🖊 AP Lang Target Calculator
Find out exactly how many multiple choice questions you need to hit your target score.
Set Your Goal
Multiple Choice Target
To guarantee a 5 with 4/6 essays, you need:
26
/ 45 Correct
58% Accuracy Required
Working Backwards: The Math
To reach a specific score on the AP English Language and Composition exam, you need a certain number of composite points (out of 100).
- Score of 5: ~72 points required.
- Score of 4: ~60 points required.
- Score of 3: ~50 points required.
Your 3 essays are weighted at 55% of your total score. If you average a 4 out of 6 on your essays, your total raw essay score is 12 (4+4+4). We multiply this by 3.0556 to get your essay composite score (36.6 points). To reach a 5 (72 points), you subtract your essay points from 72. You are left with ~35.3 points, meaning you need 36 multiple choice questions correct!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this calculator perfectly accurate? +
It uses historical data. The College Board slightly adjusts the curve every year, so you should always aim for a few points higher than the bare minimum just to be safe.
Can I get a 5 if I get a 3 on all my essays? +
If you average a 3 on your essays, your essay composite is about 27.5. To reach a 5 (72 points), you would need about 44.5 multiple choice points. Since there are only 45 questions, you would need a near-perfect score on the multiple choice. It's possible, but extremely difficult!