Things To Know About AP Scores!

The AP scores are graded on a scale of 1 to 5. Many colleges in the United States give credit and/or advanced placement (which means you can skip the equivalent course once you get to college) for a total score of 3 and above. 

Students in high school take AP exams and classes to get an early start on college-level material and earn academic credit for general education courses. 

They may obtain college credit for a subject if they pass an AP exam (in addition to high school credit).

When do AP scores come out?

AP scores are available in July. You can access them online by logging in to your My AP account via the College Board website.

• Step 1: Click here to go directly to the My AP account.
• Step 2: Now, log in to your account by entering your registered email id and password.
• Step 3: You should be able to see your AP scores on your dashboard after logging in.

AP scores grading system

The table below shows the recommendation that each AP score provides regarding your eligibility for college credit and placement if you achieve that score. 

It also displays the corresponding college course grade for each score.

AP Exam Score	Recommendation	College Course Grade Equivalent
5	Extremely well qualified	A+ or A
4	Very well qualified	A-, B+, or B
3	Qualified	B-, C+, or C
2	Possibly qualified	—
1	No recommendation	—

What is a good AP score?

Typically good colleges need a minimum of 3 scores, but some demand four or even five. High AP scores can sometimes increase your chances of being admitted to college, so strive for the highest possible score. You can do this by studying the material and working hard to prepare to accomplish this by studying the material and working hard in preparation for your AP exams.

When preparing for AP exams, prepare a study plan make a study plan, and begin preparing early. The more time you spend studying, the better you’ll perform on test day. Use AP practice tests to help you familiarize yourself with the timing.

Students who score 1 or 2 scores on the AP Exam

These students mostly obtain a higher score on the next AP Exams they take. These students are more likely to attend college and graduate on time than students who don’t take AP.

Students who score a 2 on an AP Exam fare much better in introductory college courses. Over 90% of college freshmen who received a 2 reported that they were doing well or very well in similar college courses.

AP score distribution

2022 score distributions: AP Capstone

Exam	5	4	3	2	1
AP Research	12.6%	25.8%	44.3%	13.3%	4.0%
AP Seminar	11.6%	19.2%	51.8%	11.8%	5.6%

2022 score distributions: Arts

Exam	5	4	3	2	1
AP 2-D Art and Design	10.8%	35.5%	40.3%	12.8%	0.5%
AP 3-D Art and Design	6.4%	28.6%	38.5%	23.8%	2.6%
AP Art History	14.1%	21.0%	26.3%	26.9%	11.6%
AP Drawing	14.6%	38.1%	35.6%	10.3%	1.4%
AP Music Theory	18.7%	17.7%	25.5%	23.7%	14.4%

2022 score distributions: English

Exam	5	4	3	2	1
AP English Language and Composition	10.4%	21.1%	24.2%	29.8%	14.5%
AP English Literature and Composition	16.9%	27.3%	33.7%	14.1%	7.9%

2022 score distributions: History & Social Science

Exam	5	4	3	2	1
AP Comparative Government and Politics	15.9%	24.3%	30.3%	16.7%	12.9%
AP European History	13.5%	21.0%	24.4%	29.7%	11.4%
AP Human Geography	14.9%	18.7%	19.6%	15.0%	31.8%
AP Macroeconomics	16.4%	20.0%	15.4%	15.1%	33.1%
AP Microeconomics	17.7%	22.5%	18.8%	16.9%	24.2%
AP Psychology	17.0%	22.2%	19.1%	13.1%	28.5%
AP United States Government and Politics	12.0%	10.9%	25.8%	25.7%	25.7%
AP United States History	10.8%	15.6%	21.9%	23.0%	28.8%
AP World History	13.2%	21.9%	27.0%	23.7%	14.3%

2022 score distributions: Math & Computer Science

Exam	5	4	3	2	1
AP Calculus AB	20.4%	16.1%	19.1%	22.6%	21.7%
AP Calculus BC	41.2%	15.6%	20.1%	16.4%	6.8%
AP Computer Science A	27.3%	20.4%	19.9%	10.4%	22.1%
AP Computer Science Principles	11.4%	21.0%	31.1%	19.9%	16.6%
AP Statistics	14.8%	22.2%	23.4%	16.5%	23.1%

2022 score distributions: Sciences

Exam	5	4	3	2	1
AP Biology	15.0%	23.1%	29.7%	21.6%	10.5%
AP Chemistry	12.5%	17.0%	24.5%	23.6%	22.5%
AP Environmental Science	8.9%	27.4%	17.5%	25.9%	20.3%
AP Physics 1	7.9%	17.0%	18.3%	27.1%	29.6%
AP Physics 2	16.3%	18.1%	35.3%	24.1%	6.3%
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism	31.5%	23.6%	14.3%	18.1%	12.5%
AP Physics C: Mechanics	26.4%	25.7%	21.3%	15.6%	11.0%

2022 score distributions: World Languages & Cultures

Exam	5	4	3	2	1
AP Chinese Language and Culture	49.3%	19.6%	18.0%	5.3%	7.8%
AP French Language and Culture	13.1%	23.7%	34.8%	22.3%	6.0%
AP German Language and Culture	20.0%	19.1%	26.5%	22.9%	11.6%
AP Italian Language and Culture	22.6%	20.6%	27.3%	18.6%	10.8%
AP Japanese Language and Culture	48.5%	9.8%	17.1%	7.5%	17.1%
AP Latin	11.2%	16.1%	29.8%	24.8%	18.2%
AP Spanish Language and Culture	23.6%	28.5%	29.7%	15.0%	3.3%
AP Spanish Literature and Culture	8.1%	22.8%	33.4%	23.8%	11.9%

Special score structure: Calculus BC

If you take the AP Calculus BC Exam, you will acquire a Calculus AB subscore (1-5) along with your regular score. The Calculus AB subscore implies how well you performed on 60% of the exam devoted to Calculus AB topics.

The subscore provides colleges and universities with additional information about your skills. We advise colleges to treat the Calculus AB subscore on the Calculus BC Exam as they would an AP Calculus AB Exam score because common topics are tested at the same theoretical level in both Calculus AB and Calculus BC. Of course, each university and school has its own policy regarding AP Exam credit and/or placement.

Special score structure: Music theory

There are two subscores (1-5) for AP Music Theory: an aural element subscore and a monaural element subscore.

Multiple-choice questions about documented musical examples, two melodic dictation questions, two harmonic dictation questions, and two sight-singing questions comprise the aural component subscore.

The monaural element subscore includes multiple-choice questions that require score analysis as well as questions that are not related to recorded musical examples. It also includes free-response questions about realizing a figured bass, realizing a chord development from Roman numerals, and writing a bass line to fit a given melody.

When music departments offer completely separate courses for written principle and aural skills, the subscores enable them to make appropriate credit and placement decisions. 

Although each college or university has its own policy for awarding credit and/or placement for AP Exam scores, it is recommended that subscores be considered alongside the overall score for students continuing their studies in music. 

It is also suggested that the overall score be used by the college or university to establish policy for students who are seeking general humanities credits.

What are cancel scores?

You can cancel your AP Exam scores through the AP Program. Your exam will not be scored if you request cancellation; if it has already been scored, the score will be permanently deleted from our records.

A score that has been canceled cannot be reinstated. This service is free, but your exam fee is not reimbursed. Scores that have been archived cannot be canceled.

Scores can be canceled at any time, but AP Services must receive your proposal by June 15 of the year you took the AP Exam in order for your scores to be sent to the college, university, or scholarship program demonstrated online through My AP.

What is the use of AP Test scores?

1. Get college credit
   • If you do well on an AP exam, some colleges will give you college credit. Because these AP credits add up toward your graduation requirements, you can take fewer college courses.
2. Make a good impression in front of Admissions Officers
   • Even if your AP scores do not result in college credit or exemption from certain courses, most universities will recognize your choice to challenge yourself by taking an AP course.
3. Comply with College Requirements
   • Some colleges will let you “place out” of certain prerequisites if you perform well on an AP exam, even if you do not receive actual college credits.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)