How does the AP curve calculator work?

Hey everyone, I'm currently taking a couple of AP classes and was wondering if someone could explain how the AP curve calculator works? Would love to project my scores going forward and have some sense of where I stand, academically.

Hello,

The AP scoring is a bit different than a typical test scoring. Instead of being graded out of 100, AP scores are on a scale of 1 to 5. The College Board determines these scaled scores using statistical methods to ensure that in any given year, the same level of mastery is required to get a certain score. This process is often referred to as "curving," but it's slightly misunderstood.

In essence, an AP curve calculator predicts this scaled score based on your raw score, which is the number of multiple choice questions you answered correctly added to the points you earned on the free response section. The raw score is then converted to a scaled score of 1-5.

Curving, in the AP context, isn't about scaling your score relative to your peers, but instead ensuring that a 3 one year reflects the same proficiency as a 3 in another year, even if the test difficulty changes slightly.

Do keep in mind, though, that these calculators are approximations and can't perfectly predict your AP test results since the College Board doesn’t release the precise raw-to-scaled score conversion matrices for each exam. Each year's exact conversion scale is created after the exams are administered, to account for that year's test difficulty.

Another important thing is that different AP subjects will have different conversion scales, as the difficulty and style of test questions can vary greatly between subjects.

Always aim for understanding the material thoroughly rather than relying heavily on the curve. Best of luck with your studies!