So, for the AP test (any College Board test, actually, including the SAT), 1/4 of a point is deducted for an incorrect answer. However, the composite score is rounded to the nearest whole number.
Perhaps I'm way off on this but...
If you miss one question, there is no deduction. The 1/4 of a point missed would simply round back up. (E.g., 40 points, minus 1/4 of a point is 39.75 points, rounds back up)
If you miss two questions, there is no deduction. Half of a point would round up. (E.g., 40 points, minus 1/2 of a point is 39.5 points, rounds back up)
If you miss three questions, there is a deduction of a full point. 3/4 of a point would round down. (E.g., (40 points, minus 3/4 of a point is 39.25 points, rounds down since the nearest whole number is 39)
If you miss four questions, there is a deduction of a full point. 4 1/4 points is equal to one point
Hence, if you miss two questions, there is no penalty. If you miss three questions, you give yourself a free wrong question, since missing four has the same penalty as missing three.
This information isn't particularly useful because nobody is going into the test to intentionally miss questions, but perhaps it's a comfort to those really nervous? You have to miss three questions to lose a point, and after those three you get three free questions (the 4th question wrong to completely remove the first point, plus the two questions that count on the second point that gets rounded back).
Just a thought, comments appreciated.
Another comforting thought- It isn't how well you do; it's how poorly everyone else does? The scores are set up year to year, right? Doesn't it go by averages?