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2025 AP Exam Score Distributions

Total Registration has compiled the following scores from Tweets that the College Board's head of AP*, Trevor Packer, has been making during June. These are preliminary breakdowns that may change slightly as late exams are scored.

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AP Score Distributions 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011

This table is sortable by clicking on the header - Clicking on an Exam Name will show a comparison of the score distributions for all years compiled

Exam 5 4 3 2 1 3+ Date Tweeted Trevor's Comments
2-D Art and Design 12.0% 29.0% 42.0% 14.0% 3.0% 83% Jun 18
  • 20% of AP 2-D Art and Design students earned all or most of the available points for their Selected Works.
  • Students received highest ratings, overall, on the “Skills” component of their Sustained Investigations; 10% earned all points possible for this category of the scoring guidelines.
  • Students received lowest ratings, overall, on the “Practice, Experimentation, and Revision” component of their Sustained Investigations; 6% earned all points possible for that category of the scoring guidelines.
3-D Art and Design 7.0% 25.0% 40.0% 24.0% 4.0% 72% Jun 18
  • 9% of AP 3-D Art and Design students earned all or most of the available points on their Selected Works.
  • Students received highest ratings, overall, on the “Materials, Processes and Ideas” section of their Sustained Investigations; 7% earned all points possible for this category of the scoring guidelines.
  • Students received lowest ratings, overall, on the “Practice, Experimentation, and Revision” component of their Sustained Investigations; 5% earned all points possible for that category of the scoring guidelines.
African American Studies 16.0% 33.0% 30.0% 16.0% 5.0% 79% Jun 25
  • This is the second year of the AP African American Studies course and exam, and there’s much to celebrate.
  • Enrollment in the course doubled compared to its inaugural year in 2024, giving many more students access to advanced instruction in this subject.
  • Common-item equating found that a larger proportion of this year’s students met the standards for college credit than in the prior year, so the percentage of students earning a score of 3 or higher increased by 6 percentage points.
  • AP African American Studies Multiple Choice Questions: Students performed best on Unit 1 (Origins of the African Diaspora) and Unit 4 (Movements and Debates). 54% of students earned all or most points on Unit 1 questions, and ~50% of students earned all or most points on Unit 4 questions.
  • The most challenging questions students tackled were on Unit 3 (The Practice of Freedom); 31% of students earned all or most points on these questions.
  • The score distributions include students who took Set 1 and Set 2 FRQs, but the following commentary focuses on Set 1, since it was the version taken more students. spr.ly/60124dxqs spr.ly/60134dxqt
  • Students performed best on Short Answer Question 1, the primary source by Harriet Tubman. 82% of students earned at least 3 of the 4 points available on this question.
  • Question 4, the Document-Based Question on the cultural contributions of African Americans during Jim Crow segregation, was the most challenging for students.
  • Students who were unable to engage with this question are generally receiving a 1 or 2, as the skills demanded by this question are necessary for college credit and placement.
  • Therefore, students unable to earn any points on this question are typically receiving AP 1s and 2s, and students able to earn 6-7 points are generally receiving AP 5s.
  • Teachers’ AP score reports will include a point-by-point breakdown of their students’ performance across the 7 possible points on the rubric, so that they can know where best to focus when helping future students develop and demonstrate these document analysis and argumentation skills that are so important for so many college majors and careers.
Art History 16.0% 24.0% 46.0% 24.0% 10.0% 86% Jun 17
  • Congrats to AP Art History students/teachers: this year’s students demonstrated stronger mastery of the 250 works than any group since I began posting in 2011, so scores increased from 63% earning 3+ in 2024 to 66% this year.
  • MCQs: similar to last year, students scored exceptionally well on artworks from Global Prehistory, and also Europe / Americas, 1750-1980; the majority of students answered virtually all such questions right.
  • MCQs: again, similar to last year, students scored lowest on questions about artworks from Indigenous Americas, so this is a good area for focus to improve scores even further.
  • FRQs: tremendous work on Q3, the visual analysis of Velasco’s 1888 painting, The Valley of Mexico. 21% of students earned all 5/5 points possible, again showing the strength of student mastery of this unit. spr.ly/60114uM9S
  • The most difficult AP Art History question this year was Q5, on attributing a Mayan sculpture. Only 9% of students earned full points on it, again highlighting the need for more focus on the Indigenous Americas unit. spr.ly/60124uM9s
Biology 19.0% 24.0% 28.0% 21.0% 8.0% 71% Jun 27
  • This year’s data finds a very impressive showing among AP Biology students: the psychometric analyses found strong increases in content and skill mastery over 2024, such that the percentage of 5s increases from 16% to 19% and the overall rate of 3+ scores increases from 68% to 71%.
  • This is all the more impressive when looking at how well educators expanded access to this course this year, with 26,000 more students participating than in 2024.
  • Multiple-Choice Questions AP Biology students scored especially well on questions about Natural Selection (Unit 7), as well as Cellular Energetics (Unit 3). The most challenging topics were related to Heredity (Unit 5) and Gene Expression and Regulation (Unit 6).
  • Free-Response Questions spr.ly/60174gXtX Students generally scored highest on Q2 on insect pheromones and gene expression. Students earning 3s were generally able to earn at least 5 of these points, and students earning 5s typically proved able to earn all or all but one of the points possible.
  • The most challenging part of this year’s exam was Q6, the analysis of data related to fruit fly mutations. Students earning AP 1s and 2s could typically only answer Part A of this question, which focused on measuring the abilities of the more advanced students in the class.
Calculus AB 20.0% 29.0% 15.0% 23.0% 13.0% 64% Jun 25
  • The most challenging questions were from Unit 6: Integration and Accumulation of Change. 7% of students answered correctly all or all but one of these questions. Free-Response Questions spr.ly/60104eEKm
  • Students generally scored highest on Q3, in which they modeled reading rates for a student and a teacher. And this was the best question, psychometrically, of the exam, since its points varied significantly in difficulty, enabling good measurement of student abilities across the 1-5 AP scale.
  • The question was worth 9 points total, and students unable to answer at least 2 of those points correctly are generally receiving AP 1s and 2s, while students who could answer 8-9 of the points are typically receiving AP 5s.
  • The most challenging FRQ for AB students was Q1, the modeling of an invasive plant species’ spread within a fruit grove. (Who says farmers don’t need calculus?)
  • Students earning 6-9 points on this question tended to receive AP 5s. Writing justifications for global maxima and minima is a good instructional focus for next year.
Calculus BC 44.0% 22.0% 13.0% 15.0% 6.0% 79% Jun 25
  • Multiple-Choice Questions As is typical, Calculus BC students scored extremely well across the units that are shared with Calculus AB, especially Unit 1, where 55% of students answered every question right, and Units 2-3, where 41% did so.
  • The most challenging Calculus BC questions were from Units 9 and 10, which don’t overlap with Calculus AB. As usual, students found questions about infinite sequences and series most difficult: 4% answered all of these questions right.
  • Free-Response Questions spr.ly/60124eEkg Setting aside the three FRQs shared with Calculus AB, which Calc BC students typically find easier than the BC-specific FRQs students scored highest on Q5, the differential equation question that requires understanding of the second-degree Taylor polynomial, the Lagrange error bound, and Euler’s method.
  • By far the most difficult question on this year’s BC exam was Q2, polar area, which served to differentiate among BC students, who are qualifying for AP 4s and 5s. Polar area is a good instructional focus for next year.
Chemistry 17.0% 29.0% 32.0% 16.0% 6.0% 78% Jun 20
  • As a reminder, these data only include the results of the AP Chemistry exam taken on the standard testing date, Tuesday, May 6.
  • Multiple-Choice Questions This year, the mean number of correct MCQs was 36.99, compared to 35.00 last year, and 33.65 in 2023. On the make-up date this year, for which I have the multiple-choice data (but not yet the free-response data), the mean number of correct MCQs was 35.82.
  • Equating data, which looks at each group’s performance on re-used MCQs, also confirms that this year’s group, on average, was stronger than prior years’ groups, demonstrating stronger chemistry content knowledge and skills, so scores increased.
  • Setting aside Atomic Structure and Properties (Unit 1), which a massive 34% of AP Chemistry students aced by answering every such question right, students demonstrated strongest mastery of Thermochemistry (Unit 6); 18% earned every point possible for that unit.
  • By far the most challenging unit for AP Chemistry students was Acids and Bases (Unit 8); 7% of students earned every point possible for this unit, and 6% of students, generally those who are receiving 1s, were unable to answer any question about this unit correctly. So this is a good unit for further focus as next year’s AP Chemistry students and teachers seek to extend AP Chem’s super impressive, multi-year trend of stronger content and skill mastery.
  • Another rave for the AP Chemistry community: they have pulled off this year’s significant increase in student performance while also expanding this very challenging course to 18,000 more students overtaking AP Economics to be the subject that has provided the most additional students with access to the learning environments of their classrooms.
  • I hear and share concerns of school administrators rushing AP Chemistry teachers by cutting labs or not providing adequate instructional time so there are certainly exceptions to the positive trend in performance over time, but it’s good to see that in aggregate, performance is improving alongside increased opportunities.
Chinese Lang. and Culture 51.0% 19.0% 18.0% 5.0% 7.0% 88% Jun 16
  • Total group scores, including heritage speakers. ~72% of students who took this year’s AP Chinese Exam were heritage speakers of the languag
  • The most challenging AP Chinese FRQ for heritage speakers was the presentation about a cultural activity; the most challenging task for non-heritage speakers was the conversation about cell phone use. All subjects’ AP score distributions for 2025 will be posted here when available: spr.ly/60114PC1P
  • FRQs: students generally scored highest on their email responses; 54% of students earned all 6/6 points possible. spr.ly/60104PC1O
Computer Science A 25.0% 22.0% 20.0% 10.0% 23.0% 67% Jun 16
  • The most challenging AP Computer Science A FRQ was #4, the 2D array number puzzle; 19% of students earned 8-9 of the 9 points possible. All subjects’ AP score distributions for 2025 will be posted here when available: apstudents.org/score-distri...
  • The most challenging MCQs for students were questions on Arrays, ArrayLists, and 2D Arrays (units 6-8); 17% of students earned 11-12 of these 12 points. AP Computer Science A FRQs: Superb work on #2 (class); 31% of students earned 8-9 of the 9 possible points. spr.ly/60164PSf2
  • MCQs: strong performance on primitive types, Boolean expressions, and if statements (units 1 & 3); 44% of students earned 7-8 of these 8 points.
Computer Science Principles 11.0% 20.0% 32.0% 22.0% 15.0% 63% Jun 24
  • Multiple-Choice Questions Students scored highest on questions about the impact of computing; 44% answered 14+ correct of the 16 total questions on this topic.
  • The most challenging questions were about algorithms without code; the average score on these items was 59% correct.
  • The “Create” Performance Task 98% of students earned the point for their project video, and 86% earned the point about their program’s design, function, and purpose (Written Response 1).
  • The most challenging point to earn was the point for algorithm development (Written Response 2a), which 45% of students earned. All subjects’ AP score distributions for 2025 will be posted here when available: spr.ly/60174jwiP
Drawing 17.0% 32.0% 36.0% 12.0% 3.0% 85% Jun 18
  • This year’s Drawing portfolios were especially strong, such that scores of 5 increased by 2%.
  • Students performance was very strong across the Selected Works section of their Drawing portfolios; 18% of students earned all or most of the available points.
English Language 13.0% 28.0% 33.0% 16.0% 10.0% 74% Jul 01
  • Multiple-Choice Questions
    • Students scored extremely well across all topics, but especially on questions about the Function of Word Choice, Imagery, and Symbols (Skill Category 5); 27% of students answered all of these questions right.
    • The most challenging skill for AP English Lit students seems to be Skill Category 6, explaining the function of comparisons (similes, metaphors, personification, allusions); 7% of students answered all such questions correctly.
    • As is typical, students scored significantly higher on questions about prose passages than on those about poetry.
  • Free-Response Questions Set 1: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap25-frq-english-literature-set-1.pdf… Set 2: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap25-frq-english-literature-set-2.pdf…

    • In both the Set 1 and Set 2 essay questions, students scored better on the poetry analysis essay (Q1) than on the prose analysis (Q2) essay, which was the most challenging of this year’s essays.
    • On Q3, the literary argument about a work of long fiction / drama:
      ~22% of students earned 5+ points
      ~31% earned 4 points
      ~28% earned 3 points
      ~9% earned 2 points
      ~4% earned 1 point
      ~6% earned 0 points
    • AP English Literature and Composition had an Evidence-Based Standard Setting this year that affirmed the standards in place since 2022, standards that were validated by research on the 2022 student cohort’s performance in college, available here: https://research.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/MAR-21701_APEngLit_ResearchBrief_04082025_REV-LC.pdf…
  • An overview detailing the standard setting process, with specific information about the findings for this year’s students, will be available at around 4 pm ET today at http://allaccess.collegeboard.org
English Literature 16.0% 27.0% 31.0% 16.0% 10.0% 74% Jul 01
  • Multiple-Choice Questions
    • Students scored extremely well across all topics, but especially on questions about the Function of Word Choice, Imagery, and Symbols (Skill Category 5); 27% of students answered all of these questions right.
    • The most challenging skill for AP English Lit students seems to be Skill Category 6, explaining the function of comparisons (similes, metaphors, personification, allusions); 7% of students answered all such questions correctly.
    • As is typical, students scored significantly higher on questions about prose passages than on those about poetry.
  • Free-Response Questions Set 1: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap25-frq-english-literature-set-1.pdf… Set 2: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap25-frq-english-literature-set-2.pdf…
    • In both the Set 1 and Set 2 essay questions, students scored better on the poetry analysis essay (Q1) than on the prose analysis (Q2) essay, which was the most challenging of this year’s essays.
    • On Q3, the literary argument about a work of long fiction / drama:
      ~22% of students earned 5+ points
      ~31% earned 4 points
      ~28% earned 3 points
      ~9% earned 2 points
      ~4% earned 1 point
      ~6% earned 0 points
  • AP English Literature and Composition had an Evidence-Based Standard Setting this year that affirmed the standards in place since 2022, standards that were validated by research on the 2022 student cohort’s performance in college, available here: https://research.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/MAR-21701_APEngLit_ResearchBrief_04082025_REV-LC.pdf…. An overview detailing the standard setting process, with specific information about the findings for this year’s students, will be available at around 4 pm ET today at http://allaccess.collegeboard.org
Environmental Science 12.0% 28.0% 29.0% 15.0% 16.0% 69% Jul 01
  • Multiple-Choice Questions
    • Students earned the highest average scores across questions about Energy Resources and Consumption (Unit 6); 44% of students answered all or all but one of these questions right.
    • As in prior years, the first unit of the course, Ecosystems, was most challenging for students, suggesting that further focus and practice on this content would continue to improve scores in this subject.
  • Free-Response Questions - These comments will focus on the Set 1 FRQs, since this was the exam version taken by most students. https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap25-frq-environmental-science-set-1.pdf…
    • The varying difficulty levels of the 10 different points on Q1 make it the best question overall for determining which of the five AP scores each exam will receive; students able to earn 5–6 of these points are generally receiving AP 3s; students able to earn 7–8 of these points are generally receiving AP 4s; and students able to earn 9–10 of these points are generally receiving AP 5s.
    • The most challenging question on this year’s exam was Q2 (the effects of sea surface conditions and the polar jet stream); 1% of students answered all 10 parts of this question right.
    • Students performed best on the math portion of FRQ 3, which comprises 6 of the question’s 10 total points. Point-by-point data indicates scores were strongest for both the setup of mathematical operations and for reporting the correct answer. Given some concerns about students’ ability to enter mathematical operations digitally, the strong performance on the math components of this question suggests that students adapted well to the Bluebook digital testing app.
  • AP Environmental Science had an Evidence-Based Standard Setting this year, utilizing more data from more college professors than ever before to identify the performance levels most fair and appropriate for receiving college credit and placement. An overview detailing this process, with specific information about the findings for this year’s students, will be available at around 4 pm ET today at http://allaccess.collegeboard.org
European History 13.0% 35.0% 24.0% 19.0% 9.0% 72% Jun 17
  • AP European History MCQs: strong performance on Unit 1: Renaissance and Exploration, and Unit 2: Age of Reformation (c. 1450- c. 1648); 39% of students earned all or nearly all points in these areas.
  • The most challenging MCQs for AP European History students were questions on Unit 8: 20th Century Global Conflicts, and Unit 9: Cold War and Contemporary Europe (c. 1914 - Present); 32% of students earned all or nearly all points.
  • The score distribution above includes students who took Set 1 and Set 2 FRQs, but the following commentary focuses primarily on Set 1, since it was taken by the majority of AP European History students. spr.ly/60184uMyo
  • AP European History SAQs: Students excelled on Q1 (women in 20th century Russia), where 21% of students earned all points possible. In contrast, students found Q2 (the Napoleonic Wars) most challenging.
  • AP European History DBQ on the French Revolution's ideals: 83% earned the thesis point, 67% earned the contextualization point; 92% earned 1+ evidence point; 42% earned the outside evidence point, 38% earned the analysis and reasoning point.
  • AP European History LEQs: in Set 1 and Set 2, students found Q3 far more challenging than Q2 and Q4, on which they excelled. spr.ly/60194uMyU
French Language 13.0% 25.0% 35.0% 21.0% 6.0% 73% Jun 26
  • 73% of AP French Language and Culture students earned a 3 or higher—up 2 percent from 2024. Félicitations to students and teachers!
  • 1 in 4 test takers are heritage speakers, consistent with prior years.
  • AP French Language and Culture Multiple Choice Questions: Students scored highest on questions about environmental, political and societal challenges: 38% earned most or all points when reading or listening to French content about such topics.
  • Scores for overall listening skills remain consistent with last year’s substantial increase, real improvement over 2022 and 2023. The most challenging questions were about factors that impact quality of life: 18% of students earned most or all points here.
  • AP French Language and Culture Free Response Questions: Students achieved strong performance across all 4 FRQs this year. The highest-scoring question was Q1 (Interpersonal Email): students earning AP 5s typically earned all 5 points possible on this task. spr.ly/6019453qT
  • Students found Q2 (Argumentative Essay) most difficult, likely because the task demands higher-level critical thinking, source analysis, and precise language control, making it more complex than the other Free Response Questions. Despite the difficulty, 11% earned all 5 points. spr.ly/6019453qT
German Language 19.0% 23.0% 27.0% 19.0% 12.0% 69% Jun 26
  • Consistent with last year, 29% of AP German Language and Culture exam takers are heritage speakers of the language.
  • AP German and Culture Language Multiple Choice Questions: Students performed best on questions from Unit 3: Influences of Beauty and Art, with 22% earning all or most of the available points.
  • The most challenging were questions from Unit 2: The Influence of Language and Culture: 19% of students received all or most points on these questions.
  • AP German and Culture Free Response Questions: Students showed strong performance across all four tasks. Question 3 (Interpersonal Speaking: Conversation) had the highest scores overall: 34% of students earned the full 5 points on this task. spr.ly/601745MHL
  • Question 2 (Presentational Writing: Argumentative Essay) was the most challenging on this year’s exam, likely due to its requirements for structured argumentation and advanced vocabulary. Nonetheless, 25% of students received all 5 points on this task. spr.ly/601745MHL
Government and Politics, Comp. 16.0% 23.0% 34.0% 16.0% 11.0% 73% Jun 17
  • This year’s AP Comparative Government & Politics students demonstrated very similar, solid levels of mastery as last year’s, so the rate of 3+ scores remains ~73%.
  • Students scored highest on MCQs focused on data analysis; 64% of students answered all or all but one right.
  • The most challenging MC topics for AP Comparative Govt students were from Unit 2, on the executive, legislative, and judicial systems of China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the UK.
  • Set 1 FRQs: students scored highest on Q1 (sovereignty / economic policy) and lowest on Q4 (govt protection of civil liberties). spr.ly/60144uz4O
  • Set 2 FRQs: students typically scored highest on Q2 (quant analysis of dominant party systems) and lowest on Q1 (economic globalization), but the differences weren’t large; scores were similar across all four FRQs. spr.ly/60154uz4P
Government and Politics, US 24.0% 25.0% 23.0% 18.0% 10.0% 72% Jun 23
  • Multiple-Choice Questions Students are learning the SCOTUS cases exceptionally well; 42% earned every one of those possible points. Students performed well across all units, but especially “Civil Rights and Civil Liberties” (Unit 3); an impressive 32% answered every such question correctly.
  • “Interactions among Branches of Government” (Unit 2) was most challenging; 5% of students answered each of these questions right. Free-Response Questions spr.ly/60194w2eJ This commentary will focus on the Set 1 questions, the version taken by most students.
  • The mean scores were highest on Q4, the argumentative essay in which students utilized foundational documents like the First Amendment, Federalist No. 10, and/or “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” to develop and support their argument about participatory democracy.
  • Students who earned all 6/6 points possible on their essays are typically receiving AP 5s this year. The SCOTUS question, Q3, on Wickard V. Filburn (1942) and United States v. Lopez (1995) was the single best question on this year’s exam, psychometrically speaking because it contained an effective mix of difficulty across parts A, B, and C for measuring a range of knowledge and skill levels among the hundreds of thousands of students who took this version. Generally, if a student is able to answer all parts of this question well, they’re on track for a 5.
Human Geography 17.0% 25.0% 23.0% 25.0% 10.0% 65% Jul 01
  • Multiple-Choice Questions
    • Students scored exceptionally well on questions about “Agriculture and Rural Land Use Patterns and Processes” (Unit 5). Approximately 25% of students answered every question about these topics right.
    • “Industrial and Economic Development Patterns and Processes” (Unit 7) was the most challenging unit for students; 5% of students earned all possible points among these questions.
  • Free-Response Questions - This commentary will focus on the Set 1 FRQs, since that was the version taken by most students. https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap25-frq-human-geography-set-1.pdf…
    • The highest mean score was on Q2, a population pyramid. 32% of students achieved 6 or 7 of the 7 points possible.
    • The most challenging question was Q3, which focused on agricultural patterns. 10% of students earned 6 or 7 of the 7 points possible.
  • AP Human Geography had an Evidence-Based Standard Setting this year, utilizing more data from more college professors than ever before to identify the performance levels most fair and appropriate for receiving college credit and placement. An overview detailing this process, with specific information about the findings for this year’s students, will be available at around 4 pm ET today at http://allaccess.collegeboard.org
Italian Language and Culture 21.0% 24.0% 28.0% 19.0% 8.0% 73% Jun 27
  • 73% of students scored 3 or higher—the highest since the pandemic years, and 2% higher than in 2024.
  • Complimenti! 24% of test takers are heritage speakers this year.
  • AP Italian Language and Culture Multiple Choice Questions: Students scored highest on questions about how science and technology affect our lives: 37% earned most or all points when reading or listening to Italian content about these topics.
  • The most challenging questions were on factors that impact quality of life: 18% of students earned most or all points here.
  • AP Italian Language and Culture Free Response Questions: The highest-scoring question was Q1 (Interpersonal Email) — an impressive 35% of students earned all 5 points possible. spr.ly/601445Mfa
  • Many students found Q4 (the oral presentation), where they compared an Italian-speaking community to their own or another, the most challenging part of the exam. 13% of students earned all 5 points here. spr.ly/601445Mfa
Japanese Lang. and Culture 40.0% 12.0% 21.0% 8.0% 19.0% 73% Jun 16
  • Total group scores, including heritage speakers ~52% of students who took this year’s AP Japanese Exam were heritage speakers of the language.
  • AP Japanese students generally scored highest on their presentations about the role of sports / recreational activities in Japan; 44% of students earned 5-6 of 6 points possible. All subjects’ AP score distributions for 2025 will be posted here when available: spr.ly/60184PC56
  • FRQs: The most challenging task on this year’s exam was the text chat about famous Japanese places. spr.ly/60164PCeC
  • MCQs: students generally scored higher on questions requiring reading Japanese than listening, and found questions about science/tech less challenging than questions about beauty/art.
  • Overall, a smaller percentage of students demonstrated the higher levels of proficiency in Japanese this year, so the percentage of 5s declined (from 47% last year).
Latin 13.0% 17.0% 29.0% 25.0% 16.0% 59% Jun 23
  • Gratulationes to AP Latin students and teachers — this year marks the highest % of 3+ scores since the pandemic, up 2% from 2024! Pergite ita facere!
  • 2025 AP Latin multiple-choice questions: The Poetry Sight Reading was a standout area, with 31% of students scoring above 80%. The Vergil Syllabus Reading was also a strong point, with 30% of students earning over 80% on that section.
  • In contrast to 2024, when the Caesar Syllabus Reading was a strong area with 14% of students earning perfect scores, it proved more challenging in 2025—21% of students scored 80% or higher, making it the most difficult section this year.
  • Free-response questions: Students did really nice work on Q5 (Short Answer – Caesar); 27% of students earned all of the 8 points possible on this question. spr.ly/60104b67o
  • Q1 (the Vergil translation) proved to be the most challenging question, yet 16% of students still earned 80% or more of the available points — a strong showing on a tough task. spr.ly/60104b67o
Macroeconomics 18.0% 23.0% 25.0% 22.0% 12.0% 66% Jun 17
  • High praise for AP Macroeconomics students/teachers: this year’s students demonstrated significantly stronger mastery of the content than last year’s, so scores increased from 62% earning 3+ in 2024 to 66% this year.
  • MCQs: as is typical, students showed strong mastery of Basic Economic Concepts (unit 1); ~45% of students earned all or most available points on this unit.
  • The most challenging MCQs for students were on the Financial Sector (unit 4) - similar to last year: ~16% of students earned all or most points on this unit. Students found questions requiring the skill of manipulation most challenging: 8% earned all or most such points.
  • The following commentary on the free-response questions will focus on Set 1, since the majority of students received those questions. spr.ly/60114RVrT
    • The “Long FRQ” on the Phillips Curve contained a number of very challenging parts that primarily distinguish AP 5s from AP 4s from AP 3s. In short, AP 5s were typically able to earn 7 or more of these points, AP 4s were able to earn 5-6 points, and AP 3s could earn 2-4 of these points.
    • Students generally scored best on FRQ 3 -- covering Nominal vs. Real GDP. Notably, 29% of students earned 4-5 of the 5 possible points on this question.
Microeconomics 19.0% 24.0% 24.0% 241.0% 12.0% 67% Jun 20
  • AP Microeconomics Multiple-Choice Questions: again this year, students showed they were well-prepared for core analytical applications in microeconomics.
  • ~38% of students earned all or most available points on Unit 1, Basic Economic Concepts and Unit 2, Supply and Demand questions.
  • Students excelled on questions related to Big Idea: Scarcity and Markets, a foundational concept that underpins the course and recurs throughout its units. Approximately 50% of students earned all or most of the available points on these questions.
  • The most challenging Multiple-Choice Questions for AP Microeconomics students were on Unit 5, Factor Markets.
  • As in past years: ~21% of students earned all or most available points on these questions, so a way to boost AP Microeconomics’ strong scores further will be to focus on deeper understanding of these topics.
  • Long Free-Response Questions: the following commentary focuses on Set 1 [http://spr.ly/60144RvbK], administered to the majority of students.
  • Short Free-Response Questions: AP Microeconomics students performed best on Question 3 — focused on a payoff matrix, Nash equilibria, and game theory; 20% of students earned all 5 possible points on this question. spr.ly/60144RvbK
Music Theory 18.0% 18.0% 24.0% 25.0% 15.0% 60% Jun 27
  • Multiple Choice Questions: Consistent with last year’s results, students performed best on foundational topics from Unit 1—including pitch, major scales and key signatures, rhythm, meter, and expressive elements. 82% of students scored more than 50% of the available points on these questions.
  • The most difficult area was Unit 7—Secondary Function. 32% of students earned more than 50% of the available points in this section.
  • AP Music Theory Free Response Questions: Similar to 2024, the highest-performing question was Question 5: Part Writing from Figured Bass, which required traditional 18th-century voice-leading techniques. 29% of students earned most or all of the 25 points. spr.ly/60194gknf
  • The most challenging was Question 2: Melodic Dictation, with 14% of students earning most or all of the 9 available points. spr.ly/60194gknf
Physics 1 - Algebra Based 18.0% 25.0% 23.0% 14.0% 20.0% 66% Jul 01
  • Multiple-Choice Questions Students scored especially well on questions regarding kinematics (Unit 1) – 25% answered each of these questions right – and regarding linear momentum (Unit 4), on which 15% answered every question correctly.
  • By far the most challenging unit for students was Force and Translational Dynamics (Unit 2); 2% answered each of these questions right, so this is a good unit for deeper focus in 2025-26. Free-Response Questions apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap...
  • Students scored best on Q4, the Qualitative Quantitative Translation on the swimmer in fresh and salt water. Students earning AP 4s and 5s are generally able to earn all or all but 1 of the 8 points possible.
  • The most challenging question was Q1, the Mathematical Routines focus on a block-cart system. Students earning AP 5s are typically earning at least 8 points on it, and students earning AP 4s are earning at least 6 points.
  • AP Physics 1 had an Evidence-Based Standard Setting this year, utilizing more data from more college professors than ever before to identify the performance levels most fair and appropriate for receiving college credit and placement.
  • An overview detailing this process, with specific information about the findings for this year’s students, will be available at around 4 pm ET today at allacess.collegeboard.org
Physics 2 - Algebra Based 20.0% 29.0% 23.0% 21.0% 7.0% 72% Jul 01
  • Multiple-Choice Questions Students scored highest on questions related to Modern Physics (Unit 15) – 23% answered all of these questions right – followed by questions related to Geometric Optics (Unit 13) and Thermodynamics (Unit 9).
  • The most challenging questions were about Waves, Sound, and Physical Optics (Unit 14) – 8% of students answered all of these correctly -- followed by Electric Circuits (Unit 11). Free-Response Questions apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap...
  • Students generally earned the most points on Q3, the Experimental Design and Analysis focused on determining the expected time constant of a circuit. Students scoring AP 3s are expected to earn at least 7 of these 10 points.
  • The most challenging question this year was Q1, the Mathematical Routines focus on magnetic fields and forces. Students earning AP 5s were typically able to earn at least 9 of the 10 points possible, while students earning AP 1s were typically unable to earn any of these points.
  • AP Physics 2 had an Evidence-Based Standard Setting this year, utilizing more data from more college professors than ever before to identify the performance levels most fair and appropriate for receiving college credit and placement.
Physics C E&M 23.0% 24.0% 25.0% 19.0% 9.0% 72% Jul 01
  • Multiple-Choice Questions Students generally scored best on questions related to Electric Circuits (Unit 11) and Electric Charges, Fields, and Gauss’s Law (Unit 8). 30% and 26% of students, respectively, answered all or all but one of these questions accurately.
  • The most challenging questions were related to Magnetic Fields and Electromagnetism (Unit 12); 8% of students answered each of these questions right. Free-Response Questions apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap...
  • Students scored exceptionally well on Q3, the Experimental Design and Analysis focused on resistivity of a cylindrical circuit element.
  • Students achieving AP 5s typically earned all 10 of 10 points possible, while students earning AP 4s could typically earn 9, and students earning AP 3s could typically earn 7.
  • The most challenging component of this year’s exam was Q1, the Mathematical Routines focused on a cylindrical capacitor. This question differentiated among AP 3s, 4s ,and 5s, as this content is beyond the capability of students who receive AP 1s.
  • AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism had an Evidence-Based Standard Setting this year, utilizing more data from more college professors than ever before to identify the performance levels most fair and appropriate for receiving college credit and placement.
Physics C Mech. 20.0% 24.0% 28.0% 17.0% 11.0% 72% Jul 01
  • Multiple-Choice Questions AP Physics C:
    • Mechanics students scored exceptionally well on questions about Linear Momentum (Unit 4): 29% answered all such questions right.
    • The MCQs about Force and Translational Dynamics (Unit 2) proved the most difficult; a small percentage of students answered all of these correctly, so this is a good focus area for improving learning and scores in 2025-26.
  • Free-Response Questions https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap25-frq-physics-c-mech.pdf…
    • Students performed very well on Q3, the Experimental Design and Analysis focused on determining an experimental value of gravity; 29% earned all 10 of 10 points possible.
    • By far the most advanced question on this year’s exam was Q4, the Qualitative Quantitative Translation on frictional forces; this question primarily differentiated between AP 4s and AP 5s, with AP 3s typically only earning 1-2 of these very challenging points.
  • AP Physics C: Mechanics had an Evidence-Based Standard Setting this year, utilizing more data from more college professors than ever before to identify the performance levels most fair and appropriate for receiving college credit and placement. An overview detailing this process, with specific information about the findings for this year’s students, will be available at around 4 pm ET today at http://allaccess.collegeboard.org
Precalculus 28.0% 26.0% 27.0% 11.0% 8.0% 81% Jun 24
  • The common-item equating psychometricians use to gauge changes in student mastery year over year found that this year’s students had higher content mastery than last year’s, resulting in an overall increase of ~3% in students scoring a 5, part of an overall 5% increase in scores of 3+.
  • AP Precalculus grew more significantly than any AP subject this year, with ~70,000 more students participating than in 2024. An increased volume in participation and higher content mastery means more students are accessing higher level math and are positioning themselves for future success.
  • In part, these impressive scores reflect the far larger number of instructional hours that precalculus courses typically provide high school students, in contrast to the hours provided such students in college, where this is generally a one-semester class.
  • Many of these excellent students will enter colleges and majors that consider precalculus “advanced math” and will thus allow this AP credit to fulfill their college math requirement for others who attend colleges or enroll in majors that require calculus, it’s great to see this strong preparation for further advanced mathematics. http://spr.ly/60164jSxY
  • AP Precalculus Multiple-Choice Questions: Overall, students performed well across most function types. General Functions (non-analytical) stood out, with 53% of students earning all or most of the available points on these questions..
  • In contrast, Trigonometric and Polar Functions proved most challenging: 20% of students earned all or most of the available points on these questions. This is a good instructional focus next year.
  • AP Precalculus Free-Response Questions: spr.ly/60164jSxY Students performed best on Question 1 (Function Concepts), whereas Question 3 (Modeling a Periodic Context) was the single best question on this year’s exam, psychometrically tudents who can earn 2 points are typically receiving an AP 2, overall, and students earning 5-6 points are typically receiving an AP 5, overall.
  • Question 4 (Symbolic Manipulations) was the most difficult, and served to differentiate the 3s, 4s, and 5s, as starting this question requires an understanding of algebraic manipulation that is beyond the proficiency of students who receive 1s and 2s. Students able to begin this question successfully are generally receiving an AP 3, and those able to earn multiple points on it receive 4s and 5s.
Psychology 15.0% 32.0% 25.0% 19.0% 9.0% 72% Jul 01
  • Multiple-Choice Questions - Students scored quite evenly and well across all topics, especially on “Cognition” (Unit 2); on those questions, 15% answered each of these items right.
  • Free-Response Questions These comments will focus on the questions in Set 1, the exam version taken by most students. apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap...
  • Both of these free-response questions were new question types, focused on something different from what the multiple-choice section measures. The multiple-choice section measures whether students have learned and retained a wide array of foundational concepts, terms, and definitions.
  • The free-response section now measures whether, when provided with psychological research studies, students can derive such understandings for themselves, a highly relevant skill for those who will proceed to major in psychology, and for a wide range of careers.
  • Students scored very well on FRQ 1, the Research Analysis Question, in which they examined research on the effects of misinformation on memory. Here are the results: 23% of students earned each of the 7 points possible. 75% of students accurately identified the research method.
  • 69% of students understood the research variable. 65% of students accurately interpreted the statistics. 86% of students identified one or more ethical guidelines the researchers applied. 78% of students explained the generalizability of the findings.
  • 48% of students earned 2 points for argumentation by explaining how the results supported or refuted the misinformation effect, and 26% of students earned 1 point. FRQ 2, The Evidence-Based Question, measures whether students can evaluate three different psychological research studies and draw upon evidence from those studies to develop and support an argument with psychological evidence. The Set 1 psychological studies focused on whether the presence of others improves performance.
  • 7% of students earned each of the 7 points possible. 94% of students proposed a specific and defensible claim based in psychological science. 86% of students were able to support that claim with evidence from one of the studies.
  • 22% of students were able to explain very effectively the relationship between the evidence and their argument, earning 2 of the 2 reasoning points, while 34% were able to explain this somewhat effectively, earning 1 of the 2 points.
  • AP Psychology teachers will receive on their Instructional Planning Reports a point-by-point breakdown of their students’ performance on these free-response questions, enabling them to identify ways to further support students in learning and demonstrating these skills.
  • AP Psychology had an Evidence-Based Standard Setting this year, utilizing more data from more college professors than ever before to identify the performance levels most fair and appropriate for receiving college credit and placement.
  • An overview detailing this process, with specific information about the findings for this year’s students, will be available at around 4 pm ET today at allacess.collegeboard.org
Research 15.0% 28.0% 46.0% 10.0% 2.0% 89% Jun 20
  • Here’s the percentage of this year’s academic papers that received the various scores on the 10-point scale the faculty use to score these sustained projects: 3%: 10 points 7%: 9 points 13%: 8 points 24%: 7 points 35%: 6 points 10%: 5 points 6%: 4 points 1%: 2 points 1%: 0-1 points
  • Nearly 44,000 students submitted academic papers this year, up from 36,000 last year.
  • Animal training, an interactive moss wall, team collaboration based on birth order -- the topics students chose for their sustained research were wide ranging and frequently very interesting to the faculty who scored the academic papers.
Seminar 10.0% 19.0% 57.0% 12.0% 2.0% 86% Jun 27
  • Of the four AP Seminar tasks scored at the AP Reading, students generally earned highest points on their Individual Research Reports, with especially high marks on accurate source citation and use of a writing style that is appropriate for an academic audience.
  • Approximately 11% of students scored maximum points for the IRR. The most challenging of the four AP Seminar tasks is the Individual Written Argument.
  • Looking at the 7 rows of the scoring guidelines, students earned highest scores for use of effective sentences, precise word choice, and a writing style appropriate for an academic audience (row 7).
  • The most challenging rubric rows were 3 and 4, which award highest points to students whose paper evaluates multiple perspectives (row 3), and who articulate clear reasoning that connects their various claims and evidence into a logical and effective argument (row 4). spr.ly/60114gnSZ
  • AP Seminar students performed well across both of the writing tasks on the final exam. Set 1 students engaged with an analyses of an argument for paid parental leave (Part A), and then wrote their own source-based argument related to the theme of power (Part B).
  • Set 2 students analyzed an argument on energy transmission lines (Part A), and then wrote their own source-based argument related to the theme of work (Part B). In their essays in both sets, ~20% of students earned all or all but one of the points possible. spr.ly/60144gnSj spr.ly/60154gnSd
Spanish Language 22.0% 32.0% 31.0% 12.0% 3.0% 85% Jun 30
  • ¡Buen trabajo AP Spanish Language and Culture students and teachers! The percentage of students scoring 3 or higher increased by 2% compared to 2024, and 1,987 more students earned a top score of 5.
  • Multiple-Choice Questions: Students performed exceptionally well on Unit 5: Factors That Impact Quality of Life; 64% earned most or all of the available points. In contrast to 2024, Unit 3: Influences of Beauty and Art proved the most challenging, with 21% of students earning most or all points.
  • Free-Response Questions: spr.ly/60104cB4r Students demonstrated a strong understanding of concepts and skills across all four free response questions.
  • The highest-scoring question was Q3, a conversation task about organizing a talent show to raise funds for a school; an impressive 47% earned all of the 5 points possible on this task.
  • Question 4, a presentation about the role of public spaces in communities across two settings, was the most challenging task, yet 23% of students earned all 5 possible points.
Spanish Literature 8.0% 23.0% 29.0% 21.0% 9.0% 60% Jun 23
  • ¡Felicidades to AP Spanish Literature and Culture students and teachers! This year marks the highest percentage of scores of 3 or higher since the pandemic — a 4% increase from 2024.
  • Interestingly, that same 4% increase matches the rise in students who had access to advanced-level instruction in this subject since 2024.
  • Spanish Literature and Culture multiple-choice questions: AP Spanish Literature and Culture students performed strongest on unit 4, La Literatura Romántica, Realista y Naturalista — 27% of students scored all or most points on such questions.
  • As in previous years, students found questions focused on critical commentary to be the most challenging. 23% of students got all or most points on these questions.
  • Free-response questions: Students performed exceptionally well on Question 4, which required a comparison of Rubén Darío’s “Lo fatal” and José María Heredia’s “En una tempestad.”
  • An impressive 62% of students earned all 5 points available for the language usage portion of this question. spr.ly/60184byun
  • Students found Question 3—the analysis of a single text, focused on San Manuel Bueno, mártir by Miguel de Unamuno—to be the most challenging. Only 15% of students earned 4 or 5 out of the 5 possible points on this question. spr.ly/60184byun
  • ¡Bravo! Tackling such a rich and complex curriculum takes dedication. Whether you mastered every text or grew through the challenge, your effort reflects a deep engagement with language, culture, and critical thinking. Keep pushing forward—your hard work is something to be proud of.
Statistics 17.0% 21.0% 22.0% 16.0% 24.0% 60% Jun 20
  • Multiple-Choice Questions: Students scored highest on questions about “Collecting Data” (Unit 3), and on questions that required the skill of “Selecting Statistical Methods.” Approximately 55% of students answered all or most of these questions right.
  • The most challenging topics within the MCQs were “Probability, Random Variables, and Probability Distributions” (Unit 4) and “Sampling Distributions” (Unit 5). Approximately 25% of students answered all or most of these questions right. Free-Response Questions: spr.ly/60114TpqJ
  • Students generally scored highest on Question 2, which focused on collecting data (sampling methods to determine crop damage from aphids). 35% of students earned 3-4 points on it.
  • The most challenging FRQ for students was Q5 on probability, t-tests, and confidence intervals. 18% of students earned 3-4 points on it.
United States History 14.0% 36.0% 23.0% 19.0% 8.0% 73% Jun 24
  • Congrats to this year’s cohort of AP US History teachers and students; common item equating shows that this year’s students developed stronger content knowledge and skills than last year’s, raising the percentage of 4s and 5s by 4%.
  • In parallel, APUSH teachers provided 25,000 more students than in 2024 with this opportunity to learn at an advanced level, making AP US History the course with the largest increase in performance and participation of any subject so far this year.
  • Multiple-Choice Questions: AP US History students, as is often the case, developed a strong understanding of Period 2, 1607-1754; 36% of students answered all questions about this historical period accurately.
  • The lowest mean score in the multiple-choice section was on Period 9 questions (1980 to present). 10% of students answered each such question correctly. Short Answer Questions: spr.ly/60104byX6 This commentary will focus on the Set 1 questions, since that was the version taken by most students.
  • The most challenging of all this year’s AP US History free-response questions was the first short answer question, the comparison of secondary sources about early American democracy. 15% of students earned all points possible on it.
  • Students scored highest on the third short answer question, about British North America and the Seven Years’ War. 33% of students earned all points possible here.
  • Document-Based Question: The DBQ on the US economy from 1932 to 1980: 79% of students earned the thesis point; 62% earned the contextualization point; 39% earned 1 evidence point and 47% earned 2 evidence points 47% earned the evidence-beyond-the-documents point; 39% earned the analysis and reasoning: sourcing point, and 15% earned the analysis and reasoning: complex understanding point.
  • Long Essay Questions: Q2: Native American societies’ adaptations from 1500-1754. 10% of students earned all 6 points possible. Q3: Reform movements’ responses to industrialization from 1820-1900. 12% of students earned all 6 points possible.Q4: US foreign policy from 1890-1930. 22% of students earned all 6 points possible.
World History 14.0% 33.0% 17.0% 27.0% 9.0% 64% Jun 30
  • Multiple-Choice Questions: Students performed very well across all 9 units, but two units in particular stood out, those focused on 1750-1900 CE: Unit 5 (Revolutions) and Unit 6 (Consequences of Industrialization). 51% of students earned most or all of the points on these questions.
  • Students scored least well on questions focused on 1450-1750 CE: Unit 3 (Land-Based Empires) and 4 (Transoceanic Interconnections). 41% of students earned most or all of the points on these questions.
  • Free-Response Questions: The following commentary on Free Response Questions (FRQ) focuses on FRQ Set 1, which was the version taken by most AP World History students. http://spr.ly/60104cKB0
  • AP World History students demonstrated strong knowledge and skills on Short Answer #1, where they analyzed the effect of the discovery of the Americas on Africa. 52% of students earned all points possible on this question.
  • The most difficult question on this year’s AP World History Exam was Short Answer #4 , about factors that contributed to the outbreak of revolutions between 1750 CE to 1900 CE; 30% of students achieved all available points on this task.
  • Students showed stronger performance on this year's Document-Based Question than in recent years, and that’s true of the DBQ in Set 2 as well. 
  • In this year's DBQ, students evaluated the impact of new transportation and/or communication technologies on African societies from 1850 CE to 1960 CE:
    80% of students earned the thesis point
    54% earned the contextualization point
    71% earned both evidence from the documents points
    19% earned the evidence beyond the documents point
    29% earned the analysis and reasoning: sourcing point
    17% earned the analysis and reasoning: complexity point
  • The highest scoring Long Essay was Question 2, which prompted students to write about the extent to which Buddhism, Hinduism, and/or Confucianism influenced Asian societies and political systems between 1200 CE and 1450 CE. 30% of students received 5+ of the 6 possible points on this task, a job well done. FRQ Set 2 can be found here: http://spr.ly/60114cKBF