Introduction
The AP US History (APUSH) exam is scored on a scale of 1 to 5.3 This calculator scales your raw points from each section and adds them to make a composite score out of 130. That composite score then maps to a predicted AP score using the calculator's estimated cutoff lines for each year. This calculator handles all of that math for you.
Just enter your raw scores for the multiple choice, short answer, DBQ, and long essay sections. Pick your exam year, and the tool will show your scaled scores, total composite, and predicted AP score. It also shows a breakdown of how each section contributes to your final result, plus a chart and cutoff table so you can see exactly where you stand.
This APUSH score calculator gives you a clear and fast estimate of your AP score, both while you study and after test day. If you are preparing for other AP exams, our general AP Score Calculator estimates results across different subjects.
How to Use Our APUSH Score Calculator
Enter your raw scores from each part of the AP US History exam below. The calculator will estimate your composite score and predict your final AP score on the 1–5 scale.
Exam Year Curve: Pick the year that matches when you took the test. Each year option uses its own estimated score cutoffs. The default is 2024.
Multiple Choice (MCQ): Enter the number of questions you got right out of 55. Use the slider or type a number. There is no penalty for wrong answers.
SAQ #1: Enter your score from 0 to 3 on the first short answer question. This question is required for all students.
SAQ #2: Enter your score from 0 to 3 on the second short answer question. This question is also required for all students.
SAQ #3: Enter your score from 0 to 3 on the third short answer question. It is required, like the first two.2
Document-Based Question (DBQ): Enter your score from 0 to 7 on the DBQ essay. The AP rubric gives up to 7 points for thesis, contextualization, evidence, and analysis and reasoning.1
Long Essay Question (LEQ): Enter your score from 0 to 6 on the long essay. The AP rubric for the long essay is worth 6 points.1
Calculate Button: Press this button to see your results. The calculator will show your predicted AP score, total composite score out of 130, and a breakdown of each section.
What Is the AP US History (APUSH) Exam?
The AP US History exam is a test given by the College Board each year in May. It covers American history from about 1491 to the present.1 High school students take this exam to show they know college-level US history. If you score well, many colleges will give you credit, which can save you time and money.
How Is the APUSH Exam Scored?
The exam has two main sections. Section I has 55 multiple-choice questions and 3 short-answer questions (SAQs).1 Section II has one document-based question (DBQ) and one long essay question (LEQ).1 Each part is worth a different amount of your total score. Multiple choice counts for 40% of your score, short answers count for 20%, the DBQ counts for 25%, and the long essay counts for 15%.1
This calculator turns your raw scores from each part into scaled scores that match those weights and adds them to make a composite score out of 130 points. The College Board turns its own composite scores into a final AP score from 1 to 5 using cut points set from research.3 Many U.S. colleges grant credit and/or advanced placement for scores of 3 and above.3
What Do AP Scores Mean?
A score of 5 means you are extremely well qualified. A 4 means very well qualified. A 3 means qualified. A 2 means possibly qualified, and a 1 means no recommendation for college credit.4 Many U.S. colleges grant credit or placement for a 3 or higher.3 Some schools require a 4 or 5.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter your raw scores for each part of the exam using the sliders or number boxes above. Pick the exam year curve that matches your test. The calculator will scale your scores, add them up, and show your predicted AP score. Keep in mind that exact cutoffs can shift slightly each year, so these results are estimates.