AP Calculus AB: 45 multiple-choice (50%) plus 6 free-response questions on the 9-point rubric (50%). Covers limits, derivatives, definite and indefinite integrals, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus — but not series.
What raw score you need on AP Calc AB
The AP Calculus AB exam has 45 multiple-choice questions and 6 free-response questions, worth 108 composite raw points after College Board worksheet weighting. These raw-score bands come from an official released College Board scoring worksheet.
Methodology: Official College Board worksheet calibration: Section I has 45 MCQ weighted by 1.2000 (54 composite points), and Section II has 6 FRQs scored out of 9 with weight 1.0000 each (54 composite points), for a 108-point composite. The score bands use the College Board worksheet ranges: 67–108=5, 54–66=4, 41–53=3, 33–40=2, 0–32=1.
How is the AP exam scored?
Every AP exam has two sections: a multiple-choice section (MCQ) and a free-response section (FRQ). Each section contributes to a composite raw score, and the College Board converts that raw score into a 1–5 scale using a curve that shifts slightly each year.
For subjects where College Board has released a scoring worksheet that matches the current exam structure, we use that official worksheet's weights and score bands directly. For other AP subjects, we keep the calculator labeled as an unofficial preview until a matching public worksheet is available.
BC covers more material at the same pace, so it's harder. Take AB if you want a solid grounding without time pressure or if your school doesn't offer BC. Take BC if you've done well in pre-calc and want one year of college calculus credit (instead of one semester).
Is there an AB subscore on the AP Calculus AB exam?
No — the AB subscore only exists on the BC exam (where it shows how you'd have scored on AB material alone). The AB exam itself just gives you a single 1–5 score.
What counts as a passing AP score?
Most U.S. colleges grant credit for a 3 or higher. More selective schools (Ivies, top engineering programs) typically require a 4 or 5 for credit — check each college's AP credit policy.
How is the AP curve calculated?
The College Board uses a process called equating to make scores comparable across years. The raw-to-1-5 cutoffs shift slightly based on exam difficulty. Our cutoffs are based on the most recent publicly available scoring worksheets.
When are AP scores released?
AP scores are typically released in early July, accessible through your College Board account. The official scoring curves themselves are usually shared at AP teacher workshops in late summer — that's when we update our cutoffs.
Why does this calculator say "official worksheet data"?
For this subject, the weights and score bands are taken directly from a released College Board scoring worksheet that matches the exam structure. AP curves can still shift by administration, but the underlying cutoff table is not an invented estimate.
Should I trust this over my teacher's prediction?
Your teacher's gut estimate from years of seeing scored exams may be more accurate than any calculator. Use this tool to get a quick directional read, then ask your teacher to sanity-check borderline cases.
