The 2025 AP Chemistry Exam scores: 5: 17%; 4: 29%; 3: 32%; 2: 16%; 1: 6% As a reminder, these data only include the results of the AP Chemistry exam taken on the standard testing date, Tuesday, May 6. Multiple-Choice Questions This year, the mean number of correct MCQs was 36.99, compared to 35.00 last year, and 33.65 in 2023. On the make-up date this year, for which I have the multiple-choice data (but not yet the free-response data), the mean number of correct MCQs was 35.82. Equating data, which looks at each group’s performance on re-used MCQs, also confirms that this year’s group, on average, was stronger than prior years’ groups, demonstrating stronger chemistry content knowledge and skills, so scores increased. Setting aside Atomic Structure and Properties (Unit 1), which a massive 34% of AP Chemistry students aced by answering every such question right, students demonstrated strongest mastery of Thermochemistry (Unit 6); 18% earned every point possible for that unit. By far the most challenging unit for AP Chemistry students was Acids and Bases (Unit 8); 7% of students earned every point possible for this unit, and 6% of students, generally those who are receiving 1s, were unable to answer any question about this unit correctly. So this is a good unit for further focus as next year’s AP Chemistry students and teachers seek to extend AP Chem’s super impressive, multi-year trend of stronger content and skill mastery. Another rave for the AP Chemistry community: they have pulled off this year’s significant increase in student performance while also expanding this very challenging course to 18,000 more students, overtaking AP Economics to be the subject that has provided the most additional students with access to the learning environments of their classrooms. I hear and share concerns of school administrators rushing AP Chemistry teachers by cutting labs or not providing adequate instructional time, so there are certainly exceptions to the positive trend in performance over time, but it’s good to see that in aggregate, performance is improving alongside increased opportunities. Free-Response Questions spr.ly/60164TpAM Question 7, the Glycolate question, is psychometrically pristine, the most statistically “perfect” question I’ve yet seen on this year’s exams, which means that each of the 4 points is significantly different in difficulty from every other point, so that the measurement value of the question is high, working well to differentiate between students who should receive 5s, 4s, and 3s. Students who can answer every part of this question are typically receiving an AP 5 for their overall work on the exam; students who can answer all but one part of the question are generally receiving an AP 4; and students who can answer 1-2 parts of the question are generally receiving AP 3s. Students unable to answer any part of this question correctly are typically receiving AP 1s and 2s. The highest performance on this year’s free-response questions was on Q4, the Methanol and Formaldehyde question. 22% of students earned all 4 points on it. The most challenging of all this year’s AP Chemistry free-response questions was Q6, the Zn and AI Galvanic Cell question, which identified the most advanced students in the course, generally helping to identify which would receive AP 4s and which would receive AP 5s. 5% of students earned all 4 points on it. All subjects’ AP score distributions for 2025 will be posted here when available: spr.ly/60174TpA3

It’s that time of year when AP Readers begin finishing the scoring of AP essays, portfolios, and free-response questions, so as the data roll in, I’ll post that info here. A few reminders follow. I won’t know in advance the day when each subject will reach a critical mass of psychometrically confirmed scores, so I can’t provide a schedule of when I’ll post each subject. Because these score distributions include all students worldwide, individual classrooms will often have score distributions that are either higher or lower than this aggregation. AP Exams aren’t scored on a curve. Rather, as many students as earn the points necessary for college credit receive a score of 3 or higher. Each AP Exam version (e.g. west coast vs east coast; digital vs paper) is separately equated so that regardless of which version you take, you receive a comparable score. More details on exam versions and equating: spr.ly/60144PEdO Student performance on equated questions from year to year enables psychometricians to determine whether this year’s students, overall, demonstrated stronger, weaker, or similar content/skill mastery in relation to prior years’ students. These scores represent a critical mass of scored exams, but faculty will continue to score throughout June. So we don’t upload scores for educators and students to view until July when all subjects are complete. If you’re an AP student, here’s information about how to make sure you’re able to view your AP scores starting July 7. spr.ly/60154PEdP Remember that you have until June 20 to indicate which college should receive your free score send. spr.ly/60164PEdu If you’re an AP educator, here’s information about how to view your students’ AP scores starting July 7: spr.ly/60174PEdR After the remaining exams in each subject are scored between now and the end of June, the score distributions may slightly shift. We seek to serve a wide array of student interests by offering AP courses in 40 subjects. Students should resist pressure to take large numbers of AP classes. Our research finds that taking just 1-2 APs per year optimizes a student’s readiness for college. Take more only if the subject matter truly interests. spr.ly/60184PEdr While we celebrate students who earn scores that qualify them to place out of a college course, AP scores, high or low, are not a verdict on academic potential, intellectual curiosity, or motivation to continue to learn and grow.