AP Bio Score Calculator

Understanding Your AP Biology Score

The AP Biology exam assesses your understanding of college-level biology concepts. Your performance is converted into a final score on a 1-5 scale, which colleges use to grant credit or placement. This calculator helps you estimate that final score based on your performance in the two main sections of the exam.

Key Factors Explained

The AP Biology exam is divided into two sections, each accounting for 50% of your total score:

• Section I: Multiple-Choice (MCQ): This section consists of 60 questions and tests your knowledge of biological concepts, your ability to analyze data and models, and your understanding of experimental design.
• Section II: Free-Response (FRQ): This section has 6 questions: 2 long-response questions (worth 8-10 points each) and 4 short-response questions (worth 4 points each). It evaluates your ability to describe, explain, and justify biological principles and experimental results.

The Formula

Your raw scores from the MCQ and FRQ sections are converted into a composite score out of 150. This composite score is then mapped to the final 1-5 AP score. While the exact curve changes annually, our calculator uses a standard model:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a good AP Biology score?

A score of 3 is considered "passing" and is accepted for credit at many universities. A score of 4 ("well-qualified") or 5 ("extremely well-qualified") is very strong and is likely to earn you college credit or placement at most institutions, including more selective ones.

How are the FRQs graded?

Your free-response answers are graded by trained AP readers during the annual AP Reading. They use detailed scoring rubrics to award points for specific information, analysis, and reasoning demonstrated in your responses.

Is this calculator 100% accurate?

This tool provides a strong estimate based on typical scoring models. However, the College Board sets a new scoring curve each year based on that specific exam's difficulty. You should use this calculator as a guide to understand your performance and identify areas for improvement, not as a guarantee of your final score.

For a more in-depth guide, read our detailed article on this topic.