Is AP on a 5.0 scale?
Rather than the traditional 4.0 scale, AP classes are weighted on a 5.0 scale — in an AP class, an A is equivalent to 5.0 instead of 4.0, and a B is equal to 4.0 instead of 3.0. This means students who take AP courses can end up with a GPA higher than 4.0, which can set them apart when applying to colleges.
AP Exams are scored on a 5-point scale.
The final score for each AP Exam is reported on a 5-point scale that offers a recommendation about how qualified you are to receive college credit and placement—but each college makes its own decisions about what scores it will grant credit or placement for.
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.
This is called a 'weighted' GPA, and uses a 5.0, rather than a 4.0 scale. This means you may be awarded up to 5 quality points if you achieve an A in a particularly taxing course. It's possible for your overall GPA to be higher than 4 if calculated using a weighted system.
AP tests are scored on a scale from 1 (low) to 5 (high). Get a 4 or higher, and you may be able to earn college credit without paying college tuition!
Yes, a 60 is considered a passing grade in AP classes. In AP, the average passing rate is 60-70%.
In most cases, a 3 or higher is considered a solid AP score. But you can get an even better idea of how good your AP score is by comparing it to the average score for that test that year. For example, the average score for AP Biology was 2.83 in 2021. Anything higher would be considered above average for that test.
A 50% is considered a 3 or passing. This is when your AP credit is considered in colleges for being qualified, well qualified or extremely well qualified.
AP® Score of 2
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.
No. The lowest score awarded is 1. If you cancel your test before it is scored (a very dumb thing to do) it is just a no score, not a zero.
Is a 4.7 GPA good on a 5.0 scale?
A 5.0 GPA is the highest possible in most high schools. If you got a 4.7 GPA in high school, you might probably do well in college. You're most likely getting As and high Bs in upper-division subjects.
| 4.0 Scale | 4.3 Scale | 5.0 Scale |
|---|---|---|
| 3.75 ~ 3.79 | 4.03 ~ 4.07 | 4.68 ~ 4.72 |
| 3.71 ~ 3.74 | 3.98 ~ 4.02 | 4.62 ~ 4.67 |
| 3.67 ~ 3.70 | 3.93 ~ 3.97 | 4.57 ~ 4.61 |
| 3.62 ~ 3.66 | 3.89 ~ 3.92 | 4.51 ~ 4.56 |
On the weighted scale, a strong GPA could range from a 4.0 to a 5.3 – indicating to colleges that you're taking challenging courses (Advanced Placement, Dual Enrolled, etc.) and keeping up A's and B's. If this worries you, just know that many will accept passing GPAs of 2.0 or above (a C average).
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.
The Department grants one course credit to Advanced Standing students who scored a '5' on either the U.S. or European History AP exams, and two course credits to those who scored a '5' on both exams.
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.
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.
AP Exams and Earning College Credit
Students can score a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Exam, and a 3 is considered passing. Post-secondary institutions that offer college credit for AP Exam scores typically begin offering credit to students with a score of 3 or higher.
AP tests are given a score between 1 and 5. Any grade higher than 3 is considered to be a pass, which is equivalent to around 65% or more.
| AP Exam Score | Recommendation | College Course Grade Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Extremely Qualified | A+, A |
| 4 | Very Well Qualified | A-, B+, B |
| 3 | Qualified | B-, C+, C |
| 2 | Possibly Qualified | No Credit |
What is a 5 equivalent to in AP?
AP Exam scores of 5 are equivalent to grades of A+ and A in the corresponding college course. AP Exam scores of 4 are equivalent to grades of A-, B+, and B in college. AP Exam scores of 3 are equivalent to grades of B-, C+, and C in college. The multiple-choice section is scored by computer.
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.
Getting a 5 takes careful content knowledge, targeted practice and dedicated studying. Only around 14% earn the top score for the AP® Statistics exam. To get a 5, start studying ASAP® and focus on applying concepts to specific situations.
