AP® English Language Scoring Guide
As a student taking AP® English Language and Composition, you probably realize that earning a passing score (3 or greater) on the AP English Language exam can help you unlock many benefits in pursuing higher education in college. But many students have the following questions about AP English Language and Composition scores.
- What is a good AP English Language score?
- What is the average AP English Language score?
- How hard is it to earn a score of 3 or above?
This article will answer these and other frequently asked questions high school students have about AP exam scoring to help you prepare for your upcoming AP English Language and Composition exam.
How is the AP English Language exam scored?
The AP English Language exam is scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. The AP English Language and Composition Exam has two different types of questions: multiple-choice and free-response. The exam duration is 3 hours and 15 minutes. The multiple-choice portion of the exam accounts for 45 percent of the total score, while the free-response portion accounts for 55 percent.
There are 45 multiple-choice questions to answer, and you’ll have one hour to do so. Each MCQ comes with five answer choices There is no penalty for wrong answers, and questions that are left blank do not earn any points. You are encouraged to take a guess if you don't know the right answer.
The students have 15 minutes of reading time and two hours to answer the three free-response questions. Each of the three free-response essays scores between 0 and 6 points. Per the College Board®, your essay is graded as a whole, taking into account its content, style, and mechanics. So make sure to focus on and practice each aspect to score as many points as possible for the prompt.
AP English Language and Composition Scoring Guidelines & Rubrics
As of 2023, the total composite score for the AP Lang exam was 100. The total raw score in Section I is 45, while in Section II, it amounts to 55. Each MCQ you answer correctly in Section I will count for 1 point, and each FRQ in Section II carries 6 points. Based on the scoring rubric for the FRQ section, the number of points you earn per question is added up and then converted to a raw score out of 55. Each section's raw scores are added to derive your final composite score out of 100. This score is then converted to the AP scaled score of 1 - 5.
The College Board publishes scoring rubrics that explain how students' AP exam essays will be graded. There are three types of essays: the synthesis essay, the rhetorical analysis essay, and the argument essay. You can find each rubric on the website of the College Board. Here is the tabular format of the scoring guidelines and rubric-scoring criteria with the decision rules and scoring notes from the AP English Language exam.
| FRQ Question1 | FRQ Question2 | FRQ Question3 | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row A | Responds to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible position. | Responds to the prompt with a defensible thesis that analyzes the writer’s rhetorical choices. | Responds to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible position. | 1 |
| Row B | Provides evidence and commentary. | Provides evidence and commentary. | Provides evidence and commentary. | 1 to 4 |
| Row C | Demonstrates sophistication of thought and/or a complex understanding of the rhetorical situation. | Demonstrates sophistication of thought and/or a complex understanding of the rhetorical situation. | Demonstrates sophistication of thought and/or a complex understanding of the rhetorical situation. | 1 |
AP English Language Scoring Table
The final results will exclude your weighted combination score and the individual scores for each part. Instead, only your scaled score, ranging from 1 to 5, will be visible. Each score corresponds to a specific level of performance. Colleges utilize these results to assess eligibility for free college credit and placement. To be considered, students must achieve a score of 3 or higher. These scores stem from a comprehensive study conducted by the AP program.
| AP Exam Score | College Grade Equivalent | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | A+ or A | Extremely well qualified |
| 4 | A-, B+, or B | Very well qualified |
| 3 | B-, C+, or C | Qualified |
| 2 | — | Possibly Qualified |
| 1 | — | No recommendation |
In the college admissions process, AP scores below 3 are generally not considered when evaluating a student's application. However, if a student wants to get college credit and an advanced placement based on their AP English Language exam score, they must get a score of 3 or higher. Always double-check the minimum requirements of the colleges you want to apply to since some schools require a higher score for you to get college credit.
AP English Language Score Distribution
AP English Language is one of the most popular AP courses among high school students who intend to go to college since English is almost always a mandatory course. In May 2023, approximately 562,000 students took the AP English Language and Composition exam. Of these students, over 56% (a whopping 315,650) earned a score of 3 or higher!
Let us take a look at the AP English Language score distribution table for May 2023:
| Final Score | No. of Students | % of Students |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 58,029 | 10.3 % |
| 4 | 110,997 | 19.7 % |
| 3 | 146,624 | 26.1% |
| 2 | 165,818 | 29.5% |
| 1 | 80,860 | 14.4 % |
As the above table indicates, a majority of AP English Language test-takers scored a 3 or above. This should give you confidence heading into the exam since the odds are in your favor. With the right study plan and learning tools, you will give yourself the best opportunity to score a 5!
Only 18 students earned a perfect score in the 2023 AP Lang exam!
For perspective on the AP English Language exam scoring trends, let us also examine how students performed on the past exams from 2019 to 2022:
| AP Score | % of Students in 2022 | % of Students in 2021 | % of Students in 2020 | % of Students in 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 10.4% | 9.1% | 12.6 | 9.9 |
| 4 | 21.1% | 22.9% | 20.4 | 18.2 |
| 3 | 24.2% | 25.8% | 29.1 | 26.2 |
| 2 | 29.8% | 29.3% | 26.2 | 31.2 |
| 1 | 14.5% | 12.9% | 11.8 | 14.5 |
| Success Rate(3 and above) | 55.7% | 57.8% | 62.1% | 54.3 |
AP English Language Minimum Score Requirement for College Credits
As we mentioned earlier, most colleges require a minimum score of 3 on your AP exams to qualify for free credit or advanced placement. But there is more to the value of AP courses than that. Simply taking the AP English Language course but not the end-of-course exam will set you apart from your non-AP counterparts in the eyes of admissions committees, even though you won’t receive any college credit for your efforts.
Each university has unique score requirements for free credit and advanced placement, so check with the university to which you intend to apply to ensure you know exactly what target score you need to earn.
Here is a list of some universities and their minimal AP English Language criteria if you want those free credits.
| Institution | AP Score | AP Recognition | Equivalent Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard University | 5 | Credit | 4 credits | |
University of California, Berkeley (UCB) |
4/5 | Credit + Placement |
Reading and Writing Composition “A” | 5.3 semester units |
| 3 | - | 5.3 semester units | ||
| Yale University | 5 | Credit + Placement |
- | 1 credit |
| Columbia University | 5 | Credit + Placement |
3 credits | |
| University of California, Los Angeles | 4/5 | Credit + Placement |
ENGCOMP 3 | 8 credits |
| 3 | - | 8 credits | ||
| University of Chicago | 5 | Credit + Placement |
- | 100 units general elective credit |
| University of Michigan--Ann Arbor | 4/5 | Credit + Placement |
- | 3 credits |
| Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX | 4/5 | Credit + Placement |
- | 6 credits |
| University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX | 3/4/5 | Credit + Placement |
RHE 306 | - |
| University of Houston, Houston, TX | 4/5 | Credit + Placement |
ENGL 1304 | 6 credits |
| 3 | ENGL 1303 | 3 credits |
Visit College Credit Policies for a complete list of colleges accepting AP English Language scores for free credit or advanced placement.
References
- 2023 AP Score Distributions. (n.d.). Collegeboard.org. Retrieved January 23, 2024, from https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/about-ap-scores/score-distributions
- Student Score Distributions AP Exams. (May 2023). Collegeboard.org. Retrieved January 23, 2024, from https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-score-distributions-by-subject-2023.pdf
- Student Score Distributions AP Exams. (May 2022). Collegeboard.org. Retrieved January 23, 2024, from https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-score-distributions-by-subject-2022.pdf
- Student Score Distributions AP Exams. (May 2021). Collegeboard.org. Retrieved January 23, 2024, from https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/2021-ap-student-score-distributions_1.pdf
- Student Score Distributions AP Exams. (May 2020). Collegeboard.org. Retrieved January 23, 2024, from https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/Student-Score-Distributions-2020_1.pdf
- Student Score Distributions AP Exams. (May 2019). Collegeboard.org. Retrieved
January 23, 2024, from
https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/research/2019/Student-Score-Distributions-2019.pdf - AP English Language and Composition. (n.d.). Collegeboard.org. Retrieved January 23, 2024, from https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-english-language-and-composition
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a good score on the AP English Language exam?
How do I calculate my AP English Language scores?
When are AP English Language scores released?
How do I find my AP English Language score?
Is it possible to get a 5 on AP English Language while self-studying for the 2024 exam?
Do I have to take English in college if I already have an AP English Language credit?
How many credits is AP English Language worth?
How do I get a 5 on my AP English Language exam?
Creating a study plan, taking an AP English Language practice test, working through practice questions, and using dependable learning tools are critical to success. It also helps to know how the exam is scored and what to expect on exam day to be informed and confidently approach the exam.
Practicing exam-like questions is essential in preparing for any high-stakes exam, as it familiarizes you with the rubric.
We recommend using our online learning tools for AP English Language because we provide:
- Hundreds of exam-like questions that mimic the style and difficulty of the exam
- Answer explanations with vivid illustrations to facilitate content mastery and literary analysis
- Performance tracking measures your progress and targets areas that need improvement
Prepare with UWorld’s AP English Language and Composition practice tests and take your next steps towards your dream college. Our well-designed study plan and QBank will help you gain your desired success in the classroom, college, and beyond.
