An AP score combines the multiple-choice section with the free-response section into a composite, which is then mapped to the 1-5 scale by a curve set each year to keep standards consistent.
A 3 is 'qualified' and the common credit threshold, though selective colleges often want 4 or 5. The exact raw-to-scaled cutoffs shift annually, so projections model the curve, not a fixed percentage.
Knowing roughly how many points each section contributes lets you target effort — sometimes a few free-response points are the difference between a 3 and a 4.