A score of 3 or higher is considered passing and earns college credit at most institutions, though competitive colleges often expect a 4 or 5. The exam is scored 1-5, with about 50% of test-takers earning a 3 or higher nationally. Your target score depends on your college goals and major—economics, business, and finance programs typically prefer scores of 4 or 5.

Students often struggle with graphical analysis—interpreting and drawing supply/demand curves, consumer surplus, and producer surplus diagrams—since the exam heavily emphasizes visual representation of economic concepts. Additionally, distinguishing between similar concepts (like price ceilings vs. price floors, or perfect competition vs. monopolistic competition) trips up many students. Practice with real-world applications and repeated graph work helps solidify these skills.

The exam has two sections: 60 multiple-choice questions (70 minutes) and 3 free-response questions (50 minutes). For the multiple-choice section, pace yourself at roughly 1 minute per question and skip difficult ones to return to later. On free-response, read all three questions first, tackle the one you're most confident about, and always show your work with labeled graphs and clear reasoning—partial credit is awarded for methodology even if your final answer isn't perfect.

Most students benefit from 3-4 months of consistent preparation, which aligns with the typical school year timeline if you're taking the course. However, the intensity matters more than duration—focused study sessions with practice tests and targeted review of weak areas are more effective than cramming. Taking full-length practice exams in the final month helps you build stamina and identify remaining gaps.

Practice tests serve two critical purposes: they familiarize you with the exam format and question styles, and they reveal exactly which concepts or question types give you trouble. Taking at least 3-4 full-length practice exams under timed conditions helps you build pacing skills and confidence. Reviewing your mistakes carefully—understanding not just the right answer but why your reasoning was flawed—is where real learning happens.

Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who provide personalized 1-on-1 instruction tailored to your specific weak areas, whether that's graphical analysis, understanding elasticity, or mastering market structures. A tutor can work through practice problems with you, explain concepts in different ways until they click, help you develop test-taking strategies, and build your confidence before exam day. For students in Knoxville with access to expert tutors, this personalized approach often accelerates progress faster than studying alone.

Your first session typically focuses on assessment—your tutor will review your current understanding of key concepts, identify which topics are causing confusion, and discuss your goals and timeline. From there, you'll work together to create a customized study plan that prioritizes your biggest challenges, whether that's supply and demand graphs, elasticity calculations, or free-response writing skills. This personalized roadmap ensures every session builds toward your target score.