Since you put so much effort into studying for and taking AP tests, you've likely wondered whether colleges look at AP scores. How is all of your AP prep and effort going to affect your chances of admission to college? In this guide, we'll illuminate the relationship between AP scores and college admission. We'll also discuss how important AP scores are for your application, how colleges consider these scores, and what being an AP Scholar can mean for your admission chances. There are two issues to address when we consider the connection between AP scores and college admission. First, do colleges even look at your AP scores when you apply? Secondly, if they do look, how much do they actually care about your scores? While you don't typically need to send official AP score reports to colleges you're applying to, some schools will have space on their applications for you to self-report your AP scores. And if your scores are on your application, admissions committees will see them. Similarly, if you have any low AP scores you'd prefer admissions committees not see, you don't have to (and shouldn't) report them on your application. But of the AP scores you do report, how much weight do they have in the admissions process? Is it more or less than the weight of these three apples? Looking for help studying for your AP exam? Our one-on-one online AP tutoring services can help you prepare for your AP exams. Get matched with a top tutor who got a high score on the exam you're studying for! As with many college-admissions related questions, the answer to this question is, "It depends." However, as a general rule, your AP exam scores aren't going to be a major make-or-break factor in whether you get into a college or not.
Do Colleges Look at AP Scores?
Do Colleges Look at AP Scores for Admission?
Do Colleges Care About AP Scores?
High AP scores will definitely work in your favor, though they're far from the most important factor (test scores, transcripts, and your personal statement are all much more critical). Particularly high AP scores (i.e., 5s in a variety of subjects) may be helpful for very selective institutions where every bit of edge to differentiate you from other elite students can count.
Similarly, low AP scores (i.e., 1 or 2) can be a red flag to selective institutions. This is especially true if there's a lot of inconsistency between your AP scores and your grades in AP classes. If you have consistently high grades but low test scores, this can indicate to colleges that there's grade inflation at your high school. However, because you're probably going to self-report your AP scores anyway, there's nothing wrong with simply not reporting one or two scores you're not satisfied with.
Another situation in which colleges will look more closely at your AP scores is if you submit AP scores to a test-flexible school. These types of schools give you several options for what kinds of standardized test scores you can submit with your application. You might be able to substitute SAT or ACT scores with scores from AP tests, IB exams, or SAT Subject Tests. If you're sitting on some 5s, this might be an appealing option!
For example, at NYU you can submit three AP exam scores to fulfill the university's standardized testing requirement. The University of Rochester also allows you to use AP exam scores as your primary test scores for admission.
If you're using AP exams as your standardized test scores, you'll most likely need to send in an official AP score report to that school as opposed to just self-reporting. Your official AP score report normally includes all test scores, but you can pay extra to withhold particular scores if you don't want the college to see those.
Like these dancers, you can use flexibility to your advantage!
How Much Do AP Courses Matter for College?
The fact that your AP exam scores aren't a critical factor in college admission does not mean that AP courses are not important. While your actual slate of scores on exams is only of middling importance, AP classes themselves can be very important.
This is because one of the most significant factors in the college admissions process—especially at selective schools—is your transcript. Colleges want to see evidence that you were able to excel in difficult classes in high school, so it's critical that you take a rigorous class schedule, which at many high schools will include AP classes.
If your school prioritizes the IB program or doesn't offer any AP or IB classes, colleges will take this into account. Nonetheless, selective institutions expect you to take the most difficult classes available to you. This also means that it's perfectly fine to take AP classes and not necessarily take the exam for each class.
However, if you do take AP exams, another potential advantage is that you can sometimes earn college credit and/or skip prerequisite courses with your scores. Public schools almost always offer college credit for high scores for at least some exams. Selective private schools are less likely to offer credit for individual exams. Some schools, such as Harvard, even let you bundle AP credits so you can graduate in six to seven semesters and pursue a master's degree your fourth year.
As you can see, many colleges will let you use high AP scores to bypass prerequisites and get to more interesting advanced classes more quickly!
Fly past those prerequisites!
Does It Matter If You're an AP Scholar?
The AP Scholar program gives honorary awards (meaning there's no money involved) to students who meet certain score thresholds on certain numbers of AP exams. There are various award levels associated with particular scores and numbers of exams. For instance, you'd win an AP Scholar award if you got 3+ on three exams and a National AP Scholar award if you got 4+ on eight or more AP exams.
In general, these awards aren't going to make much of a difference in college admissions. The awards themselves really just communicate in shorthand how you did on your AP tests, and colleges will already have access to that information if you report your AP scores to them. In this sense, an AP Scholar award is not giving any new information to the school.
The AP International Diploma program (created for students interested in going to college abroad) is similar. You'll receive the diploma automatically once you meet the requirements. Again, though, since you'll likely be reporting your test scores, the diploma doesn't provide schools with additional information.
It's not the most important diploma you'll receive in your life.
The Bottom Line: Do Colleges Look at AP Scores?
Colleges typically ask students to self-report their AP scores on applications. As a result, they will see any scores you choose to report (and won't see any you choose not to report).
The follow-up question, then, is this: do colleges care about AP scores? Although AP scores are far from the most important part of your application, high scores can act in your favor, whereas a number of low scores can be a red flag. This is especially true at selective schools.
However, taking AP classes themselves (if they are offered at your school) are an important way to demonstrate that you're taking the most rigorous schedule available to you—a quality that's extremely important to selective institutions in the admissions process.
Finally, AP exam scores can sometimes get you college credit or allow you to skip prerequisite classes in college. Not all schools do this, so be sure to check with the colleges you're applying to!
What's Next?
If you need more information on the complete college application process, we've got you covered. We offer expert advice on the college application timeline, how many colleges you should apply to, and how to do college research to find the right schools for you!
Looking to learn more about AP exams? We explain how to prepare for AP exams, what you need to know in order to ace your APs on test day, and whether you should retake an AP test.
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Ellen McCammon
About the Author
Ellen has extensive education mentorship experience and is deeply committed to helping students succeed in all areas of life. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University.
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FAQs
Do AP test scores matter in college admissions? ›
Yes! It's important to remember that AP scores are not only part of the college admissions process; they can also be valuable once you get to college. Policies vary quite widely in terms of which colleges grant credit for which tests.
Will a bad AP scores affect admission? ›You may also take AP exams and never reveal your scores to universities if you're not happy with your results. This means that even a bad AP score can't negatively affect your application. Every year, students get into top universities without any AP scores on their resumes.
Do high AP scores help college admissions? ›High AP scores will definitely work in your favor, though they're far from the most important factor (test scores, transcripts, and your personal statement are all much more critical).
Do colleges care more about grades or AP scores? ›While your score on the AP exam might not be reported, your grade in these classes definitely is, and your GPA is generally a primary factor on your college application. Remember, AP classes are designed to be college level work, so your performance in them is indicative of your ability to perform at the college level.
Can colleges reject you based on AP scores? ›Although AP scores are far from the most important part of your application, high scores can act in your favor, whereas a number of low scores can be a red flag. This is especially true at selective schools.
Do colleges look at low AP scores? ›While your AP scores won't affect your college admission chances, many schools may still request (or even require) that you submit the information once you receive your results.
Should I report low AP scores? ›You don't need to send or self-report anything lower than a 3. Those 3s probably won't hurt you, and your 4s and 5s could help you because some schools do use AP scores to help as they evaluate your application. AP scores can supplement and boost grades and your other test scores that might not be as strong.
Should I withhold a bad AP score? ›AP scores have very, very little impact on college admissions, especially if the exam has nothing to do with your major. If you don't report, they probably won't really notice. They can't assume you failed, as maybe you never took the exam in the first place. They care more about your grade in the class.
What is the lowest AP pass rate? ›Physics 1 has the lowest pass rate of any AP exam (43.3%) along with one of the lowest percentages of students scoring a 5 (just 7.9%). Physics 1 is an algebra-based physics class that explores topics such as Newtonian mechanics, simple circuits, and mechanical waves.
Does getting 5s on AP exams help with college admissions? ›Submitting strong AP scores can also emphasize your academic strengths to a college—for example, a pre-med applicant who submits 4s or 5s in AP Chem and AP Bio is showing that they're prepared for the rigorous science classes their major will require.
Do universities care about AP? ›
Advanced Placement classes show admissions officers that you're ready for college-level work. Admissions counselors consistently tell us that good grades and academic rigor are the most important factors when schools evaluate applications.
What AP score do most colleges accept? ›Colleges are generally looking for a 4 (“well-qualified”) or 5 (“extremely qualified”) on the AP exam, but some may grant credit for a 3 (“qualified”). These scores mean you have proven yourself capable of doing the work in an introductory-level college course.
Do colleges like honors or AP better? ›Colleges like them both. Both honors and AP courses are rigorous courses that most high schools weight more heavily on your transcript. AP courses, however, culminate in the AP Exam. Good AP scores show colleges you are ready to succeed at college-level work and can even earn you college credits.
What happens if I send a bad AP score to college? ›If you opt to send it before taking the test, the college will receive it, but it likely will not be weighed in their decision. According to the College Board, over 75% of admissions officers surveyed said that a poor AP score would have no impact on an application.
Is it better to take an AP test and fail or not take it? ›Basically, nothing happens if you fail an AP exam. Whether you get a passing or failing AP exam grade, you can still go to college. Colleges do not take a look at the AP exam as the only a criterion for accepting or rejecting a student.
Do colleges even care about AP scores? ›Most of the time, it is up to you whether a college will look at your AP exam scores during the admissions process. The vast majority of colleges do not require that you submit your scores at the time of application. If you scored a 4 or 5 on all of your AP exams then by all means self-report.
Do senior AP scores matter? ›Senior APs do count. Colleges look at your senior courses to see that youre still taking challenging courses and your grades in your midyear report.
How many colleges don t accept AP credit? ›Nine schools give students no credit for AP work. These institutions include some of the top schools in the country: Dartmouth University, Brown University, the California Institute of Technology, Williams College, and Amherst College. 2. Restrict the number of AP subject areas that are eligible for course credit.
Can I get into a good university without APS? ›You don't need to take AP courses to get into a good school, but they may help you stand out among peers with similar transcripts when getting into college.
Is it bad to have AP on your transcript? ›Usually, it is a good thing! AP classes show colleges that you challenge yourself by taking the available rigorous classes that your school offers. However, it might be inconvenient and even time-consuming when you are taking these college credit classes and not taking the exam to get actual credit.
Should I cancel my AP score of 1? ›
It is more important for you to get recognition for taking that AP in the first place than it is to earn your target score. If you earned a 2 or a 1, consider withholding your score. These grades indicate that you did not perform at the college level for the subject.
How do I hide my bad AP scores? ›Download and fill out the AP Score Withholding Form.
Fill out the form with your information, including which exam scores you want to withhold and from which recipients, and sign it. Form to request AP Exam score withholding from a score recipient.
The most failed AP exams are Physics 1 (failed by 48.4% of all students), Environmental Science (failed by 46.6% of all students), and Chemistry (failed by 43.9% of all students). For a full chart of the hardest AP exams (those with the lowest passing rate), check out this site.
What is the easiest AP to pass? ›- Physics C: Mechanics. 84.3% 41.6%
- Calculus BC. 81.6% 44.6%
- Spanish Literature. 75.1% 17.6%
- Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. 74.4% 40.4%
- Physics 2. 73.3% 14.0%
- Computer Science Principles. 71.6% 10.9%
- Psychology. 71.3% 22.4%
- Computer Science A. 70.4% 25.6%
1. Physics 1. This class combines physics, scientific inquiry, and algebra. AP Physics 1 is considered one of the hardest AP classes, covering topics like Newtonian mechanics and electrical charge and force.
Can I get into Harvard with 5 APs? ›Harvard does accept AP Credit for classes in which a student earned a 5 on the AP Exam. These credits are accepted under a program called “Advanced Standing.” To qualify, students must earn a 5 on a minimum of 4 AP tests, transferring a total of 32 credits.
Do colleges care about how many AP exams you take? ›Hardworking high school students are eager to make their college applications stand out, and AP classes are one way to impress college admission boards. While it would be easy if there were a set number of AP courses needed to guarantee a spot in a top college, the truth is there is no magic number.
Do Ivy Leagues accept 4s on AP exams? ›In terms of Ivy League and Top 20 schools, even a 4 is a relatively low score to earn on an AP exam. It is routine for Ivy League admissions officers to review applications from students who have scored 5s on multiple AP tests.
Do colleges care more about GPA or AP classes? ›What am I missing about this? In general, colleges will care more about AP course grades before a student is admitted and AP test grades afterwards. Unlike AP test scores, AP course grades are part of a student's high school GPA, which is a significant factor for college admissions.
Do Ivy Leagues care about AP classes? ›Most schools — including most Ivy League schools — award college credits for AP classes (assuming a certain exam score). These early credits offer students a head start in their college experience.
How many AP credits do you need to skip a year of college? ›
If you manage to take 11 AP classes throughout your high school stay, that's enough (33 credits on average) to skip a whole year of college. While that may too much, even a couple of classes can be enough to give you a semester ahead of your peers coming into college.
Do some colleges only accept 5 on AP exams? ›Harvard only accepts AP scores of 5. Below is a list of the amount of credits you'll get for different AP exams.
Do AP classes boost chances of getting into college? ›AP classes can increase your odds of getting into college because most colleges look not just at your GPA, but also at the difficulty of your classes. Taking several AP classes can also help you graduate college earlier because you'll knock out several core classes before you enroll.
Does it look bad if you don't take an AP test? ›AP exams have very little weight in the admissions process - the courses are what matter more (as do your grades). It won't necessarily look bad if you don't take the exam, but you may miss out on college credit if you end up going to a non-Ivy (or equivalent school).
Should I report a 3 on an AP exam? ›You don't need to send or self-report anything lower than a 3. Those 3s probably won't hurt you, and your 4s and 5s could help you because some schools do use AP scores to help as they evaluate your application. AP scores can supplement and boost grades and your other test scores that might not be as strong.
Should I report a 4 on an AP exam to Ivy League? ›In terms of Ivy League and Top 20 schools, even a 4 is a relatively low score to earn on an AP exam. It is routine for Ivy League admissions officers to review applications from students who have scored 5s on multiple AP tests.
Do Ivy Leagues look at AP scores? ›Competitive schools like Ivy League institutions expect students to take mostly AP classes by their senior year (unless they're enrolled in an International Baccalaureate program). High AP test scores are seen as evidence that an applicant works hard and is capable of studying material at a higher level.
How important are AP classes for college admission? ›Advanced Placement classes show admissions officers that you're ready for college-level work. Admissions counselors consistently tell us that good grades and academic rigor are the most important factors when schools evaluate applications. Even over standardized test scores!
Should you withhold AP scores? ›AP scores have very, very little impact on college admissions, especially if the exam has nothing to do with your major. If you don't report, they probably won't really notice. They can't assume you failed, as maybe you never took the exam in the first place. They care more about your grade in the class.
Do colleges care about AP Scholar with Distinction? ›Do colleges care about the AP Scholar Award? In a short answer – yes! An AP Scholar Award shows that you've been successful in completing several college-level classes and suggests that you'll continue to succeed should they admit you to their school.
How do I hide my AP scores? ›
To withhold a score, you must notify the College Board by sending them a Score Withholding Form —filled out correctly with your parent/guardian's signature—and mail or fax it to the address on the form by June 15 of the year in which you took the exam. The fee to withhold an AP score is $10 per score per college.
Should I submit A 3 on an AP exam to Ivy League? ›An AP Score of 3 or 4 will likely not get you any college credit or respect at a top school like Stanford/Ivies/MIT. A score of 5 may not either — top colleges like to think that their courses are more rigorous than APs and thus should not be passed out of, and earning a 5 is simply expected for top admits.
How many kids get AP Scholar? ›Nationwide, only about 10% of students earn the distinction of AP Scholar or higher by the time they graduate (based on historic data provided by the College Board).
Do colleges see senior year AP scores? ›Remember that if you take an AP Exam in your senior year and designate a college to receive your scores, that college will receive your entire score report from all AP Exams you've taken throughout high school unless you have requested score(s) to be withheld or canceled.
Does Harvard accept 4s on AP exams? ›Harvard only accepts AP® scores of 5 for course credit. If you have 4 scores of 5, you can opt to obtain Advanced Standing. You can use AP® credits to opt-out of lower-level classes. Harvard has general academic requirements that all students must take.
Do colleges look at AP or honors? ›Colleges like them both. Both honors and AP courses are rigorous courses that most high schools weight more heavily on your transcript. AP courses, however, culminate in the AP Exam. Good AP scores show colleges you are ready to succeed at college-level work and can even earn you college credits.
How many APs does Harvard want? ›Freshmen who have taken College Board Advanced Placement exams need a total of four full credits to be eligible for Advanced Standing. Credits are earned by scoring 5 on a minimum of four AP tests.