AP classes are known for their intensity, and the tests students face can often feel just as strenuous as the spring exam. Because of that pressure, many teachers choose to curve students’ test grades for encouragement, while other teachers view grade inflation as artificial and disingenuous. In my opinion, encouragement through grading curves is more encouraging to hardworking students. 

Test curving or the action of boosting scores for graded tests often reflects how the actual AP exams are graded. While it depends on the subject, most AP exams do not require students to get high percentage scores to get a high AP score. For example, AP Latin is said to only need about 70% to score a 5. AP Latin teacher Dr. Gregory explains: “AP exams use psychometric scaling and large data sets that a classroom score alone can’t replicate. In those limited situations, curving makes the translation to AP scoring more accurate and fair.” Many students also express stress from schoolwork, especially pressure to score well on tests in rigorous AP classes. Curving tests encourages a more reasonable workload without unrealistic hours of studying. As junior Leo Chang states about his curved AP Chemistry tests, “Most of the students in AP classes study hard for high scores anyways. Curved tests allow us to get that reward without spending inhumane hours for impossible tests.” Junior Jasper Mackey gives his perspective from a class without test curves: “It’s really crazy that I can study for hours and still get really low grades.” 

However, some students and teachers argue that AP test curves undermine accuracy. If grades are boosted artificially, it makes the distinction between students who truly understand material and those relying on the curve cloudier. 

AP test curving may be impacting the mental health of students. High schoolers are still, at the end of the day, children who need time outside of studying. Curving gives them that time while encouraging them to understand the material, allowing them to get both high grades and to be happy with their daily responsibilities.