Hi there, I'm curious about how the AP World History exam is scored. Can someone explain the scoring system and how it translates to my final grade? Thanks in advance!
Hello! The AP World History exam, like other AP exams, is scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. The scoring process comprises two main components: the multiple-choice section and the free-response section. Here's a breakdown of the scoring:
1. Multiple-Choice Section: This section has 55 questions, which account for 40% of your total exam score. Your raw score in this section is calculated by totaling the number of questions you answer correctly.
2. Free-Response Section: This section consists of three different types of questions - short-answer questions (SAQs), a document-based question (DBQ), and a long essay question (LEQ). The free-response section accounts for the remaining 60% of your total exam score. Here's how the points are allocated:
- SAQs (20%): You'll have to answer three SAQs, which will add up to 20% of your total score. Each SAQ has three parts (A, B, and C), and you can earn one point for each part you answer correctly.
- DBQ (25%): The document-based question is designed to assess your ability to analyze historical documents and compose a coherent essay. You can earn up to 7 points based on specific criteria, such as context, analysis, and synthesis.
- LEQ (15%): In the long essay question, you'll have a choice between three prompts from different time periods. Your essay will be evaluated based on your thesis, argument, evidence, and analysis, with a maximum of 6 points available.
After obtaining the raw score for both sections, they will be combined and converted using the AP World History scoring guidelines provided by the College Board to determine your composite score on the 1-5 scale. Keep in mind that the specific scoring guidelines may vary between years, so it's a good idea to review the most recent guidelines from the College Board before taking the exam.
In general, a score of 3 or higher is considered passing, though each college or university may have specific score requirements for granting credit or placement, so researching that in advance also wouldn't be a bad idea, so you have an idea of what cutoffs you're dealing with.
If you'd like to learn more about the structure of the AP World History exam, I'd recommend checking out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/ultimate-guide-to-the-world-history-ap-exam/. Alternatively, if you want to know more about how AP exams are scored in general, this post might be informative for you: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-are-ap-exams-scored-heres-the-breakdown/
Good luck!
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