The Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the United States and Canada created by the College Board offering college-level curriculum and examinations to high school students. American colleges often grant placement and course credit
to students who obtain high scores above a certain number on the
examinations. The AP curriculum for the various subjects is created for
the College Board by a panel of experts and college-level educators in
each subject. For a high school course to have the AP designation, the
course must be audited by the College Board to ascertain it satisfies
the AP curriculum. If the course is approved the school may use the AP
designation and the course will be publicly listed on the AP Ledger.
AP tests are scored on a 1 to 5 scale as follows:[16]
- 5 – Extremely well qualified
- 4 – Well qualified
- 3 – Qualified
- 2 – Possibly qualified
- 1 – No recommendation
Grading the AP exam is a long and complicated process. The multiple
choice component of the exam is scored by computer, while the free
response and essay portions are scored by trained Readers at the AP
Reading each June. The scores on various components are weighted and
combined into a raw Composite Score. The Chief Reader for each exam then
decides on the grade cutoffs for that year's exam, which determine how
the Composite Scores are converted into the final grades. During the
process a number of reviews and statistical analyses are performed to
ensure that the grading is reliable. The overall goal is for the grades
to reflect an absolute scale of performance which can be compared from
year to year.[17]
Some colleges use AP test scores to exempt students from introductory
coursework. Each college's policy is different (see link below), but
most require a minimum score of 3 or 4 to receive college credit.[18]
Typically this appears as a "CR" grade on the college transcript,
although some colleges and universities will award an A grade for a 5
score.[19]
Some countries, such as Germany, that do not offer general admission to
their universities and colleges for holders of an American high school
diploma without lengthy preparatory courses will directly admit students
who have completed a specific set of AP tests, depending on the subject
they wish to study there.
In addition, completing AP courses helps students qualify for various
types of scholarships. According to the College Board, 31 percent of
colleges and universities look at AP experience when making scholarship
decisions.[20]
Beginning with the May 2011 AP Exam administration, the College Board changed the scoring of AP Exams.[21][22]
Total scores on the multiple-choice section are now based on the number
of questions answered correctly. Points are no longer deducted for
incorrect answers and, as was the case before, no points are awarded for
unanswered questions. However, scoring requirements have also been
increased.
