AP US Government Score Calculator
Enter your multiple-choice and free-response points
Frequently Asked Questions
55 multiple-choice questions make up 50% of the composite score (60 points). 4 free-response questions of different types — Concept Application (3 pts), Quantitative Analysis (4 pts), SCOTUS Comparison (4 pts), and Argument Essay (6 pts) — make up the other 50% (60 points), for a composite total of 120.
A composite around 92 or higher out of 120 typically earns a 5. A 4 usually starts around 75, and a 3 (the most common score) around 60.
1) Concept Application — apply a course concept to a scenario. 2) Quantitative Analysis — interpret a graph, chart, or map. 3) SCOTUS Comparison — compare a required case to a non-required case. 4) Argument Essay — write an evidence-based argument using a required foundational document.
No. College Board does not publish exact current-year cutoffs before scores are released. This calculator uses recent historical data for an estimate.
AP US Government composite score formula
| Section | Questions | Composite weight |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice | 55 questions | 60 points (50%) |
| FRQ 1 — Concept Application | 3 raw pts | 60 points total (50%) |
| FRQ 2 — Quantitative Analysis | 4 raw pts | |
| FRQ 3 — SCOTUS Comparison | 4 raw pts | |
| FRQ 4 — Argument Essay | 6 raw pts | |
| Total composite | — | 120 points |
Approximate AP score cutoffs (recent years)
| AP Score | Composite (out of 120) |
|---|---|
| 5 | 92+ |
| 4 | 75–91 |
| 3 | 60–74 |
| 2 | 45–59 |
| 1 | below 45 |
Example: 38 MCQ correct (out of 55) and 12 FRQ points (out of 17) gives a composite of (38/55)×60 + (12/17)×60 = 41.5 + 42.4 = 83.9 — in the 4 range.