Hey! So I know the AP Bio exam consists of multiple-choice questions and FRQs, but I'm unsure about how our final scores are determined. Can anyone explain the weighting of the multiple-choice section and the FRQ section, and how they essentially calculate our scores from 1-5?
Hi there! I'd be happy to explain how the AP Biology exam scores are calculated. The AP Biology exam is divided into two main sections: the multiple-choice section and the free-response (FRQ) section. Both sections contribute to your final score on a scale of 1-5. Here's the breakdown of how the sections are weighted and scored:
1. Multiple-Choice Section: This section consists of 60 questions and accounts for 50% of your total exam score. Each question is worth one point, making the maximum raw score for this section 60 points. Your raw multiple-choice score is the number of questions you answered correctly.
2. Free-Response Section: This section is composed of 6 FRQs - two long questions and four short questions. The FRQ section counts for the other 50% of your total exam score. The scoring for FRQs varies based on the complexity of each question. Typically, long FRQs are worth more points than short ones. The maximum raw score for the free-response section is determined by the total points assigned to all 6 FRQs together.
Once your raw scores for both sections are calculated, they are combined for a composite score. This composite score is then converted to the final AP score on a scaled range of 1-5 using the specific year's AP scoring guidelines. The College Board chooses the scaled score boundaries so that a score of 3 represents a qualified student, a score of 4 represents a well-qualified student, and a score of 5 represents an extremely well-qualified student.
It's important to note that each year's exam and the student cohort might differ, causing slight variations in the conversion from composite scores to the final AP score. Nevertheless, you can trust that the scaling process ensures consistency from year to year.
I hope this clarifies how your final AP Biology exam score is calculated! Good luck with your studies and the upcoming exam.
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