previous errors
document.getElementById("mcqError").style.display = "none";
document.getElementById("frqError").style.display = "none";
document.getElementById("resultBox").style.display = "none";
// Get Input Values
var mcqA = parseFloat(document.getElementById("mcqPartA").value);
var mcqB = parseFloat(document.getElementById("mcqPartB").value);
var frq1 = parseFloat(document.getElementById("frq1").value);
var frq2 = parseFloat(document.getElementById("frq2").value);
var frq3 = parseFloat(document.getElementById("frq3").value);
var frq4 = parseFloat(document.getElementById("frq4").value);
var frq5 = parseFloat(document.getElementById("frq5").value);
var frq6 = parseFloat(document.getElementById("frq6").value);
// Validation Flags
var isValid = true;
// Validate MCQ inputs
// Treat empty inputs as 0 for calculation, but check ranges if entered
if (isNaN(mcqA)) mcqA = 0;
if (isNaN(mcqB)) mcqB = 0;
if (mcqA 30 || mcqB 15) {
document.getElementById("mcqError").style.display = "block";
isValid = false;
}
// Validate FRQ inputs
var frqs = [frq1, frq2, frq3, frq4, frq5, frq6];
var totalFrqRaw = 0;
for (var i = 0; i < frqs.length; i++) {
if (isNaN(frqs[i])) {
frqs[i] = 0;
}
if (frqs[i] 9) {
document.getElementById("frqError").style.display = "block";
isValid = false;
}
totalFrqRaw += frqs[i];
}
if (!isValid) return;
// Calculation Logic
// 1. Calculate Weighted MCQ Score
// 45 Questions total. Weight is 50%. Max points 54. Multiplier = 1.2
var totalMcqCorrect = mcqA + mcqB;
var weightedMcqScore = totalMcqCorrect * 1.2;
// 2. Calculate Composite Score
// Composite = Weighted MCQ + Total FRQ Raw
var compositeScore = weightedMcqScore + totalFrqRaw;
// Round to nearest whole number for final lookup, but keep decimal for display if desired
// Usually AP scores are rounded
var finalComposite = Math.round(compositeScore);
// 3. Determine AP Score (1-5) based on historical curve estimates
// Conservative estimates:
// 5: 68-108
// 4: 53-67
// 3: 41-52
// 2: 30-40
// 1: 0-29
var apScore = 0;
if (finalComposite >= 68) {
apScore = 5;
} else if (finalComposite >= 53) {
apScore = 4;
} else if (finalComposite >= 41) {
apScore = 3;
} else if (finalComposite >= 30) {
apScore = 2;
} else {
apScore = 1;
}
// 4. Update UI
var scoreElement = document.getElementById("finalApScore");
var resultBox = document.getElementById("resultBox");
var compositeDisplay = document.getElementById("compositeScoreDisplay");
scoreElement.innerText = apScore;
compositeDisplay.innerText = finalComposite;
// Color coding result
if (apScore >= 4) {
scoreElement.style.color = "#27ae60"; // Green for passing high
resultBox.style.backgroundColor = "#eafaf1";
resultBox.style.borderColor = "#27ae60";
} else if (apScore === 3) {
scoreElement.style.color = "#f39c12"; // Orange for passing
resultBox.style.backgroundColor = "#fef9e7";
resultBox.style.borderColor = "#f39c12";
} else {
scoreElement.style.color = "#c0392b"; // Red for failing
resultBox.style.backgroundColor = "#fcebebb";
resultBox.style.borderColor = "#c0392b";
}
resultBox.style.display = "block";
resultBox.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth' });
}