AP MACROECONOMICSThe Exam

Exam Overview

The AP Macroeconomics Exam measures students' knowledge of macroeconomics principles and their ability to reason within the discipline.

Encourage your students to visit the AP Macroeconomics student page for exam information and exam practice.

Exam Format

Section I

Multiple Choice — 60 Questions | 1 Hour, 10 Minutes | 66% of Exam Score

• Questions require the use of economics content knowledge and reasoning across the range of course topics.
• Some questions require analysis of different hypothetical situations.

Section II

Free Response — 3 Questions | 1 Hour (includes a 10-minute reading period) | 33% of Exam Score

Question topics will include:

• 1 long free-response question (50% of section score).
• 2 short free-response questions (each worth 25% of section score).
• Questions ask students to analyze unique scenarios using different course concepts.
• Some questions in the free-response section require graphical analysis.

Exam Questions and Scoring Information

For free-response questions from prior exams, along with scoring information, check out the tables below.

Be sure to review the Chief Reader Report. In this invaluable resource, the Chief Reader of the AP Exam compiles feedback from members of the reading leadership to describe how students performed on the FRQs, summarize typical student errors, and address specific concepts and content with which students have struggled the most that year.

You can also watch the 2017 Chief Reader Report Module. In this presentation, the Chief Reader of the 2017 exam, David G. Miller of Mississippi College, gives a brief and helpful walkthrough of the highlights of his 2017 Chief Reader Report.

Exam Resources