Our Top Tips for 2021 AP Exam Prep

In 2020, AP Biology students scored 9% 5s, 23% 4s, 37% 3s, 24% 2s, 7% 1s.

2021 Exam Format

In both the digital and paper formats in 2021, the exam consists of a 60 question multiple choice section and then 6 FRQs.

The structure of the FRQs is typically 2 longer questions worth 10 points each, and then 3 shorter questions worth 4 points, and 3 more shorter questions worth 3 points. Overall, the FRQs are worth 50% of the exam score, so FRQs 1 and 2 are worth about 25% of your overall exam score and demand commensurate attention. The longer questions also have more parts, so more opportunities for partial credit even if you don’t know the answer to 1 (a).

College Board provides the rough time allocations they recommend in the FRQ instructions. Be sure to read the instructions, and practice with prior FRQs: “Questions 1 and 2 are long free-response questions that require about 22 minutes each to answer and are worth 10 points each. Questions 3–8 are short free-response questions that require about 6 minutes each to answer. Questions 3–5 are worth 4 points each and questions 6–8 are worth 3 points each.”

In 2020, AP Calculus AB students scored 19% 5s, 20% 4s, 21% 3s, 24% 2s, 16% 1s, and AP Calculus BC students scored 44% 5s, 17% 4s, 19% 3s, 14% 2s, 5% 1s.

2021 Exam Format

The 2021 FRQs will be written to accommodate typed responses. No handwritten work will be allowed on the digital exam. Calculators will be allowed on all parts of the digital exam. Be sure to review the calculator policy.

For both AB and BC, the multiple choice and FRQs each constitute half of the grade. The multiple choice and FRQs are each deliberately broken into two smaller timed sections. The splits are provided to give different sections with and without a calculator on the paper-based exam. FRQ Part A has a 30 min section with 2 questions; FRQ Part B has a 60 min section with 4 questions. Each FRQ is worth 9 points. Here are examples of FRQs for Calculus AB and Calculus BC.

Compass Tutor Tips

“Showing your work helps you earn credit on the FRQs, and each sub-question is graded independently so don’t give up if you don’t know the answer to part (a). For a simple sub-question worth 2 points, sometimes 1 point is getting the answer and 1 point is setting up the integral, so getting the right answer without showing your work and how you set it up is only 50% credit. Even if you don’t know how to solve it, setting it up properly is 50% credit. Partial credit on the FRQs is important, so when you study make sure you also review how the past FRQs were graded.

“Check your UNITS. Check your NEGATIVE SIGNS. Make sure you do NOT round as you go. And make sure you REREAD THE QUESTION.”

–  AP Calculus Tutor

“Spend a minute before you read the first question to ‘brain dump’ anything you’re worried about forgetting. Worried about the unit circle? Jot it down. Worried about dropping negative signs? Leave yourself a note to check. This will help save your energy and prevent second-guessing.”

– AP Calculus Tutor

In 2020, AP Chemistry students scored 10% 5s, 18% 4s, 26% 3s, 24% 2s, 21% 1s.

2021 Exam Format

The 2021 digital exam format will have more multiple choice and fewer FRQs than the paper exam. College Board provides a thorough tip sheet.

Be sure to plan your studying and time allocation based on the format of the exam you will be taking. Here are the sample FRQs from the 2019 exam.

Compass Tutor Tips

“The best way to prepare for the AP Chemistry exam is to make sure that your chemistry knowledge is sound. Work hard in your class, and do practice problems in your spare time. Don’t worry about getting things wrong while you’re studying. That can actually be the best way to learn! Do make sure you understand *why* you’re getting questions wrong: did you forget or misapply a fundamental principle? Did you use the wrong equation or approximation? What are things to look for, to remind yourself of how to address a similar problem, in the future? Make sure you can explain the answer, in your own words, before moving on.

“Regarding the AP Exam, specifically, it’s important to remember that there’s a nice curve, so you don’t have to get everything right! Process of elimination is key on the multiple choice section — if one part of an answer choice is wrong, the whole answer choice is wrong, and you should cross it off and stop thinking about it. On the FRQs, err on the side of over-explaining your thought process. Which fundamental principles are relevant to the question, and how do you apply them to arrive at your answer? The grader is looking for a few specific elements for each question. You won’t be penalized for writing too much, or for introducing unrelated information, but you will be penalized if any of those elements are missing — so be sure to elaborate!”

– AP Chemistry Tutor

“Make sure you can easily approximate [H+] from pH (and vice versa), without using a calculator.

“Be very familiar with titration curves (most prevalent ions, factors determining pH, pKa, equivalence point, etc.)

“Compare your class syllabus to the AP topic list, as early as you can, to make sure you have time to cover topics that your class won’t be covering (this isn’t a super-common issue, but it can happen).”

– AP Chemistry Tutor

In 2020, AP Environmental Science students scored 12% 5s, 28% 4s, 13% 3s, 25% 2s, 22% 1s.

2021 Exam Format

For the 2021 AP Environmental Science exam, the 80 multiple choice questions comprise 60% of the score, and the 3 FRQs comprise 40% of the score. Those 3 FRQs are typically equally weighted (10 points each); be sure to read the instructions carefully on test date. In 2019, there were 4 FRQs, and College Board recommended allocating 22 minutes to each question.

In 2020, AP Macroeconomics students scored 20% 5s, 25% 4s, 18% 3s, 16% 2s, 21% 1s and AP Microeconomics students scored 23% 5s, 29% 4s, 17% 3s, 14% 2s, 18% 1s.

2021 Exam Format

For the 2021 AP Macroeconomics and AP Microeconomics exams, the multiple choice section (60 questions = 60 raw points) is worth 66% of the overall score, whereas the three FRQs (9 points, 6 points, and 5 points = 20 raw points total) are worth 33% of the score. As a result, a single multiple choice question is worth 1.1% of your overall score. A single point on an FRQ is worth 1.65% of your overall score. A great place to start is with the Microeconomics and the Macroeconomics sample FRQs. 

On the 2020 AP Exams:

• AP Physics 1 students scored 9% 5s, 18% 4s, 25% 3s, 26% 2s, 23% 1s.
• AP Physics 2 students scored 14% 5s, 24% 4s, 35% 3s, 22% 2s, 6% 1s.

2021 Exam Formats

The 2021 Physics 1 and 2 digital exams will feature more multiple choice and fewer FRQs than the paper format exams. Please see full details here. Here are past FRQ examples for Physics 1 and Physics 2.

Students taking the digital format should also be sure to practice with the testing platform when it is released to get comfortable with it.

On the 2020 AP Exams:

• AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism students scored 40% 5s, 22% 4s, 12% 3s, 16% 2s, 10% 1s.
• AP Physics C: Mechanics students scored 41% 5s, 26% 4s, 16% 3s, 10% 2s, 8% 1s.

2021 Exam Format

The 2021 Physics C digital exams will only feature multiple choice. There will be no FRQs (unlike the paper format exams). Please see full details here.

For students taking the paper versions, here are practice FRQs for E&M and Mechanics. This is an example of where your studying might change dramatically based on the exam format — doing practice FRQs is a great way to test your integrated knowledge of different topics as you practice, but for the digital version of these exams you should be preparing only for multiple choice questions and it will be very important to get comfortable with the digital testing platform when it is released.

In 2020, AP English Language and Composition students scored 13% 5s, 20% 4s, 29% 3s, 26% 2s, 12% 1s.

2021 Exam Format

The multiple choice section (45 questions = 45 raw points) is worth 45% of the score, whereas the three FRQs (six points each = 18 raw points total) are worth 55% of the score. As a result, a single multiple choice question is worth 1% of your overall score. A single point on an FRQ is worth just over 3% of your overall score. In other words, one more point on an FRQ is three times as valuable as one more point on the multiple choice section. To allocate study time accordingly, first understand exactly how points are awarded on FRQs. A good place to start is with this past year’s FRQs.

Compass Tutor Tips

“While writing style is important for AP Lang and you are encouraged to write in your own voice, this is not a creative writing course. This is an academic writing course; clear and concise sentences will still win the day. Don’t sacrifice a clear and direct thesis in favor of your own variation on the prompt (as brilliant as it may be). Instead, funnel your brilliance through a on-topic thesis that directly responds to the prompt and allow your unique ideas to support your thesis throughout the body paragraphs. A successful thesis formula to follow: “__Answer to prompt__ through _A_, _B_, and _C_.” Create body paragraphs based on A, B, and C in the same order they are listed. After reading hundreds of meandering essays, your test reader will thoroughly appreciate your lucid approach.

“In general, creating a mental toolbox for any AP exam is my absolute recommendation. This requires studying smarter, not harder, by breaking down the course material into section-based vocab card piles and studying them separately instead of all at once.”

– Michael B, Villanova

In 2020, AP English Literature and Composition students scored 9% 5s, 17% 4s, 34% 3s, 28% 2s, 12% 1s.

2021 Exam Format

For the 2021 AP English Literature exam, both the paper and digital formats will feature 55 multiple choice questions (45% of the score), and 3 FRQ essays (55% of the total score; all three FRQs are typically equally weighted, so each essay is worth about 18% of your score). Here are example FRQs — when evaluating your own work, be sure to use the scoring rubrics.

Compass Tutor Tips

“For essay writing, build your memory bank. Half the battle with this test is having enough outside material, especially works of important literature, that can be used at a second’s notice. Create a “one-page” of go-to information, realizing that many books and literary terms can be used interchangeably for multiple essay prompts. Memorize your one-page as though it were your name.

“In your writing, be sure to indent, use exciting nouns and verbs to keep the reader engaged. Writing a grammatically perfect introduction that directly responds to the prompt is also a great way to win the graders over early.”

– Michael B, Villanova

In 2020, AP Human Geography students scored 12% 5s, 22% 4s, 25% 3s, 11% 2s, 31% 1s.

2021 Exam Format

Both the digital and paper formats of the 2021 AP Human Geography exams will feature 60 multiple choice questions (50% of the score) and 3 FRQs (50% of the score). Past FRQs have been mostly evenly weighted, and College Board recommended allocating 25 minutes to each question.

Compass Tutor Tips

“The eye-doctor test: For every multiple-choice question, play the “eye-doctor” test — that is, comparing just 2 options, deciding which is BETTER amongst those two, and eliminating the inferior option. Which is better, A or B? B is better, eliminate A. Which is better, B or C? B is still better, eliminate C. Which is better, B or D? D? Great, circle that and move on. Comparing 2 instead of all four at a time makes it easier to focus on them and makes sure you read all the answers.

“Even if you’re not 100 percent sure about an answer, any elimination you can do helps up your chances of guessing the right answer — so use any information you have. Do you generally know something about the specific area they are talking about (ex. if the question is about Africa, what do you know about Africa generally? If it’s comparing somewhere in Africa to somewhere in the US, what do you think the largest differences are between those two locations?) and eliminate anything that doesn’t fit with your general knowledge.”

– Hilah L, Columbia

In 2020, AP Music Theory students scored 24% 5s, 19% 4s, 25% 3s, 22% 2s, 10% 1s.

2021 Exam Format

The 2021 AP Music Theory exam will not be offered in digital format at home. It will be offered in the traditional in-person paper format for all 3 examination windows. Here are the FRQs from 2019 for the theory questions with audio prompts, and the sight singing questions.

The AP Music Theory score breakdown is 45% of the score from 75 multiple choice questions, 45% of the score from 7 FRQs, and 10% of the score from sight singing.

Compass Tutor Tips

“When writing in figured bass and voice leading, after putting in the bass line as required, don’t get fancy with the other parts! College Board is primarily grading for errors, not flair. There are some points given for creativity, but very few. Start by spreading your parts as evenly as possible across the staffs. Pick a part, and stick as closely as possible to stepwise motion. When writing in your next part, again stick to stepwise motion, but avoiding voice leading errors. Fill in the final part. Finally, check carefully for voice leading errors. 9 times out of 10, this method will produce almost flawless results (if a bit boring).”

– Zach F,  Northwestern University

In 2020, AP Psychology students scored 22% 5s, 25% 4s, 23% 3s, 10% 2s, 19% 1s.

2021 Exam Format

In 2021, both the paper and digital formats will feature 100 multiple choice questions (2/3 of the score) and 2 FRQs (1/3 of the score). On past FRQs, the two questions were equally weighted.

In 2020, AP US History students scored 13% 5s, 19% 4s, 27% 3s, 20% 2s, 21% 1s.

2021 Exam Format

Please see full details here. The 2021 paper based exam includes some options about which FRQs you will do while the digital exam does not. The digital exam does not have a Long Essay Question (LEQ). Here are example FRQs from 2019.

Compass Tutor Tips

“On the multiple choice section, each chunk of source material (quotation, political cartoon, chart, etc.) will have several questions accompanying it. Make sure you read all the questions in a set before starting to answer any of them! Often there will be useful context that you can glean from a later question and use to to your advantage on an earlier question in the same set.

“On the DBQ, after reading the prompt, brainstorming should be your very next step! Take just a minute or two to jot down anything related to the prompt that comes into your head — year, date, important figures, background, related themes and movements, etc. If you look at the documents first, it can be hard to then think of other non-document things later. A quick brainstorm up front will help with the contextualization point as well as the outside information point. The more things you come up with in your brainstorm, the less likely it is that the documents will duplicate all of them.”

– Todd M,  Middlebury

“For multiple choice questions and the DBQ, when in doubt, think macro! For the most part, questions are geared towards testing knowledge of larger themes/events/movements, rather than making certain you’ve memorized every term and fact. So, even if you don’t remember a specific detail or know exactly how to use a specific document in the DBQ, that’s okay! Look for clues to what the ‘big picture’ of the question/prompt might be and try to connect back to that context.

“If you like flashcards, use those. If you like enormous study guide documents, use those. If you like to collaborate with friends on review, do that. Take ownership of your review to make it work for you!”

– AP US History Tutor

In 2020, AP World History – Modern students scored 9% 5s, 23% 4s, 28% 3s, 26% 2s, 14% 1s.

2021 Exam Format

Please see full details here. The 2021 paper based exam includes some options about which FRQs you will do while the digital exam does not. The digital exam does not have a long essay question. Here are example FRQs from 2019.

Compass Tutor Tips

“On the multiple choice section, each chunk of source material (quotation, political cartoon, chart, etc.) will have several questions accompanying it. Make sure you read all the questions before starting to answer any of them! Often there will be useful context that you can glean from a later question and use to to your advantage on an earlier question in the same set.

“On the DBQ, after reading the prompt, brainstorming should be your very next step! Take just a minute or two to jot down anything that comes into your head – year, date, important figures, background, related themes and movements, etc. If you look at the documents first, it can be hard to think of other non-document things later. A quick brainstorm up front will help with the contextualization point as well as the outside information point. The more things you come up with in your brainstorm, the less likely it is that the documents will duplicate all of them.”

– Todd M,  Middlebury