How this calculator works
AP English Language and Composition has 45 multiple-choice questions and three essays: synthesis, rhetorical analysis and argument. Multiple choice carries 45 percent of the composite and the essays carry 55 percent, shared equally among the three. That makes each essay worth 55 / 3 = 18.33 percent, and one essay point is worth 55 / 18 = 3.06 composite points. The composite out of 100 is compared with estimated cut points to predict the 1 to 5 score. The real boundaries are set after each exam and are not published in advance.
Formula
composite = (multiple-choice correct / 45) x 45 + (essay points / 18) x 55. Estimated AP score uses cut points of 75 for a 5, 61 for a 4, 46 for a 3 and 30 for a 2; below 30 is a 1. These are practice-exam estimates.
Worked example
A student with 32 multiple-choice correct and essay scores of 4, 4 and 4 has 12 essay points out of 18. The composite is (32 / 45) x 45 + (12 / 18) x 55 = 32 + 36.67 = 68.67, an estimated 4. Raising the essays to 5, 4 and 4 adds 3.06 points to 71.72, still a 4; reaching 36 multiple-choice correct with the same essays gives 36 + 36.67 = 72.67, also below the estimated 5 boundary.
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Frequently asked questions
Are these official AP Lang cut scores?
No. College Board does not publish fixed raw-score cut points and sets them each year. The cut points here are practice-exam estimates. A composite close to 61 or 75 could fall either way in a real administration.
How are the three essays scored?
Each essay is scored on a 0 to 6 rubric, so the three together are out of 18. The synthesis essay also has a reading component, but the score reported is still out of 6. The essays are equally weighted within the 55 percent section.
Why is one essay point worth more than one multiple-choice question?
One multiple-choice question is worth 45 / 45 = 1 composite point. One essay point is worth 55 / 18 = 3.06 composite points. A single rubric point on an essay therefore outweighs three multiple-choice questions, which is why essay practice has a large effect on the final score.
What composite do I need for a 5?
Under these estimates, about 75 out of 100 predicts a 5 and about 61 predicts a 4. With 32 multiple-choice correct, you would need about 14 essay points for a 5, which is roughly 5, 5 and 4. Raise the multiple-choice score if your essays are averaging 4s.