Economics Micro & Macro (CliffsAP)

The scores from Sections I and II are combined to give a composite score. The composite score is finalized into an AP

grade which is converted to a 5 point scale:

5 – Extremely well qualified

4 – Well qualified

3 – Qualified

2 – Possibly qualified

1 – No recommendation

Receiving Your Grade

AP grades are sent in July to your high school, your home, and any college you have designated. You can obtain your

exam grade by phone in July for a $13 fee by calling toll-free (888) 308- 0013.

Test Day Materials

Be sure to get plenty of rest the night before your test, have a good breakfast that morning, and dress in multiple thin

layers to maximize your comfort on the day of the exam. These practical tips will minimize the impacts of any distrac-

tions and help you focus on test taking strategies. Be sure to take the following items with you for the test:

■ Several number 2 pencils

■ Photo ID

■ Your social security number

■ Your student ID number

■ A black or blue pen for the free-response section

■ A watch to gauge your progress throughout the exam

■ An eraser

Test Taking Strategies

Assuming that all distractions have been dealt with, it’s now time to focus on some test taking strategies.

Simple regurgitation of material will not be of much help when taking this exam. You will not be required to recall histori-

cal data. Rather, this exam demands your ability to apply economic concepts. Memorizing the unemployment rate in 1976

will not be of use to you on this exam; however, being able to analyze the possible causes of unemployment or interest rate

fluctuations is critical. Analyzing and interpreting graphs, applying economic concepts, and critically evaluating possible

answers will all be required when taking this exam.

Multiple-Choice Questions

No matter how tempting it becomes, random guessing can very well hurt your score. With the one-quarter point deduc-

tion for a wrong answer, guessing can take a heavy toll on your final score. The best strategy is to first eliminate obvi-

ously wrong answer choices. This will improve your odds of making an intelligent guess. With each multiple-choice

question having five choices, eliminating answer choices can only improve your odds of getting an answer correct.

Also, make sure you answer the easy multiple-choice questions first. The easy questions are worth just as much as the

difficult ones. The best strategy to take is to answer as many of the easy questions first to maximize your ability to

achieve a higher score. On your first pass through the section, answer all the easy questions and circle all the hard ques-

tions. Remember not to waste valuable time on the harder questions until you have answered all the easier questions.

Introduction

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