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How do AP tests work with curving?

Hi all, I've heard that AP tests are curved to some degree but I'm not entirely sure how it works. Can someone explain how the curving process works for AP exams? Thanks!

a year ago

Hi there! AP tests use a process called "equating" rather than a traditional curving process. This process ensures that the scores of different AP exams, taken in different years, can be accurately compared. It's important to note that this process doesn't match a predetermined percentage of students to certain scores, as you might see with a traditional curve.

The equating process for AP exams involves two main components: establishing cut scores and computing scale scores. Cut scores determine the boundary between different AP scores (like from a 3 to a 4). These are determined by the College Board through a standard-setting study which involves AP teachers and college faculty.

The scale scores are then calculated through a process of taking the raw scores (the number of points earned for answering questions correctly) and converting them to the scale of 1 through 5. The equating process accounts for the slight differences in the difficulty of the exams each year, ensuring that a similar level of performance results in the same AP score, regardless of the specific exam.

This process ensures that all test-takers are treated fairly and that your performance is compared only to that of other students taking the same exam, not other AP exams or exams from different years.

To sum it up, while AP exams aren't curved in the traditional sense, they do apply an equating process that accounts for variations in difficulty across different years and ensures consistent results across time. I hope this helps clarify things for you!

a year ago

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