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ToggleReceiving a 3, 4, or 5 is generally accepted as scoring well on an AP® exam. According to the College Board, a 3 is ‘qualified,’ a 4 is ‘well qualified,’ and a 5 is ‘extremely well qualified.’ Depending on the school you plan to attend, college credits are often offered for scores within the 3-5 range. To review the AP® Credit Policy, for schools you’re considering, use College Board’s search tool.
When evaluating your performance on the AP® Calculus BC Exam, consider the subject matter and your performance versus that of your peers. According to the latest 2020 AP® Calculus BC score distribution report, 81.6% of students achieved a 3 or higher.
The average AP® Calculus BC scores differ yearly due to factors such as a new student population and changes in exams(the most recent revision happened in fall 2016). The College Board typically attempts to maintain consistency in exams, for each subject. We can analyze the average AP® Calculus BC score more efficiently by considering a multi-year trend.
We can refer to the AP® Student Score Distributions, released by the College Board annually. These reports show us that the mean score was 3.81 in 2014, 3.72 in 2015, 3.80 in 2016, 3.78 in 2017, 3.74 in 2018, 3.80 in 2019 and 3.84 in 2020. Calculating the raw average for the prior seven years allows us to determine a mean score of 3.78 for AP® Calculus BC.
The scores on AP® exams are curved every year by the College Board to preserve consistency and standardize student performance. Courses, AP® Calculus BC included, are essentially college-level subjects. The scoring guidelines emulate the austerity of similar college courses.
This common question has no easy answer. To achieve a 5 on the AP® Calculus BC exam, you will need a combination of tenacity, commitment to learning the material, and a dedicated study plan. The AP® Calculus BC Exam is intended to determine students’ comprehension of basic calculus concepts, their ability to apply said concepts, and their ability to determine connections among analytical, graphical, numerical, and verbal representations in mathematics. Well-established foundations in algebra, elementary functions, geometry, and trigonometry are essential for students. Keep this in mind despite the course focus on integral and differential calculus.
Luckily, Albert has developed many informational articles to help you further prepare for the AP® Calculus BC Exam. Peruse the following for in-depth course help.
For additional practice, visit the Albert guide to AP® Calculus AB-BC, where we’ve prepared hundreds of multiple-choice and free-response questions for you. You can study anywhere, anytime, with Albert’s resources. Preparation is the key to mastering any exam.
We’ve created Albert’s AP® Calculus BC score calculator to motivate you to plan for the upcoming exam. Our score calculators use the official scoring worksheets of previously released College Board exams to provide you with accurate and current information. We know that preparation is the key to success, and in that spirit, we have provided you with this easy tool. Once you know the makeup of a 3, 4, or 5 AP® Calculus BC score, you can better prepare to ace your exam with minimal worry.