AP Course Grades vs AP Scores

What are AP course grades?

AP course grades are assigned by high school AP course teachers and they reflect the student’s performance on class participation, homework assignments, and tests.

AP course grades are part of your school GPA. The grading system can vary from school to school and typically is composed of 4 grades – D, C, B, and A. Grades are converted to 4-point GPA (Grade Point average) with Grade A being the highest and equivalent to a 4 on the GPA scale. 

What are AP Scores?

AP scores are provided by the College Board on the AP exam and reflect the student’s performance on the standardized exam that covers the material from the AP course.

AP exam scores are reported on a 5-point scale, with 5 being the highest score. Most colleges and universities give credit to students who earn a 4 or 5 on an AP exam.

What is the difference between AP Course Grades vs AP Scores?

The main difference between AP course grades and AP scores is that grades are a measure of a student’s performance in the AP course over the school year, while scores are a measure of a student’s performance on a single standardized exam at the end of the year.

AP course grades are part of your GPA and provided by the school you are studying in and AP scores are provided by The College Board. 

For that reason, the grades and scores may differ for the same subject. For example, a student might get a B in an AP English Literature course, but then go on to score a 5 on the AP English Literature exam. 

Key Specs	AP Course Grade	AP Score
What is it?	Measure of student’s performance in an AP class over the year. (You may also be graded by semester)	Student’s performance on a single standardized test at the end of the school year.
Who assigns them	School	The College Board
How it is assigned	Class participation, homework completion, performance on tests, and assignments.	Performance on a single standardized AP test in the chosen subject.
How is it measured	To measure a student’s progress and mastery of the material in an AP class.	To assess a student’s knowledge and understanding of the material in a particular AP subject.
What is it used for	To determine a student’s final grade in a class and to calculate their GPA	Used for college admissions, course placement, and to earn college credit

Is it possible to get high AP course grades and poor AP scores and vice versa?

Yes, a student can receive a good grade in the AP course and not score well on the AP exams.

For example, a student may receive an “A” in an AP class by participating in class discussions, completing all of their homework assignments, and doing well on average on the in-class tests.

However, the student may not score a “5” if they do not do well in the end-of-year AP exam.

Summary

AP course grades are part of a student’s GPA, while AP scores are used for college admissions, course placement, and to earn college credit.

It is possible to get high AP course grades and poor AP scores, and vice versa. This is because the two measures assess different things. AP course grades measure a student’s performance in the class throughout the year, while AP scores measure a student’s knowledge and understanding of the material in a particular AP subject.