How the AP Calculus exam is scored.
The AB and BC exams have the same format. From May 2027, College Board cuts the multiple choice section from 45 to 42 questions.
| Section | Questions | Time | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice, Part A | 29 | 62 minutes | No calculator |
| Multiple choice, Part B | 13 | 38 minutes | Graphing calculator required |
| Free response, Part A | 2 | 30 minutes | Graphing calculator required |
| Free response, Part B | 4 | 60 minutes | No calculator |
Each section counts for 50% of the score. Each free response question is worth 9 points, so the section is worth 54 points (2025 scoring guidelines). Multiple choice is also worth 54 points, so each correct answer counts 54 ÷ 42, about 1.29 points. There is no penalty for a wrong answer.
The formula. Composite = (multiple choice correct × 1.2857) + free response points, rounded. The total is out of 108.
On the 2012 exam, with 45 questions, College Board used × 1.2 for the same reason. The 1.2857 for 2027 is our math, not a College Board number.
The cutoffs
College Board sets new cutoffs each year, after the exam, and does not publish them. We use the scoring worksheets from the College Board 2012 practice exams for AB and BC, the most recent ones we found in public:
| AP score | AB composite | BC composite | AB subscore (of 64) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 67 to 108 | 68 to 108 | 40 to 64 |
| 4 | 54 to 66 | 56 to 67 | 31 to 39 |
| 3 | 41 to 53 | 42 to 55 | 23 to 30 |
| 2 | 33 to 40 | 35 to 41 | 17 to 22 |
| 1 | 0 to 32 | 0 to 34 | 0 to 16 |
These are 2012 cutoffs, and the cutoffs change from year to year. Your real score can be different, most of all near a cutoff.
What score do you need for college credit?
It depends on the college. Some give credit for a 3, some ask for a 4 or a 5, and some give no credit but let you skip a class. Look up each college in the College Board AP Credit Policy Search.
For BC students: colleges see your AB subscore too. College Board says colleges should treat it like an AB exam score.
Score distribution in 2026.
| AP score | AB | BC |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 20% | 46% |
| 4 | 28% | 22% |
| 3 | 17% | 14% |
| 2 | 24% | 14% |
| 1 | 11% | 4% |
Source: College Board, 2026 score distributions. BC has more 5s. That does not tell you which exam is easier for you.
How to raise your score.
- Do real free response questions, with the timer on. College Board posts recent free response questions with their scoring guidelines. Try one timed question from a unit you have studied, then check your work.
- Grade yourself with the scoring guidelines. Points go to steps: the setup, the units, the reason for a conclusion. A right answer without the work may not get full points.
- Find your weak units. Write down every multiple choice question you miss, by unit. Start with the unit that comes up most.
- Practice without the calculator. 33 of the 48 questions are calculator free.
- Answer every multiple choice question. A blank costs the same as a wrong answer.
Want help all year, not only before the exam? See our AP Calculus tutor page.
