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2023 AP Exam Score Distributions

Written by Sam Jaquez | July 12, 2023

Photo by Andy Barbour via Pexels

This year’s AP Scores have been released and Trevor Packer, head of the Advanced Placement Program has shared the details of this year’s AP score distributions on Twitter. Packer provided a full breakdown of scores for all 38 AP courses as well as some insights into the scores. Since the AP exams are not curved, each year’s scores are an accurate representation of how exam takers fared overall in their AP courses for the year.

In his breakdown of scores Trevor Packer started with a few reminders about what AP scores mean and how they can affect students.

1. AP scores are not the only indicator of learning or comprehension.

Reminder #3: Let’s remember that AP scores are only one indicator of student learning. AP scores’ only valid use is for placing a student out of a corresponding college course. AP scores are not designed for evaluating academic potential, growth, or teacher quality.
— Trevor Packer (@AP_Trevor) June 14, 2023

2. AP scores do not determine a student’s full academic potential.

Reminder: #3a: Accordingly, while we celebrate students who earn scores that qualify them for college credit, we must be clear that AP scores are never a referendum on a student’s academic potential, let alone what matters much: curiosity and motivation to keep learning.
— Trevor Packer (@AP_Trevor) June 14, 2023

3. A low AP score is not that bad, it just means the student will take that course again in college.

Reminder #3b: Let’s also keep in mind that the worst outcome of a low AP score is really not bad at all: the student simply retakes the class in college – which some would prefer to do anyway.
— Trevor Packer (@AP_Trevor) June 14, 2023

4. Students who score low on the AP exam and retake the course in college outperform the other students in the college course.

Reminder #3c: And recent research shows that students who receive an AP 2 typically outperform other college students when they do retake this subject: https://t.co/D55K4312lo
— Trevor Packer (@AP_Trevor) June 14, 2023

Packer also noted that score data and numbers that he has Tweeted are subject to change: “As the remaining late-arriving or make-up exams in each subject are scored, they will slightly shift the score distributions I’ve tweeted.”

2023 AP Scores Distributions

Subject	Percent Students Who Scored a 5	Percent Students Who Scored a 4	Percent Students Who Scored a 3	Percent Students Who Scored a 2	Percent Students Who Scored a 1
AP Art and Design 2D Portfolio	12%	31%	41%	14%	2%
AP Art and Design 3D Portfolio	7%	25%	40%	23%	4%
AP Art and Design Drawing	16%	33%	36%	13%	2%
AP Art History	13%	23%	28%	24%	12%
AP Biology	14%	23%	27%	24%	12%
AP Calculus AB	22%	16%	20%	22%	20%
AP Calculus BC	42%	16%	20%	16%	6%
AP Chemistry	15%	27%	33%	17%	8%
AP Chinese	50%	17%	18%	6%	9%
AP Comparative Government & Politics	16%	23%	32%	16%	13%
AP Computer Science A	27%	22%	18%	10%	23%
AP Computer Science Principles	15%	23%	33%	20%	12%
AP English Language & Composition	10%	20%	26%	29%	15%
AP English Literature & Composition	15%	28%	34%	14%	9%
AP Environmental Sciences	8%	28%	17%	27%	20%
AP European History	13%	21%	25%	29%	12%
AP French	12%	25%	37%	20%	6%
AP German	19%	21%	26%	20%	14%
AP Human Geography	16%	20%	18%	14%	32%
AP Italian	20%	22%	29%	18%	11%
AP Japanese	47%	9%	19%	9%	17%
AP Latin	12%	17%	28%	25%	18%
AP Macroeconomics	16%	23%	25%	22%	14%
AP Microeconomics	18%	26%	22%	21%	13%
AP Music Theory	20%	17%	24%	24%	15%
AP Physics 1	8%	18%	19%	28%	27%
AP Physics 2	15%	17%	36%	26%	6%
AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism	31%	24%	13%	20%	12%
AP Physics C: Mechanics	23%	28%	22%	15%	12%
AP Psychology	17%	23%	20%	12%	28%
AP Research	13%	26%	45%	13%	3%
AP Seminar	11%	20%	57%	11%	1%
AP Spanish Language	24%	30%	30%	14%	3%
AP Spanish Literature	8%	22%	37%	23%	10%
AP Statistics	15%	22%	23%	16%	24%
AP US Government and Politics	13%	11%	25%	24%	27%
AP US History	11%	15%	22%	23%	29%
AP World History	15%	22%	28%	22%	13%