Scoring the AP Psychology Exam 2017

www.collegeboard.org please reference this website for information

regarding the 2017 AP
Psychology Exam. The following is a summary of information from a
variety of sources.
Calculating AP Psychology Scores
-There are 100 Multiple Choice (MC) questions. The MC section is worth 100
points, or approximately 66% of the total exam score. (Some MC scores
are weighted due to omitted questions).
-There are 2 Free Response Questions (FRQ). Each FRQ is worth 25 points.
Together they are worth 50 points, or approximately 33% of the total
exam score. While each FRQ may
initially be worth different points (e.g. 8 & 10 points), they are
weighted the same. A
separate multiplier is applied to each, so that each FRQ is ultimately
worth 25 points.
-Shoot for 70 on the MC section and 25 on the FRQ section to pass.
(Caution: this is not an exact formula the number of points it takes
to pass the test
with a 3,4, or 5 varies from year to year)
-Scoring Change: as of 2012, there is no longer a point penalty for
incorrect multiple choice
answers.
-Composite scores are normalized to reflect exams deemed easy,
moderate, and difficult. The tables below are simply examples for illustration
DO NOT assume the following composite scores will guarantee the
following AP Grades on the exam. Scales vary from year to year.

1994 Exam Easy

AP Grade Composite Score (Multiple Choice & FRQ)
5 150-105
4 104-88
3 87-71
2 70-52
1 51-0

2004 Exam Moderate

AP Grade Composite Score (Multiple Choice & FRQ)
5 150-103
4 102-84
3 83-65
2 64-45
1 44-0

1999 Exam Difficult

 AP Grade Composite Score (Multiple Choice & FRQ)
5 150-93
4 92-72
3 71-53
2 52-34
1 33-0

Comments regarding the 2016 AP Psychology National Exam

*There has been a tendency for 1 of the 2 Free Response questions to ask
the student to design, analyze or critique any type of research study. Be
sure to become familiar with ALL kinds of research studies, where they are
used, and maybe the strengths and weaknesses of each. There is no
guarantee this will be a part of the test, but it is definitely worth preparing a
cogent answer.

STMA RESULTS ON THE AP PSYCHOLOGY NATIONAL EXAM:

Avera
5 4 3 2 1 Total: ge:
Year
2016 8 20 19 16 8 71 3.056

2015 4 14 9 12 3 42 3.095

2014 10 19 26 15 14 84 2.952

2013 6 13 13 11 10 53 2.887

2012 4 10 5 10 6 35 2.886

2011 2 8 8 7 6 31 2.774

2010 3 14 17 10 10 54 2.815

2009 4 10 13 10 10 47 2.745

2016
Nation
al
Averag 26.10 19.10 14.20 21.60
es 19.0% % % % %
 2015
Nation
al
Averag 20.10 26.20 19.90 13.10 20.70
es % % % % %
2014
Nation
al
Averag 18.50 27.10 19.90 13.60 20.90
es % % % % %
2013
Nation
al
Averag 21.20 26.70 19.60 19.50
es % % % 13% %