How the AP English Language exam is scored
The exam has a multiple-choice section and an essay section. The table shows the College Board section weights.
| Section | Questions | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice | 45 | 45% |
| Essays | 3 | 55% |
The essays are Synthesis, Rhetorical Analysis, and Argument. Each essay has a score from 0 to 6 in the AP rubric.
A rubric is a set of criteria for the points in a response. The essay rubric has these criteria:
| Criterion | Maximum raw points |
|---|---|
| Thesis | 1 |
| Evidence and commentary | 4 |
| Sophistication | 1 |
The thesis gives the primary claim. Evidence gives facts and examples for the claim. Commentary shows how the evidence connects to the argument or analysis.
Sophistication is the rubric criterion for a complex understanding of the topic or text. Long words alone do not give a point for this criterion.
Formula
The composite score is the total score after the section weights apply. This calculator uses a composite score out of 100.
In the formula, M is the number of correct multiple-choice answers. S, R, and A are the three essay scores.
AP English Language score calculator: what the result means
The calculator uses your raw points to calculate a composite score. It then applies cutoff estimates to give an AP score from 1 to 5.
A cutoff is the minimum composite score for an AP score. The default cutoffs are 36, 53, 65, and 75 for AP scores 2, 3, 4, and 5.
These cutoffs come from the Test Ninjas practice model, not an official College Board conversion table.
For example, 30 correct answers and three 3-point essays give a composite score of 57.5. The default model gives an estimate of AP 3.
College Board uses equating to compensate for differences in exam difficulty. Official cutoffs can be different between exam forms and years.
The result is an estimate, not an official score. College Board gives the official result through its score process.
Use a practice-test conversion table
- Open Practice score cutoffs.
- Enter the minimum composite score for each AP score on a 100-point scale.
The target planner keeps your essay points constant. It shows the correct multiple-choice answers necessary for your selected target.
The three-point cutoff check is a possible scenario, not a statistical confidence interval. It does not give the probability of success.
How to increase your AP Lang score
Multiple-choice practice
- Read the passage before you select an answer.
- Identify the writer's primary claim.
- Identify rhetorical devices, such as repetition and contrast.
- Examine the structure of the argument.
- Examine how the writer uses evidence.
- Examine each incorrect answer after the practice test.
Essay practice
A line of reasoning is the sequence that connects evidence to a claim. Clear commentary shows each connection.
- Write a thesis that answers the prompt.
- Write the paragraphs in a clear sequence for your line of reasoning.
- Use facts and examples as evidence for your thesis.
- Show how each example connects to your answer.
- Examine the response against the correct essay rubric.
Time management
The essay section has a time limit of 2 hours and 15 minutes. This includes a 15-minute reading period.
- Write all three essays as a practice test in this time limit.
- Keep time for an examination of each response.
What AP Lang score do colleges accept?
Many colleges give credit or placement for scores of 4 or 5. Some colleges accept a score of 3.
Credit can count as part of a degree. Placement can let you start after an introductory course. Each college sets its own requirements.
- Find the college in the AP Credit Policy Search.
- Examine the college's current AP English Language policy.
- Find which course or credit applies to your degree.
The college uses your official score and its policy for credit, not this calculator estimate. This tool is not affiliated with College Board.
Related calculators
- Use the APUSH score calculator for an independent estimate for AP US History.
- Use the weighted grade calculator for your class grade, which is different from an AP exam score.
- Use the scientific calculator for an independent calculation of the weighted section total.
- Use the percentage decrease calculator to measure a decrease in incorrect answers between practice tests.
- Use the time duration calculator to calculate elapsed time for a practice session.
FAQs
No. The section weights are official. The conversion from composite score to AP score is a practice estimate. College Board gives official scores.
Each essay has a maximum score of six points. The three essays have 55 percent of the exam score.
Yes. Open Practice score cutoffs. Enter the minimum composite for each AP score from 2 to 5 on a 100-point scale.