1. How to get the credit you deserve…
AP Test Basics
How to get the credit you deserve…
Charlie Blair-Broeker
Cedar Falls (Iowa) High School

2. AP Scoring Scale 5 = Extremely well qualified 4 = Well qualified
2 = Possibly qualified
1 = No recommendation

3. Part 1: Multiple Choice 100 Questions 5 answer choices per question
70 minutes (42 seconds per question)
No time prompt from proctor
2/3 overall exam credit

4. Part 1: Multiple Choice
Scanner skills—bring a good eraser

6. Part 1: Multiple Choice Scanner skills—bring a good eraser
Course description has % of questions in each area

8. Part 1: Multiple Choice Scanner skills—bring a good eraser
Course description has % of questions in each area
Questions organized from easiest to hardest

10. Part 1: Multiple Choice Scanner skills—bring eraser or whiteout
Course description has % of questions in each area
Questions organized from easiest to hardest

11. How well do you need to do?
Approximate conversions
Assuming half credit essays
MC of 65 = 3 on exam
MC of 75 = 4 on exam
MC of 85 = 5 on exam

12. Part 2: Free Response

13. Part 2: Free Response 2 equally-weighted questions
50 minutes (25 minutes per question)
Time prompt with 10 minutes to go
1/3 overall exam credit
Instructions call for dark blue or black ink
Fatal error: beginning to write before beginning to think (you must answer the question)

15. Part 2: Free Response To impress your reader…
Get to the point (intros & conclusions count for nothing)
Write in simple, declarative sentences
Organize answer into paragraphs
Write legibly!

17. Part 2: Free Response Rubric scoring
Readers are looking for specific points

18. From 2005 Free Response Question 2
Value of diagnostic labeling
Point 1: Advantages of diagnostic labeling can be established by briefly explaining any of the following. Labels can…
help professionals communicate clearly and efficiently with one another.
improve the reliability/consistency or validity/accuracy of diagnosis or categorization.
help determine an appropriate course of treatment.
help predict the course of a disorder.
increase insight for those wishing to cope with a disorder.
meet general scientific purposes or stimulate appropriate research on the nature of disorders.
allow for more objective discussion of disorders.
facilitate appropriate billing or recordkeeping.
Trap: Do not award this point for advantages that are overly vague (e.g, “Labels are good.”).

19. A Typical Scoring Grid

20. Part 2: Free Response Rubric scoring
Readers are looking for specific points
Range: 6 to 16 (typically about 8)
Usually possible to anticipate points from the structure of the question
Some points will be easy and others hard

21. Part 2: Free Response General principles The “Oprah rule”
Misinformation and “shotgunning”
Spelling, grammar, and the “nuture rule”

22. Part 2: Free Response Goals of a good essay question Reliable scoring
Good distribution of scores
Better prepared students score higher

23. Part 2: Free Response
The mindset of a reader