Calculus AB AP Exam Information:
The Calculus AB and BC exams are administered on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 by the College Board’s AP Services. Each of the exams is 3 hours 15 minutes long, consisting of two equally weighted sections. Section I is multiple choice, section II is free response.
The New Format for the AP Exam Since May 2011
Section 1 (50% of grade) - Multiple Choice
Part A - 28 Questions, 55 minutes, NO
CALCULATOR (an average of 1.96 minutes per question)
Part B - 17 Questions, 50 minutes, CALCULATOR (an average of 2.94 minutes per question)
*Note: on average 2.33 minutes per question in this entire section
*BIG change in 2011 - your score for this section will be based on how many problems you answer correctly. You WILL NOT be deducted any points for wrong answers.
Section 2 (50% of grade) - Free Response
Part A - 2 Questions, 30 minutes, CALCULATOR (an average of 15 minutes per question)
Part B - 4 Questions, 60 minutes, NO CALCULATOR (an average of 15 minutes per question)
*BIG change in 2011 - the number of Calculator/No Calculator problems has changed. In past years it has been an even 3/3 split, this will be the third year of having a 2/4 ratio.
This is the NEW format of AP Exam (since 2011)
The structures of the AB and BC exams are identical. Both exams are three hours and fifteen minutes long, comprising a total of 45 multiple choice questions and six free response questions. They are further subdivided as follows:
The New Format for the AP Exam Since May 2011
Section 1 (50% of grade) - Multiple Choice
Part A - 28 Questions, 55 minutes, NO
CALCULATOR (an average of 1.96 minutes per question)
Part B - 17 Questions, 50 minutes, CALCULATOR (an average of 2.94 minutes per question)
*Note: on average 2.33 minutes per question in this entire section
*BIG change in 2011 - your score for this section will be based on how many problems you answer correctly. You WILL NOT be deducted any points for wrong answers.
Section 2 (50% of grade) - Free Response
Part A - 2 Questions, 30 minutes, CALCULATOR (an average of 15 minutes per question)
Part B - 4 Questions, 60 minutes, NO CALCULATOR (an average of 15 minutes per question)
*BIG change in 2011 - the number of Calculator/No Calculator problems has changed. In past years it has been an even 3/3 split, this will be the third year of having a 2/4 ratio.
This is the NEW format of AP Exam (since 2011)
The structures of the AB and BC exams are identical. Both exams are three hours and fifteen minutes long, comprising a total of 45 multiple choice questions and six free response questions. They are further subdivided as follows:
The two parts of the Multiple-Choice section are timed and taken independently; students may work on the Section II Part A during the time for Section II Part B but are NOT allowed to resume using a calculator. The Free-Response section, however, is one hour-and-a-half administration. New to the exam in 2011, the calculator-required section will only contain 2
questions, while the non-calculator section will contain 4 questions, putting emphasis on the test-taker's knowledge of concepts and theorems. Students are required to put away their calculators after 30 minutes have passed during the
Free Response section, and only at that point may begin Section II Part B. However, students may continue to work on Section II Part A during the entire Free Response time, albeit without a calculator during the latter half.
Scoring:
The multiple-choice section is scored by computer, with a correct answer receiving 1 point, a blank answer receiving 0 points and an incorrect answer costing no points as a new change done by AP Central. This total is multiplied by 1.2 to calculate the adjusted multiple-choice score.
The free-response section is hand-graded by hundreds of educators each June. The raw score is then added to the adjusted multiple choice score to receive a composite score. This total is compared to a composite-score scale for that year's exam and converted into an AP score of 1-5.
In the 2010 administration, 245,867 students took the exam. The mean score was a 2.81.
questions, while the non-calculator section will contain 4 questions, putting emphasis on the test-taker's knowledge of concepts and theorems. Students are required to put away their calculators after 30 minutes have passed during the
Free Response section, and only at that point may begin Section II Part B. However, students may continue to work on Section II Part A during the entire Free Response time, albeit without a calculator during the latter half.
Scoring:
The multiple-choice section is scored by computer, with a correct answer receiving 1 point, a blank answer receiving 0 points and an incorrect answer costing no points as a new change done by AP Central. This total is multiplied by 1.2 to calculate the adjusted multiple-choice score.
The free-response section is hand-graded by hundreds of educators each June. The raw score is then added to the adjusted multiple choice score to receive a composite score. This total is compared to a composite-score scale for that year's exam and converted into an AP score of 1-5.
In the 2010 administration, 245,867 students took the exam. The mean score was a 2.81.