The AP® FRQ Rubric Points Students Miss Most
Across 68,476 AP® free-response answers scored on Fiveable from January 27, 2026 to October 15, 2026, the rubric points students miss most are Sophistication, Complexity and Alternate perspective. The hardest single point is Sophistication on the AP English Literature Prose Analysis Essay, where students earned 5% of the points available.
68,476
AP FRQ responses scored
50
question types in 18 subjects
219
rubric rows with 100+ responses
Data through October 15, 2026. Download the full table as CSV or cite this dataset.
The 10 rubric points students miss most
Ranked by the share of available points students earned, across every subject and question type with at least 100 scored responses.
| # | Rubric point | Question type | Points earned | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sophistication | AP English Literature Prose Analysis Essay | 5% | 930 |
| 2 | Sophistication | AP English Literature Poetry Analysis Essay | 7% | 845 |
| 3 | Sophistication | AP English Language Rhetorical Analysis Essay | 9% | 2,596 |
| 4 | Complexity | AP European History LEQ | 13% | 2,088 |
| 5 | Sophistication | AP English Literature Literary Argument Essay | 13% | 1,447 |
| 6 | Alternate perspective | AP US Government Argument Essay | 16% | 1,907 |
| 7 | Complexity | AP World History: Modern LEQ | 17% | 3,648 |
| 8 | Complexity | AP US History LEQ | 18% | 2,202 |
| 9 | Sophistication | AP English Language Argument Essay | 20% | 2,349 |
| 10 | Sophistication | AP English Language Synthesis Essay | 20% | 1,306 |
How to earn these points
Sophistication: AP English Literature
Build an interpretation that accounts for tension, ambiguity or contradiction in the text, and develop it in every paragraph. A broad theme statement or a stylish final line rarely earns the point on its own.
Practice: AP English Literature Prose Analysis Essay, AP English Literature Poetry Analysis Essay, AP English Literature Literary Argument Essay
Sophistication: AP English Language
Sophistication is judged on the essay as a whole. Explain why the choices or evidence matter in this specific situation, acknowledge a tension or limit in your own position, and keep that thinking going in every paragraph rather than adding it at the end.
Practice: AP English Language Rhetorical Analysis Essay, AP English Language Argument Essay, AP English Language Synthesis Essay
Complexity: AP European History, AP World History: Modern and AP US History
Plan it before you write. Qualify your thesis, weigh more than one cause or perspective, or connect the topic to another period, then keep that thread running through the body paragraphs. One clever closing sentence rarely earns it.
Practice: AP European History LEQ, AP World History: Modern LEQ, AP US History LEQ
Alternate perspective: AP US Government
Name a specific opposing view, then refute, concede or rebut it with reasoning or evidence. A single sentence saying that some people disagree does not earn the point.
Practice: AP US Government Argument Essay
The hardest rubric row in each question type
In most question types, the hardest row asks students to explain, justify or extend rather than identify. Each question type links to practice questions for it.
| Subject | Question type | Hardest rubric row | Points earned | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Biology | Experimental Results FRQ | D: Claims | 48% | 1,472 |
| AP Biology | Graphing FRQ | B: Graph | 41% | 196 |
| AP Biology | Scientific Investigation FRQ | D: Justification | 61% | 542 |
| AP Biology | Conceptual Analysis FRQ | B: Explain | 60% | 524 |
| AP Biology | Model Analysis FRQ | D: Big idea | 55% | 477 |
| AP Biology | Data Analysis FRQ | D: Biology principle | 39% | 259 |
| AP Calculus AB/BC | Calculator FRQ | C: Build | 50% | 213 |
| AP Calculus AB/BC | No-Calculator FRQ | D: Conclude | 41% | 101 |
| AP Chemistry | FRQ 1 Long Answer | F: Prediction | 37% | 311 |
| AP Chemistry | FRQ 3 Long Answer | E: Linked step | 41% | 154 |
| AP Comparative Government | Conceptual Analysis FRQ | C: Explain how | 60% | 954 |
| AP Comparative Government | Quantitative Analysis FRQ | E: Implication | 52% | 388 |
| AP Comparative Government | Comparative Analysis FRQ | C: Explain | 52% | 395 |
| AP Comparative Government | Argument Essay | B: Evidence | 76% | 292 |
| AP Computer Science A | Methods FRQ | B: String methods | 56% | 709 |
| AP Computer Science A | Class Design FRQ | A: The full class | 71% | 293 |
| AP Computer Science A | ArrayList FRQ | A: One method | 70% | 371 |
| AP Computer Science A | 2D Array FRQ | A: One method | 71% | 297 |
| AP Computer Science Principles | Written Response | C: Data and procedural abstraction | 47% | 230 |
| AP English Language | Synthesis Essay | C: Sophistication | 20% | 1,306 |
| AP English Language | Rhetorical Analysis Essay | C: Sophistication | 9% | 2,596 |
| AP English Language | Argument Essay | C: Sophistication | 20% | 2,349 |
| AP English Literature | Poetry Analysis Essay | C: Sophistication | 7% | 845 |
| AP English Literature | Prose Analysis Essay | C: Sophistication | 5% | 930 |
| AP English Literature | Literary Argument Essay | C: Sophistication | 13% | 1,447 |
| AP Environmental Science | Investigation Design FRQ | G: Results | 36% | 397 |
| AP Environmental Science | Data Analysis FRQ | D: Explanation | 54% | 185 |
| AP Environmental Science | Calculation FRQ | G: Calculation | 38% | 156 |
| AP European History | DBQ | D2: Complexity | 22% | 1,448 |
| AP European History | LEQ | D2: Complexity | 13% | 2,088 |
| AP European History | SAQ | C: Explain | 45% | 3,834 |
| AP Human Geography | No-Stimulus FRQ | F: Third explanation | 57% | 3,647 |
| AP Human Geography | One-Stimulus FRQ | F: Third explanation | 54% | 1,565 |
| AP Human Geography | Two-Stimulus FRQ | G: Final explanation | 50% | 1,238 |
| AP Macroeconomics | Long FRQ | F: Extension | 44% | 153 |
| AP Microeconomics | Long FRQ | E: Extension | 46% | 172 |
| AP Microeconomics | Question 2 Short FRQ | C: Three-part analysis | 41% | 116 |
| AP Physics 1 | Mathematical Routines FRQ | B: Claim | 48% | 144 |
| AP Psychology | AAQ | F: Argumentation | 44% | 2,285 |
| AP Psychology | EBQ | C: Second source | 57% | 1,493 |
| AP US Government | Concept Application FRQ | C: Explain | 53% | 2,847 |
| AP US Government | Quantitative Analysis FRQ | D: Principle | 39% | 1,696 |
| AP US Government | SCOTUS Comparison FRQ | C: Connect | 66% | 1,644 |
| AP US Government | Argument Essay | D: Alternate perspective | 16% | 1,907 |
| AP US History | DBQ | D2: Complexity | 23% | 1,945 |
| AP US History | LEQ | D2: Complexity | 18% | 2,202 |
| AP US History | SAQ | C: Explain | 54% | 5,152 |
| AP World History: Modern | DBQ | D2: Complexity | 21% | 3,064 |
| AP World History: Modern | LEQ | D2: Complexity | 17% | 3,648 |
| AP World History: Modern | SAQ | C: Explain | 54% | 7,799 |
Every question type, row by row
The percent of available points students earned on each rubric row, for both sources together and each on its own. A dash means fewer than 100 responses from that source, so no figure is shown. Download every row as CSV.
AP Biology
Interpreting and Evaluating Experimental Results question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Biology concept | 1 | 68% | 68% | — | 1,472 |
| B: Experimental design | 3 | 80% | 80% | — | 1,472 |
| C: Data analysis | 3 | 73% | 73% | — | 1,472 |
| D: Claims | 2 | 48% | 49% | — | 1,472 |
Interpreting and Evaluating Experimental Results with Graphing question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Biology concept | 1 | 63% | 62% | — | 196 |
| B: Graph | 4 | 41% | 40% | — | 196 |
| C: Data analysis | 2 | 71% | 71% | — | 196 |
| D: Claims | 2 | 56% | 56% | — | 196 |
Scientific Investigation question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Biology concept | 1 | 69% | 69% | — | 542 |
| B: Procedure | 1 | 73% | 72% | — | 542 |
| C: Hypothesis | 1 | 78% | 78% | — | 542 |
| D: Justification | 1 | 61% | 61% | — | 542 |
Conceptual Analysis question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Describe | 1 | 73% | 72% | — | 524 |
| B: Explain | 1 | 60% | 61% | — | 524 |
| C: Predict | 1 | 68% | 68% | — | 524 |
| D: Justify | 1 | 63% | 63% | — | 524 |
Analyze Model or Visual Representation question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Describe the model | 1 | 78% | 78% | — | 477 |
| B: Relationships | 1 | 64% | 64% | — | 477 |
| C: Represent | 1 | 84% | 87% | — | 477 |
| D: Big idea | 1 | 55% | 57% | — | 477 |
Analyze Data question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Read the data | 1 | 93% | 94% | — | 259 |
| B: Describe the data | 1 | 83% | 83% | — | 259 |
| C: Evaluate | 1 | 57% | 58% | — | 259 |
| D: Biology principle | 1 | 39% | 40% | — | 259 |
AP Calculus AB/BC
Calculator-Required FRQ
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Set up | 2 | 67% | 67% | — | 213 |
| B: Apply | 2 | 58% | 58% | — | 213 |
| C: Build | 2 | 50% | 50% | — | 213 |
| D: Conclude | 3 | 54% | 54% | — | 213 |
No-Calculator FRQ
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Evaluate | 2 | 69% | 69% | — | 101 |
| B: Apply | 2 | 60% | 59% | — | 101 |
| C: Extend | 2 | 50% | 50% | — | 101 |
| D: Conclude | 3 | 41% | 41% | — | 101 |
AP Chemistry
Long Answer Question (FRQ 1)
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Setup | 2 | 67% | 67% | — | 311 |
| B: Calculation | 2 | 57% | 57% | — | 311 |
| C: Short calculation | 1 | 52% | 52% | — | 311 |
| D: Linked calculation | 2 | 43% | 43% | — | 311 |
| E: Justification | 2 | 48% | 48% | — | 311 |
| F: Prediction | 1 | 37% | 37% | — | 311 |
Long Answer Question (FRQ 3)
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Representation | 2 | 67% | 67% | — | 154 |
| B: Explanation | 2 | 60% | 60% | — | 154 |
| C: Calculation | 2 | 48% | 48% | — | 154 |
| D: Justification | 2 | 47% | 47% | — | 154 |
| E: Linked step | 1 | 41% | 41% | — | 154 |
| F: Conclusion | 1 | 43% | 43% | — | 154 |
AP Comparative Government
Conceptual Analysis question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Describe | 1 | 63% | 62% | — | 954 |
| B: Describe | 1 | 71% | 70% | — | 954 |
| C: Explain how | 1 | 60% | 60% | — | 954 |
| D: Explain why | 1 | 69% | 68% | — | 954 |
Quantitative Analysis question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Identify | 1 | 84% | 86% | 78% | 388 |
| B: Pattern | 1 | 78% | 77% | 79% | 388 |
| C: Concept | 1 | 71% | 69% | 75% | 388 |
| D: Conclusion | 1 | 55% | 59% | 44% | 388 |
| E: Implication | 1 | 52% | 48% | 64% | 388 |
Comparative Analysis question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Define | 1 | 72% | 68% | — | 395 |
| B: Two countries | 2 | 73% | 74% | — | 395 |
| C: Explain | 2 | 52% | 50% | — | 395 |
Argument Essay
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Thesis | 1 | 96% | — | 97% | 292 |
| B: Evidence | 2 | 76% | — | 80% | 292 |
| C: Reasoning | 1 | 81% | — | 87% | 292 |
| D: Alternate perspective | 1 | 76% | — | 80% | 292 |
AP Computer Science A
Methods and Control Structures question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Loops and method calls | 4 | 63% | 63% | — | 709 |
| B: String methods | 3 | 56% | 56% | — | 709 |
Class Design question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: The full class | 7 | 71% | 71% | — | 293 |
Data Analysis with ArrayList question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: One method | 5 | 70% | 70% | — | 371 |
2D Array question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: One method | 6 | 71% | 71% | — | 297 |
AP Computer Science Principles
Written Response 2
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Algorithm development | 1 | 62% | 62% | — | 230 |
| B: Errors and testing | 1 | 55% | 63% | — | 230 |
| C: Data and procedural abstraction | 1 | 47% | 53% | — | 230 |
AP English Language
Synthesis Essay
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Thesis | 1 | 98% | — | 98% | 1,306 |
| B: Evidence and commentary | 4 | 73% | — | 73% | 1,306 |
| C: Sophistication | 1 | 20% | — | 20% | 1,306 |
Rhetorical Analysis Essay
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Thesis | 1 | 92% | 91% | 92% | 2,596 |
| B: Evidence and commentary | 4 | 64% | 59% | 65% | 2,596 |
| C: Sophistication | 1 | 9% | 12% | 8% | 2,596 |
Argument Essay
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Thesis | 1 | 98% | 98% | 98% | 2,349 |
| B: Evidence and commentary | 4 | 67% | 70% | 66% | 2,349 |
| C: Sophistication | 1 | 20% | 25% | 19% | 2,349 |
AP English Literature
Poetry Analysis Essay
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Thesis | 1 | 97% | 89% | 98% | 845 |
| B: Evidence and commentary | 4 | 68% | 61% | 69% | 845 |
| C: Sophistication | 1 | 7% | 10% | 6% | 845 |
Prose Fiction Analysis Essay
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Thesis | 1 | 94% | — | 94% | 930 |
| B: Evidence and commentary | 4 | 62% | — | 62% | 930 |
| C: Sophistication | 1 | 5% | — | 4% | 930 |
Literary Argument Essay
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Thesis | 1 | 94% | — | 94% | 1,447 |
| B: Evidence and commentary | 4 | 71% | — | 70% | 1,447 |
| C: Sophistication | 1 | 13% | — | 12% | 1,447 |
AP Environmental Science
Design an Investigation question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Concept | 1 | 64% | 64% | — | 397 |
| B: Explanation | 1 | 52% | 52% | — | 397 |
| C: Read the data | 1 | 54% | 54% | — | 397 |
| D: Relationship | 1 | 70% | 70% | — | 397 |
| E: Hypothesis | 1 | 50% | 50% | — | 397 |
| F: Investigation | 2 | 63% | 63% | — | 397 |
| G: Results | 2 | 36% | 36% | — | 397 |
| H: Connection | 1 | 48% | 48% | — | 397 |
Analyze and Interpret Quantitative Data question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Read the figure | 1 | 88% | 88% | — | 185 |
| B: Identify | 1 | 77% | 77% | — | 185 |
| C: Key term | 1 | 81% | 81% | — | 185 |
| D: Explanation | 1 | 54% | 54% | — | 185 |
| E: Effect | 1 | 74% | 74% | — | 185 |
| F: Solution | 1 | 77% | 77% | — | 185 |
| G: Related concept | 1 | 55% | 55% | — | 185 |
| H: Justification | 1 | 60% | 60% | — | 185 |
| I: Related problem | 1 | 57% | 57% | — | 185 |
| J: Extension | 1 | 54% | 54% | — | 185 |
Analyze an Environmental Problem Doing Calculations question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Identify | 1 | 67% | 67% | — | 156 |
| B: Describe | 1 | 53% | 53% | — | 156 |
| C: Explain | 1 | 41% | 41% | — | 156 |
| D: Calculation | 2 | 55% | 55% | — | 156 |
| E: Calculation | 2 | 48% | 48% | — | 156 |
| F: Solution | 1 | 54% | 54% | — | 156 |
| G: Calculation | 2 | 38% | 38% | — | 156 |
AP European History
Document-Based Question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Thesis | 1 | 89% | — | 89% | 1,448 |
| B: Contextualization | 1 | 73% | — | 73% | 1,448 |
| C1: Evidence: document content | 1 | 89% | — | 90% | 1,448 |
| C2: Evidence: documents support the argument | 1 | 66% | — | 66% | 1,448 |
| C3: Evidence beyond the documents | 1 | 48% | — | 47% | 1,448 |
| D1: Sourcing | 1 | 40% | — | 39% | 1,448 |
| D2: Complexity | 1 | 22% | — | 21% | 1,448 |
Long Essay Question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Thesis | 1 | 75% | 80% | 74% | 2,088 |
| B: Contextualization | 1 | 59% | 67% | 58% | 2,088 |
| C1: Evidence: specific examples | 1 | 76% | 74% | 77% | 2,088 |
| C2: Evidence: supports the argument | 1 | 64% | 67% | 64% | 2,088 |
| D1: Historical reasoning | 1 | 74% | 80% | 73% | 2,088 |
| D2: Complexity | 1 | 13% | 27% | 10% | 2,088 |
Short Answer Question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Describe | 1 | 72% | 77% | 70% | 3,834 |
| B: Explain | 1 | 57% | 62% | 55% | 3,834 |
| C: Explain | 1 | 45% | 54% | 41% | 3,834 |
AP Human Geography
No-Stimulus FRQ (Question 1)
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Definition | 1 | 66% | 69% | 59% | 3,647 |
| B: Description | 1 | 70% | 72% | 68% | 3,647 |
| C: Second description | 1 | 67% | 69% | 62% | 3,647 |
| D: Explanation | 1 | 59% | 61% | 57% | 3,647 |
| E: Second explanation | 1 | 60% | 60% | 62% | 3,647 |
| F: Third explanation | 1 | 57% | 61% | 51% | 3,647 |
| G: Degree | 1 | 61% | 64% | 56% | 3,647 |
One-Stimulus FRQ (Question 2)
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Identify | 1 | 73% | 78% | 68% | 1,565 |
| B: Description | 1 | 63% | 66% | 61% | 1,565 |
| C: Concept | 1 | 63% | 68% | 58% | 1,565 |
| D: Explanation | 1 | 62% | 61% | 63% | 1,565 |
| E: Second explanation | 1 | 61% | 67% | 57% | 1,565 |
| F: Third explanation | 1 | 54% | 60% | 51% | 1,565 |
| G: Limitation | 1 | 59% | 63% | 56% | 1,565 |
Two-Stimulus FRQ (Question 3)
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Identify | 1 | 60% | 80% | 51% | 1,238 |
| B: Description | 1 | 60% | 60% | 60% | 1,238 |
| C: Comparison | 1 | 63% | 62% | 63% | 1,238 |
| D: Explanation | 1 | 60% | 73% | 54% | 1,238 |
| E: Second explanation | 1 | 56% | 69% | 50% | 1,238 |
| F: Third explanation | 1 | 58% | 71% | 52% | 1,238 |
| G: Final explanation | 1 | 50% | 55% | 47% | 1,238 |
AP Macroeconomics
Long FRQ (Question 1)
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Starting graph | 2 | 52% | 52% | — | 153 |
| B: Next step | 2 | 73% | 73% | — | 153 |
| C: Graph or calculation | 2 | 68% | 68% | — | 153 |
| D: Related market | 2 | 55% | 55% | — | 153 |
| E: Explanation | 1 | 45% | 45% | — | 153 |
| F: Extension | 1 | 44% | 44% | — | 153 |
AP Microeconomics
Long FRQ (Question 1)
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Graph | 4 | 63% | 63% | — | 172 |
| B: Analysis | 1 | 62% | 62% | — | 172 |
| C: A change | 2 | 66% | 66% | — | 172 |
| D: Effect | 1 | 53% | 53% | — | 172 |
| E: Extension | 2 | 46% | 46% | — | 172 |
Short FRQ (Question 2)
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: First result | 1 | 63% | 63% | — | 116 |
| B: Explanation | 1 | 49% | 49% | — | 116 |
| C: Three-part analysis | 3 | 41% | 41% | — | 116 |
AP Physics 1
Mathematical Routines question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Analysis | 7 | 56% | 59% | — | 144 |
| B: Claim | 3 | 48% | 47% | — | 144 |
AP Psychology
Article Analysis Question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Research method | 1 | 63% | 71% | 56% | 2,285 |
| B: Operational definition | 1 | 56% | 68% | 45% | 2,285 |
| C: Statistics | 1 | 47% | 60% | 37% | 2,285 |
| D: Ethics | 1 | 72% | 81% | 66% | 2,285 |
| E: Generalizability | 1 | 64% | 74% | 56% | 2,285 |
| F: Argumentation | 2 | 44% | 47% | 41% | 2,285 |
Evidence-Based Question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Claim | 1 | 79% | 71% | 85% | 1,493 |
| B: First source | 3 | 63% | 68% | 61% | 1,493 |
| C: Second source | 3 | 57% | 59% | 56% | 1,493 |
AP US Government
Concept Application question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Describe | 1 | 57% | 66% | 51% | 2,847 |
| B: Explain | 1 | 59% | 77% | 47% | 2,847 |
| C: Explain | 1 | 53% | 63% | 46% | 2,847 |
Quantitative Analysis question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Identify | 1 | 80% | 89% | 75% | 1,696 |
| B: Pattern | 1 | 81% | 80% | 81% | 1,696 |
| C: Conclusion | 1 | 47% | 62% | 39% | 1,696 |
| D: Principle | 1 | 39% | 46% | 35% | 1,696 |
SCOTUS Comparison question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Identify | 1 | 84% | 89% | 82% | 1,644 |
| B: Compare | 2 | 69% | 75% | 65% | 1,644 |
| C: Connect | 1 | 66% | 69% | 64% | 1,644 |
Argument Essay
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Thesis | 1 | 89% | 92% | 88% | 1,907 |
| B: Evidence | 3 | 65% | 77% | 63% | 1,907 |
| C: Reasoning | 1 | 64% | 66% | 63% | 1,907 |
| D: Alternate perspective | 1 | 16% | 16% | 16% | 1,907 |
AP US History
Document-Based Question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Thesis | 1 | 84% | 83% | 85% | 1,945 |
| B: Contextualization | 1 | 71% | 73% | 70% | 1,945 |
| C1: Evidence: document content | 1 | 86% | 76% | 87% | 1,945 |
| C2: Evidence: documents support the argument | 1 | 70% | 66% | 70% | 1,945 |
| C3: Evidence beyond the documents | 1 | 68% | 74% | 68% | 1,945 |
| D1: Sourcing | 1 | 42% | 47% | 42% | 1,945 |
| D2: Complexity | 1 | 23% | 24% | 23% | 1,945 |
Long Essay Question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Thesis | 1 | 77% | 79% | 77% | 2,202 |
| B: Contextualization | 1 | 66% | 64% | 68% | 2,202 |
| C1: Evidence: specific examples | 1 | 80% | 77% | 81% | 2,202 |
| C2: Evidence: supports the argument | 1 | 73% | 73% | 72% | 2,202 |
| D1: Historical reasoning | 1 | 80% | 80% | 80% | 2,202 |
| D2: Complexity | 1 | 18% | 18% | 18% | 2,202 |
Short Answer Question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Describe | 1 | 74% | 75% | 73% | 5,152 |
| B: Explain | 1 | 61% | 63% | 60% | 5,152 |
| C: Explain | 1 | 54% | 50% | 59% | 5,152 |
AP World History: Modern
Document-Based Question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Thesis | 1 | 84% | 84% | 85% | 3,064 |
| B: Contextualization | 1 | 58% | 77% | 55% | 3,064 |
| C1: Evidence: document content | 1 | 83% | 75% | 84% | 3,064 |
| C2: Evidence: documents support the argument | 1 | 66% | 63% | 66% | 3,064 |
| C3: Evidence beyond the documents | 1 | 32% | 57% | 28% | 3,064 |
| D1: Sourcing | 1 | 26% | 47% | 23% | 3,064 |
| D2: Complexity | 1 | 21% | 25% | 20% | 3,064 |
Long Essay Question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Thesis | 1 | 78% | 82% | 77% | 3,648 |
| B: Contextualization | 1 | 57% | 63% | 54% | 3,648 |
| C1: Evidence: specific examples | 1 | 76% | 74% | 76% | 3,648 |
| C2: Evidence: supports the argument | 1 | 71% | 69% | 72% | 3,648 |
| D1: Historical reasoning | 1 | 80% | 78% | 80% | 3,648 |
| D2: Complexity | 1 | 17% | 16% | 17% | 3,648 |
Short Answer Question
| Rubric row | Points | Earned, all | Student practice | Teacher-approved class sets | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Identify or describe | 1 | 81% | 82% | 78% | 7,799 |
| B: Explain | 1 | 59% | 58% | 63% | 7,799 |
| C: Explain | 1 | 54% | 53% | 54% | 7,799 |
How we counted
- 29,649 student practice answers from about 5,520 students: each student's first scored attempt at a practice question, scored by AI against that question type's AP rubric. These are AI estimates, not official AP scores.
- 38,827 class-set essays that about 1,282 teachers uploaded for grading and approved. These use the approved score, including any rubric point the teacher changed. Some sets were approved all at once rather than one essay at a time.
- Window: the 12 months before October 15, 2026. Practice answers run from January 27, 2026 and class-set essays from February 6, 2026, when Fiveable began keeping scores in this form, so the window covers all of them.
- Each figure is the points students earned on a rubric row divided by the points available on it, summed over responses. History DBQs and LEQs are split to single points so Sourcing and Complexity show separately; every other question type uses the rubric rows on its Fiveable practice page.
- Left out: 2,267 practice answers from staff, test, teacher or deleted accounts; 2,811 answers written inside a teacher's assignment; 2,646 near-blank responses under 100 characters; 278 incomplete scores; 22,455 class-set essays a teacher had not approved; and 11,358 responses from question types without fixed rubric rows (such as AP Statistics), scored on a different rubric layout, or from staff test sets.
- No figure is shown for any cell with fewer than 100 responses.
- Limits: Fiveable users choose to practice here, so they are not a random sample of AP students, and students may pick question types they find harder. AI scores can differ from an AP Reader's. Class-set essays come from teachers who use Fiveable, mostly in history, English and government.
- Only counts are published. No names, accounts, essays or individual scores leave our database.
Cite this
Fiveable (2026). The AP® FRQ Rubric Points Students Miss Most. Data through October 15, 2026. https://fiveable.me/ap-frq-rubric-points-students-miss
Fiveable is not affiliated with College Board. AP® is a registered trademark of College Board. Rubric row names are short labels; the official scoring guidelines are published by College Board.