Gender Differences in Advanced Placement Exam Performance for Asian Students: A Multiyear Nationwide Analysis

Purpose The purpose of this study was to analyze ethnic (i.e., Asian, White) and gender differences for Asian students in the overall advanced Placement (AP) exam performance from the 2002 through the 2019 school years. Specifically, first, the extent to which differences existed in ethnic (i.e., Asian, White) in the overall AP exams and the top five most frequently taken exams performance. Second, the extent to which differences existed in gender for Asian students in the overall AP exams and the top five most frequently taken AP exams performance. Finally, the trend analyses were conducted to identify the extent to which national trends were present in ethnic and in gender for Asian students in AP exam performance. Method A causal-comparative research design was used to compare the AP exam performance of Asian students and White students and of Asian females and Asian males. Archival data for the 2012 school year through the 2019 school years were downloaded from the College Board website. Pearson chi-square tests were then performed to determine whether statistically significant differences were present in overall AP exam performance as well as in the top five most frequently taken AP exams. Findings Based on the results of the comparisons of the eight years of overall AP exam performance, Asian students had higher overall average AP exam scores than did White students. Moreover, higher percentages of Asian students passed AP exams than White students. Although both Asian students and White students improved their AP exam performance over the eight school years of data that were analyzed, the gap wherein Asian students and White students increased over this time period. Within the Asian student group, Asian males consistently outperformed Asian females. In all analyses, statistically significant differences were present for all comparisons of overall AP exam performance between Asian students and White students and between Asian females and Asian males for each of the eight school years. Higher percentages of Asian students took AP STEM-related exams than did White students.