AP® MICROECONOMICS
2017 SCORING GUIDELINES
Question 1
10 points: 5+1+1+3
(a) 5 points:
One point is earned for drawing a correctly labeled monopoly graph with
a downward-sloping demand (D) curve and a marginal revenue (MR) curve below
the demand curve.
One point is earned for showing the firm’s average total cost (ATC) curve above
the demand curve at QJ with the MC curve rising and passing through the minimum
of the ATC curve.
One point is earned for identifying the firm’s profit-maximizing quantity, QJ, at MC = MR.
One point is earned for identifying the firm’s profit-maximizing price, PJ, on the demand
curve, above QJ.
One point is earned for showing the area representing the deadweight loss shaded
completely.
Note: All quantities and prices should be labeled on the axes and connected to the intersection
points by dashed lines.
(b) 1 point:
One point is earned for stating that total revenue is greater than total variable cost or
that AVC < PJ.
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AP® MICROECONOMICS
2017 SCORING GUIDELINES
Question 1 (continued)
(c) 1 point:
One point is earned for stating that the profit-maximizing quantity will stay the same
because a change in fixed costs does not affect marginal cost.
(d) 3 points:
One point is earned for stating that MR is greater than MC.
One point is earned for stating that the lower price would cause quantity demanded
to increase.
One point is earned for stating that the lower price would cause total revenue to increase,
and for explaining that the decrease in price occurs in the elastic region of the demand curve.
© 2017 The College Board.
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AP® MICROECONOMICS
2017 SCORING GUIDELINES
Question 2
7 points: 1+1+1+1+3
(a) 1 point:
One point is earned for correctly calculating the ATC of producing 6 trumpets as $60 and
for showing the work.
ATC = TC / Q = (FC + VC) / Q = ($240 + $120) / 6 = $360 / 6 = $60
OR ATC = AFC + AVC = ($240 / 6) + ($120 / 6) = $40 + $20 = $60
(b) 1 point:
One point is earned for correctly calculating the marginal cost of the 11th trumpet as $100.
(c) 1 point:
One point is earned for correctly stating that Brody’s profit-maximizing quantity is 9
trumpets, and for explaining how Brody uses marginal analysis. Brody determines quantity by
equating MR to MC OR by choosing the greatest quantity with MR > MC:
At the 9th trumpet: MR > MC ($60 > $55) and at the 10th trumpet: MR < MC ($60 < $70)
OR At the 9th trumpet: MR > MC ($60 > $55) and this is the last trumpet with MR > MC
Note: Using P instead of MR is also acceptable because P = MR for perfectly competitive firms.
(d) 1 point:
One point is earned for correctly calculating Brody’s profit as $80 and for showing the work.
Profit = Total Revenue – Total Cost = ($60 × 9) – ($220 + $240) = $540 – $460 = $80
OR Profit = (P – ATC) × Q = ($60 – $51.11) × 9 = $80
© 2017 The College Board.
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AP® MICROECONOMICS
2017 SCORING GUIDELINES
Question 2 (continued)
(e) 3 points:
One point is earned for drawing a correctly labeled graph for a perfectly competitive firm with
a horizontal demand curve at P = $200.
One point is earned for showing the profit-maximizing quantity, Q*, on the horizontal axis at
MR = MC, connected with a dashed line.
One point is earned for showing the ATC curve above the demand (d) curve at Q* and with
the MC curve cutting the ATC curve at its minimum and for completely shading the area
representing the loss.
Note: All quantities and prices should be labeled on the axes and connected to the intersection
points by dashed lines.
© 2017 The College Board.
Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org.
AP® MICROECONOMICS
2017 SCORING GUIDELINES
Question 3
5 points: 1+1+3
(a) 1 point:
One point is earned for stating that the price elasticity of supply is greater than one and for
explaining that the supply curve is horizontal OR the price elasticity of supply is infinite OR
the supply is perfectly elastic.
(b) 1 point:
One point is earned for correctly calculating the consumer surplus and showing the work as
1/2 × 80 × $4 = $160.
(c) 3 points:
One point is earned for stating that the total revenue will decrease and explaining that the
quantity will decrease OR the percentage change of quantity demanded is greater than the
percentage change in price OR demand is elastic in this price range.
One point is earned for stating that producer surplus will stay the same OR remain zero.
One point is earned for stating that total surplus will decrease and for explaining that the
quantity decreases OR there is now deadweight loss after the tax is imposed OR the
consumer surplus decreases by more than what is transferred to the government and
producer surplus stays the same.
© 2017 The College Board.
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