AP® English Language and Composition Score Calculator

Team English - Examples.com
Last Updated: September 24, 2024

Effortlessly and accurately find your AP English Language and Composition exam score with examples.com’s convenient score calculator.

Free AP English Language and Composition Practice Test

How AP English Language and Composition Score is Calculated

The AP English Language and Composition exam score is determined by combining your performance on the multiple-choice and free-response sections. Each section contributes to the overall score, which is then converted to a final AP score on a scale of 1 to 5. Here’s a detailed look at the scoring process:

Exam Structure

Multiple-Choice Section

  • Number of Questions: 45 questions
  • Time: 60 minutes
  • Scoring: Each correct answer earns 1 point. There is no penalty for incorrect answers.
  • Contribution to Final Score: This section constitutes 45% of the total exam score.

Free-Response Section

  • Number of Questions: 3 questions
    • One synthesis essay
    • One rhetorical analysis essay
    • One argument essay
  • Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes
  • Scoring: Each essay is scored based on a rubric that evaluates content, style, and mechanics.
  • Contribution to Final Score: This section constitutes 55% of the total exam score.

Calculating the Final Score

Raw Scores

  • Multiple-Choice Section: Add up the number of correct answers to get the raw score.
  • Free-Response Section: Each essay is scored on a scale of 0 to 6 points. Sum the points from the three essays to get the raw score for this section.

Weighted Scores

  • Multiple-Choice Section: Convert the raw score to a weighted score by calculating its contribution to the overall score (45% of the total).
  • Free-Response Section: Convert the raw score to a weighted score by calculating its contribution to the overall score (55% of the total).

Composite Score

Combine the weighted scores from both sections to get a composite score.

AP Score Conversion

The composite score is then converted to the AP score scale of 1 to 5:

  • 5: Extremely well qualified
  • 4: Well qualified
  • 3: Qualified
  • 2: Possibly qualified
  • 1: No recommendation

The final AP English Language and Composition score is based on this scaled score. The conversion from composite score to AP score can vary each year, depending on the exam’s difficulty and the scoring guidelines set by the College Board.