Working Paper: NBER ID: w21147
Authors: Jonathan Smith; Michael Hurwitz; Christopher Avery
Abstract: We implement a regression discontinuity design using the continuous raw Advanced Placement (AP) exam scores, which are mapped into the observed 1-5 integer scores, for over 4.5 million students. Earning higher AP integer scores positively impacts college completion and subsequent exam taking. Specifically, attaining credit-granting integer scores increases the probability that a student will receive a bachelor’s degree within four years by 1 to 2 percentage points per exam. We also find that receiving a score of 3 over a 2 on junior year AP exams causes students to take between 0.06 and 0.14 more AP exams senior year.
Keywords: Advanced Placement; college outcomes; bachelor's degree completion; regression discontinuity design
JEL Codes: I21; I23; J24
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Higher AP exam scores (I23) | Increased participation in advanced coursework (I24) |
| Higher AP scores (C01) | Shifts in college preferences or application strategies (D29) |
| Achieving a credit-granting score on AP exams (G51) | Probability of obtaining a bachelor's degree within four years (C29) |
| Receiving a score of 3 over a 2 on junior year AP exams (A21) | Number of AP exams taken in senior year (Y40) |