Taking Advanced Placement® exams can be your ticket to earning college credit even before you step foot on campus.Many schools will give you college credit for a 3 or higher on a AP exam, but policies may differ. Here’s how to find out if your scores will earn AP credit.
1. Find out which colleges accept AP credit.
A college’s AP credit policy will lay out the minimum score to earn credit for a given exam, the amount of credit awarded, and how credits are applied. At some colleges, AP scores transfer directly to credit hours. At others, your exam scores allow you to “place out” of certain course requirements, even if they do not give you actual college credits. For example, Brown University doesn’t accept AP scores for course credit but will allow students to place into upper-level classes with their scores!
You can use the College Board's AP Credit Policy Search, but be sure to confirm the information with each of your prospective colleges since policies can change.
2. What score do you need for each AP Subject?
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. Of course, colleges often have different score minimums for different subjects. The University of San Diego accepts a 3 in AP Bio but only a 5 in AP U.S. History, for example.
| AP Score Meaning | Equivalent college course grade | Will this score receive AP credit? |
|---|
| 5 | Extremely qualified | A | Usually |
| 4 | Well qualified | A-, B+, B | Usually |
| 3 | Qualified | B-,C+,C | Maybe |
| 2 | Possibly qualified | N/A | Very Rarely |
| 1 | Not qualified | N/A | No |
3. Prep well for your AP exams.
Earning a 4 or 5 on your AP exams means knowing whatAP topics and question types to expect, honing your standardized test-taking strategies, and completing a thorough content review. Some students find that their high school classes are not enough review! Check out ourAP cram courses for a quick refresher and consider add-on hours with an AP tutor so you can meet your score goals.
4. Send AP scores to colleges.
If you want to be considered for credit, you need to send your official AP score report to the colleges you plan to apply to or attend. When you take your exam, you can ask College Board to send your scores to one school for free. Go online to the College Board website to send score reports to additional schools for a fee.
FAQs
Usually, a 70 to 75 percent out of 100 translates to a 5. However, there are some exams that are exceptions to this rule of thumb. The AP Grades that are reported to students, high schools, colleges, and universities in July are on AP's five-point scale: 5: Extremely well qualified.
What AP score do I need to get college credit? ›
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”).
Is a 60 passing in AP classes? ›
Yes, a 60 is considered a passing grade in AP classes. In AP, the average passing rate is 60-70%.
What is a 3 on an AP exam equivalent to? ›
AP Exam scores of 3 are equivalent to grades of B-, C+, and C in college. The multiple-choice section is scored by computer.
Is a 50% a 5 on the AP test? ›
As a general guide, though, you can consider roughly more than 70% correct as being in the 5 range, 50-69% for a score of 4, 40-49% for a score of 3, 30-39% for a 2, and below 30% would likely be a 1. Again, these ranges are approximations and can vary by subject and by year.
Can you get a 0 on an AP exam? ›
To answer your question directly, no, you can't score a literal zero on an AP test; the scores range from 1 to 5. Even if you were to leave the entire test blank, you'd still get a 1. Now, to earn that score of 1, it means the test taker demonstrates no understanding of the material.
What AP scores does Yale accept? ›
Yale University
| Exam Name | Min Score Required This is the lowest qualifying score to earn credit and/or placement | Equivalent course |
|---|
| Sort examTitle ascending | Sort minScore | Sort courseEquivalent |
|---|
| AP Calculus BC | 4 | MATH 115, MATH 116, or MATH 118 |
| AP Calculus BC | 5 | 120 or higher-numbered courses |
| AP Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | -- |
13 more rowsCredit from Advanced Placement (AP) Exams
UCLA awards college credit for AP exams with scores of three or higher.
Does Harvard accept AP credit? ›
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you pick out your classes at Harvard: 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.
Are AP tests curved? ›
In other words, AP scores are not graded on a curve, but instead calculated specifically to reflect consistency in scoring from year to year.
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.
What is the hardest AP class? ›
Okay, Seriously, Which AP Classes Are the Hardest? United States History, Biology, English Literature, Calculus BC, Physics C, and Chemistry are often named as the hardest AP classes and tests. These classes have large curriculums, tough tests, and conceptually difficult material.
Is a 4 on Apush good? ›
A score of 4 on the APUSH exam is indeed considered good. It demonstrates that you have a strong understanding of the material and have performed well on the exam.
What happens if you fail the AP exam but pass the class? ›
Your class grade will not be affected
A poor AP exam score will not affect your class grade. Typically, you receive your AP score far after your semester grades have already been submitted. So, you don't have to worry about failing the course as a result of failing the AP exam.
Is getting a 3 on an AP exam bad? ›
A score of 3 is considered "qualified," which means you have demonstrated a basic understanding of the material. Most colleges and universities accept 3's for credit or placement, but this varies depending on the institution.
Is 70 a passing grade in 5th grade? ›
C - this is a grade that rests right in the middle. C is anywhere between 70% and 79% D - this is still a passing grade, and it's between 59% and 69% F - this is a failing grade.
What is a 70 percent grade in 5th grade? ›
Grade Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|
| 98-100 | A+ |
|---|
| 70-72 | C- |
| 67-69 | D+ |
| 63-66 | D |
9 more rowsMost schools offer one extra grade point for each AP class you enroll in.
| Letter grade | Range | AP |
|---|
| C+ | 77-79 | 3.3 |
| C | 73-76 | 3.0 |
| C- | 70-72 | 2.7 |
| D+ | 67-69 | 2.3 |
9 more rowsNov 28, 2022
This means a range of composite scores for each scaled score. For instance, to get a 5, the student might have earned a composite score of anywhere between 110-150. As scaling varies yearly, no exact cutoff points for the AP test scores have been assigned.
