With AP exams starting, families are asking the same question I often heard during my years in the admissions office at Pomona College: do AP scores actually matter? The short answer is yes, but not in the way most families think. Here’s what admissions officers are really looking for in applications, and how to make your AP results work for you.
AP Courses vs. AP Scores: Two Very Different Things
First, let’s distinguish two data points that admissions officers will evaluate: the number and kind of AP courses on a student’s transcript and the number and strength of AP scores reported. Since course rigor is a significant factor in college admissions, AP courses on your transcript matter a lot. By taking courses that are typically the most rigorous available, students can show academic motivation and ambition. Admissions officers will know how many AP courses are offered at your school and will assess how you have taken advantage of these opportunities, particularly in your area(s) of interest. If you are pre-med, for example, but your only AP classes have been Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and English Language, you have not fully demonstrated your passion for STEM subjects.
AP exam scores play an important but supporting role. An AP score on your college applications is evidence that you learned the course material. You are also giving admissions officers a piece of data they can compare to other applicants’ records. At the most selective schools, where applicant pools are deep and filled with academically qualified students, fine differences like more or stronger AP scores can help applicants float to the top. But taking AP classes your senior year, even though those exam scores won’t help you in the admissions process, is still a smart move.
How Many AP Classes Are Enough?
At schools with intense AP cultures, students might take ten AP classes and still not stand out among their peers. So how many AP classes are enough? Like so many questions about college admissions, the answer is: it depends. In this case, it depends on how many AP classes are offered at your high school, and what colleges you are aiming for.
Your application will be read in the context of the overall applicant pool, but also within your school group. This should help bring into focus how many AP classes you need to take to stand out or to be competitive among applicants from your school. If you have a full range of AP courses to choose from, selective colleges will expect to see 6-8 AP classes over four years on your application. Ivy League expectations are in the range of 8-12 AP classes. Keep in mind you should always plan your schedule thoughtfully, enrolling in rigorous classes to challenge but not overwhelm yourself. Taking AP courses in core disciplines like English, history, science, and math will show strong, all-around preparation for college. Focusing your rigor in areas aligned with your college major says you are passionate about your field and hungry to learn more about it.
Should You Take the AP Exam?
If you are taking an AP class, you should register for the exam, and here’s why. With grade inflation making high school transcripts less reliable indicators of academic preparation, AP exam scores of 4 or 5 can validate your grades in related classes. Even for students who are not taking an AP class, but who are taking a rigorous class that aligns with an AP exam, taking the test (after some self-study and practice) and reporting the score can give their applications a boost. On the other hand, if you do not take the exam, admissions officers will assume you didn’t report a score because you scored poorly.
A positive reason to take AP exams is to earn advanced standing or college credits at your future college. The College Board has a helpful AP Credit Policy Search that enables you to find colleges that offer credit or placement for AP scores. This is another reason to take AP exams in your senior year.
Which AP Scores Should You Report — and Which Should You Skip?
Most colleges allow students to self-report AP scores on their applications, which means a low AP score won’t tank your chances at your dream school. While you can confidently report scores of 4 or 5, the decision to report a score of 3 is more nuanced. How many scores you are reporting and where you are applying are key considerations (see FAQs, below). Don’t report scores of 1 (“no recommendation”) or 2 (“possibly qualified”), as they are not considered passing scores. In these cases, it’s better to raise a suspicion in admissions officers’ minds than confirm it with a low score.
What If Your AP Score Is Lower Than Expected?
If you earn less than a 4 on an AP exam, you have options:
- if you are in 9th or 10th grade, you may be able to retake the exam the following spring;
- if your school’s AP scores on a particular exam are unusually low, providing that context can help admissions officers evaluate your performance in a more positive light. Some high schools include AP score information on their profiles, or a counselor could convey it in their letter;
- if there were unusual circumstances that negatively impacted your test score (whether personal or class-related), you can explain in the Challenges and Circumstances of the Common Application. Just be sure you are not making excuses but are providing clear and relevant information, like a serious illness or a significant problem with the course itself.
There are a handful of schools that require applicants to self-report all AP scores for exams taken, including Stanford, Caltech, and UC campuses. (The UCs assure students that AP scores lower than 3 will not adversely affect their chances for admission.)
Knowing which scores to send and which to hold back is part of a bigger admissions strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions About AP Scores and College Admissions
Do I need to send official AP score reports?
Georgetown famously requires official scores for all testing. Always check the score-reporting policies for the schools you are applying to, as they do change year-to-year. Most allow you to self-report scores and send official score reports after you enroll. If you incorrectly self-report a score on your application, be aware that a college may rescind your offer of admission once they confirm the error.
Should I report an AP score of 3?
At selective schools (those admitting less than 50% of applicants), a “passing” score of 3 will not usually help you and could be a negative. One exception is if you are reporting many scores of 4 and 5 and have one 3 in a subject that is not your academic focus. At state schools or less selective schools, check if a 3 earns college credit—if so, you know they value a passing score.
Can AP scores replace SAT / ACT scores or other application requirements?
Sometimes. Yale allows applicants to submit all AP scores in place of required SAT/ACT scores, and NYU accepts 3 AP results (in specific categories) as a testing alternative. Caltech offers the option of substituting relevant AP exam scores of 5 for course requirements for calculus, chemistry, and/or physics.
Do AP scores affect merit scholarships?
Yes, they may be used as factors in awarding merit aid. Check the guidelines for merit scholarships at specific schools to determine this. Additionally, the College Board has established academic distinctions for students to report as an honor or award on their applications: AP Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor, and AP Scholar with Distinction.
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