Enter the number of multiple-choice questions you answered correctly.
Enter your total points across all 6 FRQs (9 points each).
How the AP Calculus Exam is Scored
The AP Calculus AB and BC exams are divided into two sections, each weighted equally at 50% of your total score. Understanding how your raw points translate into the final 1-5 scale is crucial for setting study goals.
Section I: Multiple Choice (MC)
There are 45 multiple-choice questions. Each correct answer earns 1 raw point. There is no penalty for guessing, so you should never leave a question blank. To calculate the weighted score for this section, the number of correct answers is multiplied by 1.2. This makes the section worth a maximum of 54 points.
Section II: Free Response (FRQ)
The free-response section consists of 6 questions, each worth 9 points. This results in a maximum raw score of 54 points. Unlike the multiple-choice section, these points are taken at face value (multiplied by 1.0).
The Composite Score and the Curve
Your composite score is the sum of your weighted multiple-choice and your free-response points (Max 108). The College Board uses "curves" or "cut scores" that vary slightly each year based on the difficulty of the exam. However, historical data provides a reliable average:
5: 70 – 108 points (Top performance)
4: 55 – 69 points (Very well qualified)
3: 40 – 54 points (Qualified)
2: 30 – 39 points (Possibly qualified)
1: 0 – 29 points (No recommendation)
Example Calculation
If a student gets 30 questions correct on the Multiple Choice and earns 25 points on the FRQs:
Weighted MC: 30 × 1.2 = 36
Weighted FRQ: 25 × 1.0 = 25
Composite Score: 36 + 25 = 61
Estimated AP Score: 4
function calculateAPScore() {
var mcInput = document.getElementById("mcCorrect");
var frqInput = document.getElementById("frqPoints");
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("calc-result");
var scoreTitle = document.getElementById("scoreTitle");
var compositeDisplay = document.getElementById("compositeScore");
var scoreBox = document.getElementById("scoreBox");
var scoreMessage = document.getElementById("scoreMessage");
var mcRaw = parseFloat(mcInput.value);
var frqRaw = parseFloat(frqInput.value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(mcRaw) || mcRaw 45 || isNaN(frqRaw) || frqRaw 54) {
alert("Please enter valid scores: MC (0-45) and FRQ (0-54).");
return;
}
// Calculation Logic
// Weight: MC (50%) and FRQ (50%). Total scale usually ~108.
// MC: 45 * 1.2 = 54
// FRQ: 54 * 1.0 = 54
var weightedMC = mcRaw * 1.2;
var composite = weightedMC + frqRaw;
composite = Math.round(composite);
var apScore = 1;
var color = "#e74c3c";
var msg = "";
if (composite >= 70) {
apScore = 5;
color = "#2ecc71";
msg = "Excellent! You are on track for a 5.";
} else if (composite >= 55) {
apScore = 4;
color = "#27ae60";
msg = "Great work! You are likely to score a 4.";
} else if (composite >= 40) {
apScore = 3;
color = "#f1c40f";
msg = "You are qualified! This is a solid passing score of 3.";
} else if (composite >= 30) {
apScore = 2;
color = "#e67e22";
msg = "You're close to passing. Focus on the FRQ justification to reach a 3.";
} else {
apScore = 1;
color = "#e74c3c";
msg = "Keep studying! Reviewing fundamental derivatives and integrals will help.";
}
// Display Results
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
resultDiv.style.backgroundColor = color + "15"; // Very light version of the score color
resultDiv.style.border = "2px solid " + color;
scoreTitle.innerText = "Estimated AP Score";
scoreTitle.style.color = color;
compositeDisplay.innerText = "Composite Score: " + composite + " / 108″;
scoreBox.innerText = apScore;
scoreBox.style.color = color;
scoreMessage.innerText = msg;
// Smooth scroll to result
resultDiv.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' });
}