Average Score on AP Calculus AB Exam

If youve recently taken an AP Calculus AB exam or plan to do so, then you are in an elite group. Only a small fraction of all high school students ever attempt this test, and those that do are usually very well prepared. So you might be wondering how you compare. What is the average Calculus AB score? Whats a typical Calculus AB score? Whats your personal target score? In this post we explore the range of scores that students typically earn on the AP Calculus AB exam and what that means for you. Calculus AB Score Distribution The AP exams scores range from 1 to 5. Colleges and universities may offer advanced placement credit for scores of 4 or 5, so aim high! Theres tons of helpful resources out there. For example, heres more info about the scoring: What is a Good AP Calculus Exam Score?. According to this website, the scores on the 2016 exam were concentrated near the extremes. The median score is 3, meaning that over half of the test-takers score 3 or above. On the other hand, the average score is (lets do some math!) (.309)(1) + (.097)(2) + (.176)(3) + (.174)(4) + (.244)(5) = 2.947 So the average is just shy of 3, which implies that the lower scores are skewed disproportionately lower. Looking at the data, we can see why; there are way more ones than fives. Why So Many Ones Notice that the most frequent calculus AB score is 1, representing 30.9% of all the scores. There are a number of reasons why. First of all, some high school AP courses allow students to skip the final if they sign up for the AB exam. Many students simply take that option to get out of a final exam, with no intention of preparing for the AP Calculus exam. You mean I can get out of taking another exam? Secondly, even though you feel prepared for the AP Calculus exam, its possible that you havent studied enough. It takes weeks and even months to properly prep for the AP Calculus AB exam. For best results, start early. You might want to check out this 3-Month AP Calculus Exam Study Guide Raising the Bar So whats your score goal? A high calculus AB score can help you to get a jump start on your college career. For most colleges and universities, even getting a 3 on the exam may not be good enough to earn you credits. Youll need to score above the median (4 or 5) to succeed. Were all counting on you to help raise the average calculus AB score!