Hi there, I'll be taking my first AP exams this year, and I'm just wondering about the overall testing format. What should I expect in terms of multiple-choice and free-response questions? Do the formats vary between courses?
Hey! Congratulations on taking your first AP exams! The format of the exams varies depending on the specific AP course you're taking. However, many AP exams (though not all) consist of two main sections: a multiple-choice section and a free-response section.
The multiple-choice section typically includes a series of questions based on short texts, images, or other sources. In general, AP exams will have between 40 and 90 multiple-choice questions. The time allotted for this section varies by course but is usually between 60 and 100 minutes.
The free-response section usually contains 3-6 questions, which require you to provide more in-depth written responses, calculations, or other problem-solving strategies, depending on the course. This section lasts between 90 and 120 minutes on average.
As you can see, the formats do vary slightly between courses, but the overarching structure is similar across most exams. I recommend checking the College Board website for specific information about the AP exams you'll be taking, as well as accessing past exams and free-response questions for practice. Good luck with your tests!
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