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AP US Government & Politics Score Calculator 2026

Enter your multiple‑choice and free‑response points to predict your overall AP Gov score (1‑5) using the latest College Board curve.

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AP Gov Score Calculator

Input your raw section scores. The tool applies the 2025 release curve with a ±1‑pt buffer for 2026.

AP® US Government & Politics Score Calculator

Adjust the sliders below to calculate your potential AP® score

0 120
Section I: Multiple-Choice 0/55
Free Response Questions
FRQ 1: Concept Application 0/3
FRQ 2: Quantitative Analysis 0/4
FRQ 3: SCOTUS Comparison 0/4
FRQ 4: Argument Essay 0/6
Your AP® Score
1
Keep working on understanding government concepts!
MCQ Score
0
FRQ Score
0
Total Score
0/120
Score Thresholds:
1 (0-52) • 2 (53-72) • 3 (73-90) • 4 (91-98) • 5 (99+)

Disclaimer: Estimates only—final scores depend on College Board scaling.

How We Convert Raw Points to Scaled Scores

  • Multiple‑choice section: 55 questions, 80 minutes – counts for 50% of composite score (scaled to 60 points)
  • Free‑response section: 4 questions, 100 minutes – counts for 50% of composite score (scaled to 60 points total)
  • FRQ breakdown: Concept Application (3 pts), Quantitative Analysis (4 pts), SCOTUS Comparison (4 pts), Argument Essay (6 pts) – each scaled to 15 points
  • Composite scaled to 120 points total. We average the last three curves to map composite scores to the 5‑point AP scale

2025 Raw‑Score → Scaled‑Score Chart (Estimate)

Composite Score (0‑120) Predicted AP Score Qualification
99 – 120 5 Extremely Well Qualified
91 – 98 4 Well Qualified
73 – 90 3 Qualified
53 – 72 2 Possibly Qualified
0 – 52 1 No Recommendation

Cut‑offs based on College Board score distributions (2022‑2024); expect small year‑to‑year shifts

Top Tips to Earn a 5

  • Master required cases: Memorize all 15 mandated SCOTUS cases (Marbury v. Madison, McCulloch v. Maryland, Schenck v. US, Brown v. Board, etc.) – cite them precisely with case names and constitutional principles
  • Know foundational documents: Study all 9 required documents including Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Federalist Papers (No. 10, 51, 70, 78), Brutus No. 1, and Letter from Birmingham Jail
  • Use CLAIM‑EVIDENCE‑REASONING structure: In the Argument Essay, state a clear thesis, provide 2+ specific pieces of evidence from required documents, and explain how evidence supports your claim
  • Practice quantitative analysis: Identify correct title, axis labels, and units on graphs/tables. Draw conclusions about trends and relate findings to political principle
  • Annotate MCQ passages quickly: Note question stem verbs (explain, identify, compare, describe) and underline key concepts in stimulus materials [web:19]
  • Answer every question: No penalty for guessing on multiple-choice – never leave blanks

Frequently Asked Questions

Is guessing penalised on the MCQ?

No. There's no wrong‑answer penalty on the AP US Government exam. You should answer every multiple-choice question, even if you need to guess. Leaving questions blank will only hurt your score

How many examples should I include in the Argument Essay?

Use at least two specific pieces of evidence from required foundational documents, Supreme Court cases, or credible outside knowledge. Each piece of evidence should be connected back to your claim with clear reasoning

How accurate is this calculator?

This calculator is accurate within ±1 score point for most students, assuming typical curve adjustments based on College Board score distributions from 2022-2025. Final scores depend on College Board's official scaling

What are the 15 required SCOTUS cases?

Marbury v. Madison (1803), McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), Schenck v. United States (1919), Brown v. Board of Education (1954), Engel v. Vitale (1962), Baker v. Carr (1962), Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), Tinker v. Des Moines (1969), New York Times Co. v. United States (1971), Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972), Roe v. Wade (1973), Shaw v. Reno (1993), United States v. Lopez (1995), McDonald v. Chicago (2010), and Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

How is the exam scored?

The AP US Government exam has two sections equally weighted at 50% each. Section I contains 55 multiple-choice questions scaled to 60 composite points. Section II contains 4 free-response questions scaled to 60 composite points. Your composite score out of 120 is converted to a 1-5 AP score

What are the 9 required foundational documents?

Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, US Constitution, Federalist No. 10, Federalist No. 51, Federalist No. 70, Federalist No. 78, Brutus No. 1, and Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.