Hey everyone, I'm studying for the AP European History exam and I'm a little confused about the grading scale. Can someone break down how the multiple choice, DBQ, and FRQs are all scored? Additionally, does anyone know what score is considered 'passing'?
Hi! I'd be happy to explain how the AP European History exam is graded. The exam consists of two main sections: the multiple-choice section and the free-response section, which includes both the DBQ (Document-Based Question) and the FRQs (Free-Response Questions).
1. Multiple-choice section: This section has 55 questions, and you have 55 minutes to complete it. Each question is worth 1 point, and this section accounts for 40% of your total exam score.
2. Free-response section: This section is composed of the following parts:
a. Document-Based Question (DBQ): You have 1 hour to complete the DBQ, which is worth 7 raw points and represents 25% of your total exam score. The DBQ is scored based on a rubric with specific criteria, such as thesis, argument, use of documents, contextualization, and outside evidence.
b. Free-Response Questions (FRQs): You have 1 hour and 40 minutes to complete this section, which consists of 3 FRQs. The FRQs account for 35% of your total exam score. Each FRQ is worth 6 raw points, and they are graded based on a rubric with criteria similar to the DBQ's, like argument, evidence, and analysis.
The total exam score ranges from 1 to 5, with a score of 3 generally considered 'passing' in the sense that many colleges may award credit or allow you to place out of certain courses for a 3 or higher. However, each college has its own credit policies, so it's a good idea to check the specific requirements for the institutions you're interested in. Keep in mind that earning a 4 or 5 on the exam is usually preferred for more competitive institutions.
For more detailed information on the AP grading process, I'd recommend checking out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-are-ap-exams-scored-heres-the-breakdown/. Alternatively, if you want a breakdown of the content and structure of the AP Euro exam specifically, as well as sample questions, check out this post instead: https://blog.collegevine.com/ultimate-guide-to-european-history-ap-exam
I hope this information helps clarify the AP European History exam's grading scale! Good luck with your studying and the exam itself!
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