How many students earn each score on each AP exam? Here's the full 2024 College Board distribution data — useful for setting realistic expectations and for figuring out how rare a specific score is in your subject.
Selected Subjects: Percentage Scoring Each Grade
- APUSH: 5: 13% / 4: 19% / 3: 19% / 2: 23% / 1: 26%
- AP Psychology: 5: 17% / 4: 21% / 3: 22% / 2: 22% / 1: 18%
- AP World History: 5: 13% / 4: 21% / 3: 22% / 2: 22% / 1: 22%
- AP Biology: 5: 22% / 4: 25% / 3: 17% / 2: 22% / 1: 14%
- AP Chemistry: 5: 16% / 4: 18% / 3: 23% / 2: 25% / 1: 18%
- AP Calculus AB: 5: 22% / 4: 17% / 3: 25% / 2: 22% / 1: 14%
- AP Calculus BC: 5: 45% / 4: 17% / 3: 17% / 2: 13% / 1: 8%
- AP Physics 1: 5: 8% / 4: 19% / 3: 18% / 2: 30% / 1: 25%
- AP Statistics: 5: 16% / 4: 22% / 3: 22% / 2: 19% / 1: 21%
- AP US Government: 5: 17% / 4: 15% / 3: 17% / 2: 20% / 1: 31%
- AP English Language: 5: 11% / 4: 19% / 3: 26% / 2: 27% / 1: 17%
- AP English Literature: 5: 14% / 4: 22% / 3: 41% / 2: 16% / 1: 7%
- AP Computer Science A: 5: 26% / 4: 24% / 3: 16% / 2: 12% / 1: 22%
- AP Human Geography: 5: 16% / 4: 19% / 3: 25% / 2: 19% / 1: 21%
- AP Environmental Science: 5: 7% / 4: 24% / 3: 22% / 2: 28% / 1: 19%
- AP Macroeconomics: 5: 18% / 4: 22% / 3: 18% / 2: 17% / 1: 25%
- AP Microeconomics: 5: 17% / 4: 27% / 3: 19% / 2: 18% / 1: 19%
- AP Spanish Language: 5: 24% / 4: 33% / 3: 27% / 2: 13% / 1: 3%
What the Numbers Mean
Scoring a 5 puts you in the top 8–22% of test-takers for most subjects. Notable patterns:
- Easiest 5s: AP Calc BC (45%) — but this is because only strong students take it.
- Hardest 5s: AP Physics 1 (8%), AP Environmental Science (7%).
- Most predictable 3s: AP English Literature (41% score a 3).
Why You Shouldn't Obsess Over the Distribution
Most students who score a 3 land in the same place as students who scored a 4 with one or two more correct MCQs. The exam isn't graded on a perfect curve — it's graded against a fixed rubric. Focus on banking the next points, not on comparing yourself to other test-takers.
AP Pass Rates by Subject · Is a 3 Good? · AP Score Calculator
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