How test scores are calculated
Raw score to percentage
Your percentage is simply the number of questions you answered correctly divided by the total, multiplied by 100. If you got 42 out of 50, that's 42 ÷ 50 × 100 = 84%.
Curved grading
A curve adds a flat number of points to everyone's percentage. If a teacher curves by 5 points, a raw 79% becomes 84%. Some teachers curve to match a target average — this calculator uses the simpler flat-point curve.
Standard letter grade cutoffs
| Grade | Standard | Strict | Easy |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 90–100% | 93–100% | 85–100% |
| B | 80–89% | 83–92% | 75–84% |
| C | 70–79% | 73–82% | 65–74% |
| D | 60–69% | 63–72% | 55–64% |
| F | <60% | <63% | <55% |
AP scores explained
AP exams use a 1–5 scale set by College Board each year. A score of 3 is generally considered "passing" (qualifying for college credit), while 4 and 5 signal strong mastery. The estimated AP score shown in advanced mode uses general historical thresholds — actual cutoffs shift slightly each exam year.
What's the difference between "questions correct" and "points mode"?
Some tests assign one point per question — in that case both modes give the same result. Points mode is for tests where questions have different point values: a short-answer worth 5 points and an essay worth 20. Enter your total points earned and total points possible for an accurate percentage.
How does the "miss budget" bar work?
The miss budget shows you at a glance how many questions you can get wrong and still keep your current letter grade. Green squares are the questions you can miss without dropping a grade; red squares are the ones you've already missed; gray squares are the ones you still need to answer correctly.
How accurate is the AP score estimate?
The AP estimate is a general approximation based on historical score distributions. College Board adjusts the actual cutoffs each year based on exam difficulty and student performance. Use the estimate to understand roughly where you stand — for example, knowing whether you're closer to a 3 or a 4. Don't treat it as an official prediction.
What does the retake goal calculator do?
Enter a target percentage for your retake and it instantly tells you how many questions you need to answer correctly on a test of the same length. It's a quick sanity check — instead of doing the math yourself, you see directly: "I need to get 40 out of 50 right."