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You have studied tirelessly for your AP® exam and spent the four hours taking the test. All of that work can be rated and scored based on your performance on the AP® exam. The AP® exams are scored by five numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. With 1 being the lowest score and 5 being the highest score, students can see where they fall.
AP® Score of 1
Since a 1 is the lowest score that you can get on an AP® exam, this is not desirable. Thankfully, not many students leave the exam with a 1 unless complications arise during the test and they need to leave, or they are just trying to take the exam without knowing any of the material. In fact, on the AP® rubric, a 1 is described as “no recommendation”. Because of that, no college in the United States of overseas will accept an AP® score of 1 and give you college credit.
AP® Score of 2
If you were to get a 2, then the College Board has determined that you are “possibly qualified” to pass a college level class of the same subject level. This score is usually not accepted by colleges unless there are extenuating circ*mstances.
A 2 means that you may have studied hard and prepared; however, something may have gone amiss while taking your exam. Perhaps you did not truly understand the material or did not utilize it properly.
AP® Score of 3
An AP® score of 3 is a respectable score. The College Board designates a 3 to be “qualified”. That means that you understood and executed the material to the point that you could pass the college class. While you did not receive the highest grade in the class, you did pass. Because of this, many state colleges will accept a 3. Other colleges that are more selective like Harvard or Yale would not accept a 3.
On AP® exams, a 3 is the most common score and has been designated the average. The reason that you may not have scored higher could be that your essays were not the best, or you may have missed too many multiple choice questions. A great way to figure out how many multiple choice questions you can afford to miss and still get a great score is an AP® test score calculator. This tool will allow you to figure out how well you must do on the exam to get the desired score. If you would like to see this AP® score calculator, then here is the link.
AP® Score of 4
If you receive a 4 on your AP® exam, then you should be proud of yourself. By earning that 4 it means that you worked tirelessly to commit the material to memory and apply that knowledge. For these reasons, an AP® score like a 4 looks great on your application.
If you score a 3 or higher, then more selective colleges will begin to accept your AP® exam scores. The score of 4 is deemed by the College Board as “well qualified”, meaning that you know the material and could do well in the college class. It is projected that you would receive a B in the class if you translate the number into a letter grade.
The score of 4 is accepted in colleges like Penn State, Franklin and Marshall University, and a plethora of others. Earning a 4 on an AP® exam is something to be proud of and many colleges and universities will reward you for your efforts.
AP® Score of 5
An AP® score of 5 is the best that you could have done on the AP® exam. If you earned a 5, then congratulations! Getting a 5 means that you have agonized over this exam, studying and working over all else. Your essays were top notch and even though you may have missed a few multiple choice questions, you still represented that you know the material covered in your AP® course. Every college that accepts AP® credits will give you credit for your degree.
Credits, Credits, Credits
When you are admitted to a college, then you may pick your major initially. If you do not, you don’t need to worry. Even if you are an undeclared major you will still receive credits if you earned them through AP® and your college accepts them.
Once you begin choosing your classes for your first college semester, then you will notice that you will not have to take an introductory class if you already have AP® credit for it. For example, if you score a 5 on the AP® Biology exam, then you will not have to take Biology 100, or its equivalent, in college.
The way that colleges calculate how many credits each AP® score is worth is by looking at the program that you are in. If the college is famous for having a fantastic calculus class that brings forth more information than the AP® Calculus AB or AP® Calculus BC does, then the college may make you take calculus over again. Luckily, colleges have to put their AP® score credit policies online, which can be seen here. Always be sure to check if your AP® scores will be accepted in your college of choice before taking the AP® exam.
Key Takeaway
To put it simply, in order to fully understand your AP® score, then you must fully understand where you want to go to college. If you want to go to a more selective college, then you must get either a 4 or a 5, depending on the college. If you are going to go to a less selective school, then you may be able to get credits with a 3. However, if you do not take where you are going to college into account, then one would say that a 3 or above are great scores. If you received a 1 or a 2, then you may have wanted to study more and more thoroughly understand the material.
Your AP® scores can really help you through your college career, so best of luck and hope for that 3 or above!
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16 thoughts on “Understanding Your AP® Scores: What to Know”
Wow, thank you for creating this. I find this very helpful. I recently scored a 2 on my AP® Computer Science A exam.
Glad you found it helpful!
Thank you for explaining this it really helped me show my parents who had no idea how the grading system worked. I told them a 3/5 was an average score and they freaked out thinking I was going to get a 60% on the exam which is not at all how it works.
Glad it helped!
Got a 3 on my Computer Science Principles even tho I was aiming for at least a 4. It still was worth taking the test because its always to try then to not try. and I also wanted to say that this was a helpful website that acctually broked it down and was simple and easy to understand
Happy we were able to help!
I was under the impression students could challenge the scoring for the 2020 exam. Is there a site where this can be filed? Thank you
Hi Linda, this is an older post of ours so many not reflect the latest year’s testing situation. Please see 3.2.3 on this page for more information on challenging: https://apcoronavirusupdates.collegeboard.org/faqs/indepth-for-educators/after-exams
Hi! I’m planning on applying to various schools in the UK and one of the requirements is a “grade ranging from 444 – 554 in three Advanced placement tests”
I have three AP® exams with scores of 3 and 4, is this high enough? I can’t find any kind of conversion chart for this anywhere and am so confused lolHi, not sure what 444-554 means in terms of the form you may be applying to. I’d assume they are referencing a score of a 4 though. It really depends on the schools you’re applying for. In the US, most scores of 4 are worth something at the majority of US colleges.
Got a 5!
Awesome job!
Do AP® test scores give you a breakdown of each question you answered correctly? Or are you given a score 1-5 only?
Hi Yvette, great question! To our knowledge, your score report will only show your final 1-5 score for each exam.
Thank you so much for this, it was extremely helpful. When you say that extenuating circ*mstances may allow colleges to give you credit for taking the exam, does covid count?
We’re glad you found this article helpful! Each university has its own admissions rules and exceptions, so we’d recommend reaching out directly to the colleges you’re interested in to see how they’re handling AP® scores in light of the Covid pandemic. We wish you luck!
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As an educational expert with a deep understanding of the Advanced Placement (AP®) exam system, I can provide valuable insights into the article you've shared. My expertise in education encompasses the intricacies of AP® exams, their scoring, and the implications of different scores on college admissions.
The article you've provided discusses the scoring system of AP® exams, ranging from 1 to 5, with each score carrying significance for students. Here's a breakdown of the key concepts covered in the article:
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Scoring Levels (1-5):
- AP® Score of 1: Described as the lowest score, it is generally not desirable, and colleges may not accept it for credit.
- AP® Score of 2: Considered "possibly qualified," but often not accepted by colleges unless there are extenuating circ*mstances.
- AP® Score of 3: Designated as "qualified," indicating a pass in the material. Many state colleges accept this score, but more selective institutions may not.
- AP® Score of 4: Considered "well qualified," a commendable achievement that is accepted by various colleges, including some more selective ones.
- AP® Score of 5: The highest score, representing a thorough understanding of the material. Colleges accepting AP® credits generally grant credit for a score of 5.
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Implications for College Credit:
- Scores of 3 or higher are often accepted by colleges for credit.
- The article emphasizes the importance of understanding individual college policies regarding AP® scores and credits.
-
Calculation of Credits:
- Colleges may have different policies for awarding credits based on AP® scores.
- The relevance of AP® scores to specific college programs is highlighted.
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Use of AP® Scores in College:
- AP® scores can exempt students from introductory classes in college.
- The article suggests checking college-specific AP® score credit policies online.
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Selectivity of Colleges:
- The importance of considering the selectivity of the college when aiming for specific AP® scores is discussed.
- Recommendations for scores (4 or 5) for more selective colleges and flexibility for less selective schools are mentioned.
-
Personal Experiences Shared:
- Comments from readers sharing their AP® exam scores and experiences.
- Questions regarding challenging scores, conversion charts for UK applications, and the impact of COVID-19 on AP® score policies.
In summary, the article serves as a comprehensive guide for students understanding their AP® scores, navigating college credit policies, and making informed decisions based on their academic goals and the selectivity of their chosen institutions. If you have any specific questions or if there's a particular aspect you'd like more information on, feel free to ask.
