How to Appeal College Board AP Scores: A Guide to Navigating the Labyrinth
Let’s be honest, you’ve just received your AP scores, and you’re staring at them like they’re a particularly cryptic message from an ancient civilization. You’re convinced your score doesn’t reflect your hard work, your late-night study sessions fueled by copious amounts of caffeine and anxiety, and your deep understanding of the subject matter. You want to scream, “This is wrong! I was so much better than this!” You’re ready to appeal, but the question is, can you actually appeal a College Board AP score?
The short answer, unfortunately, is not really. But before you throw your phone at the wall in a fit of academic rage, let’s delve into the nitty-gritty of the College Board’s scoring process and see what options you actually have.
Firstly, let’s get the bad news out of the way.
You can’t appeal or reorder a multiple-choice score. This means that if you’re convinced you marked the right answer but the machine marked it wrong, sorry, it’s not going to be changed. And to add insult to injury, the free-response section is also not rescored. So, if you thought your brilliant essay on the intricacies of 18th-century French literature was going to earn you a solid 5, you’re out of luck.
Hold on, there’s a tiny sliver of hope.
The College Board offers a multiple-choice rescore service for paper and pencil exams, but it only applies to a select few: AP Chinese and AP Japanese Language and Culture Exams. If you took one of these exams, you can request a rescore for a fee of $30 per exam. The process involves a hand-scoring of your multiple-choice answer sheet, which is then compared to the original score. Fingers crossed, maybe you’ll get a few extra points!
What about the free-response section?
As mentioned earlier, the free-response section is not rescored. However, you can still try to appeal your score, but it’s a bit of a roundabout process.
Here’s the lowdown:
- Your teacher is your champion. The first step is to contact your AP teacher and ask them to review your exam. They can look for any potential scoring errors or inconsistencies. If they believe your score doesn’t accurately reflect your knowledge, they can contact the College Board to request a review.
- The College Board’s decision is final. They will review your exam and may or may not change your score. If they do decide to change your score, you’ll receive an updated score report, and any applicable fees will be refunded.
Important note: The College Board’s decision is final, so don’t expect a miracle.
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: how much does a 70% translate to on an AP exam?
You might be thinking, “If I got a 70% on my exam, that’s a 5, right?” Well, not necessarily. The AP grading system isn’t as straightforward as a simple percentage conversion. While a 70% to 75% usually translates to a 5, there are exceptions. The College Board takes into account various factors when determining the score, including the difficulty of the exam and the overall performance of students taking the exam.
So, what are your options if you’re unhappy with your AP score?
- Request a rescore: If you took the AP Chinese or AP Japanese Language and Culture exams, this is your best bet.
- Contact your teacher: If your teacher believes your score is inaccurate, they can contact the College Board to request a review.
- Cancel your score: This is a drastic measure, but it’s an option if you’re really unhappy with your score and don’t want it to be sent to colleges.
- Focus on your next exam: If you’re not satisfied with your score, you can always retake the exam.
- Don’t sweat it: Colleges won’t rescind admissions offers based on your AP exam performance.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to appeal your AP score is up to you. Weigh the pros and cons, consider your options, and make the decision that’s best for you.
Remember, even if your AP score isn’t perfect, it doesn’t define you as a student. Your hard work and passion for learning are what matter most.
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