2021 AP Exam Administration Sample Student Responses - AP Macroeconomics Free-Response Question 1: Set 2

2021

AP

®

Macroeconomics

Sample Student Responses

and Scoring Commentary

Set 2

Inside:

Free Response Question 1

Scoring Guideline

Student Samples

Scoring Commentary

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AP® Macroeconomics 2021 Scoring Guidelines

Question 1: Long

10 points

(a) Draw a correctly labeled aggregate demand–aggregate supply graph that shows PL

1

and

Y

1

at the intersection of AD and SRAS.

1 point

For the second point, the graph must show a vertical LRAS curve to the left of Y

1

and

label the full employment output Y

F

.

1 point

Total for part (a)

2 points

(b)

On the graph from part (a), show the impact of the government’s action with a

rightward shift of the AD curve and an increase in short-run equilibrium real output

labeled Y

2

.

1 point

AP® Macroeconomics 2021 Scoring Guidelines

(c)

(i)

State that the natural rate of unemployment will not change.

1 point

(ii)

State that nominal interest rates will increase and explain that this is because the

increase in real output will increase the demand for money.

1 point

Total for part (c)

2 points

(d)

State that the central bank should sell bonds.

1 point

(e)

Draw a correctly labeled graph of the money market.

1 point

For the second point, the graph must show a leftward shift in the money supply curve,

resulting in a higher nominal interest rate.

1 point

Total for part (e)

2 points

(f)

State that Smithland’s currency will appreciate and explain that this is because there

will be financial capital inflows as foreign investors seek higher returns in Smithland,

which will increase the demand for Smithland’s currency or decrease the supply of

Smithland’s currency.

1 point

AP® Macroeconomics 2021 Scoring Guidelines

(g)

State that Smithland’s imports will increase and explain that this is because the

appreciation of Smithland’s currency means that foreign goods will be relatively less

expensive.

1 point

Total for question 1

10 points

Q1 Sample A Page 1 of 1

Q1 Sample B Page 1 of 2

Q1 Sample B Page 2 of 2

Q1 Sample C Page 1 of 1

AP

®

Macroeconomics 2021 Scoring Commentary

Question 1

Note: Student samples are quoted verbatim and may contain spelling and grammatical errors.

Overview

The question examined students’ understanding of the aggregate demand/aggregate supply (AD/AS) in an

in

flationary gap in Smithland, and the link to fiscal and monetary policies, the natural rate of unemployment

and the nominal interest rate, and the effect of the policies on the foreign exchange market. Part (a) required

students to identify the short-run aggregate demand, the long-run aggregate supply and the aggregate demand

curves in a graph, show the current equilibrium real output, the price level, and the full-employment output

level. In part (b), students were asked to assume that the government in Smithland cuts individual income

taxes and to show and label the short-run effects on equilibrium real output in the graph in part (a). In part (c),

based solely on the change in real output in part (b), students were asked to indicate what will happen to the

natural rate of unemployment in the short-run and what will happen to the nominal interest rate and to explain

why the nominal interest rate changed. In part (d), students were asked to assume instead that the central bank

intervenes to correct the inflationary output gap and indicate what open-market operation action the central

bank will take. In part (e), students were asked to draw a correctly labelled graph of the money market and

show the effect of the open market operation identified in part (d) on the nominal interest rate. Part (f) required

students to use the effect on interest rate identified in part (e) to show and explain what will happen to the

international value of Smithland’s currency in the foreign exchange market. Finally, in part (g), based solely on

the change in the foreign exchange rate identified in part (f), students were asked to indicate and explain,

whether the hypothetical economy’s imports will increase, decrease, or stay the same.

Sample: 1A

Score: 9

The response earned 1 point in part (a)(i) for drawing a correctly labeled aggregate demand-aggregate

s

upply graph showing Y

1

and PL

1

.

•

• The response earned 1 point in part (a)(i) for correctly showing a vertical LRAS curve to the l eft of Y

1

and labelling the full

employment

output

Y

f

.

• The response earned

1

p

oint in

part

(b)

for

correctly

shifting

AD t

o t

he

right and

showing

an

increase

in real

output

labeled Y

2

.

• The response earned 1 point in part (c)(i) for stating that the natural rate of unemployment is

un

changed.

• The response earned 1 point in part (c)(ii) for stating that nominal interest rates will increase because

o

f the increase in the demand for money that results from the increase in aggregate demand.

• The response earned 1 point in part (d) for stating that the central bank should sell bonds.

• The response earned 1 point in part (e) for drawing a correctly labeled graph of the money market and

e

arned 1 point for correctly shifting money supply to the left and showing an increase in the nominal

interest rate.

• The response did not earn the point in part (f) because the explanation of Smithland’s currency

a

ppreciation does not tie the increase in financial capital inflows to the increase in demand for the

currency.

• The response earned 1 point in part (g) for stating that Smithland’s imports will increase because

f

oreign goods will become relatively cheaper.

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AP

®

Macroeconomics 2021 Scoring Commentary

Question 1 (continued)

Sample: 1B

Score: 5

• The response earned 1 point in part (a)(i) for drawing a correctly labeled aggregate demand-aggregate

s

upply graph showing Y

1

and PL

1

.

• The response earned 1 point in part (a)(i) for correctly showing a vertical LRAS curve to the l eft of Y

1

and, it labels

the full

employment

output

Y

f

.

• The response earned

1

p

oint in

part

(b)

for

correctly

shifting

AD t

o t

he

right and

showing

an

increase

in real

output

labeled Y

2

.

• The response did not earn the point in part (c)(i) for stating that the natural rate of unemployment will

d

ecrease.

• The response did not earn the point in part (c)(ii) for stating that nominal interest rates will decrease.

• The response earned 1 point in part (d) for stating that the central bank should sell bonds.

• The response earned 1 point in part (e) for drawing a correctly labeled graph of the money market and

did not earn the second point for not showing a leftward shift of the money supply.

• The response did not earn the point in part (f) because the explanation of the appreciation is not tied to

c

apital inflows and the demand for the currency.

• The response did not earn the point in part (g) for stating that Smithland’s imports will decrease.

Sample: 1C

Score:

1

• The response did not earn the point in part (a)(i) because of the incorrect labeling of axes.

• Th

e response did not earn the point in part (a)(ii) because LRAS is not to the left of Y

1

.

• The response did not earn the point in part (b) because the increase in real output is not shown on the

g

raph.

• The response did not earn the point in part (c)(i) for stating that the natural rate of unemployment will

i

ncrease.

• The response did not earn the point in part (c)(ii) because the explanation is not tied to an increase in

m

oney demand.

• The response earned 1 point in part (d) for correctly stating that the central bank should sell bonds.

• The response did not earn the 2 points in part (e) because the money market is not correctly drawn.

• The response did not earn the point in part (f) because the explanation of the appreciation is not tied to

capital inflows and to the demand for the currency.

• The response did not earn the point in part (g) because the explanation does not refer to foreign goods

b

eing relatively less expensive.

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