An AP score is the final result of an Advanced Placement exam, reported on a scale of 1 to 5, that tells colleges how qualified a student is to receive credit or placement for the course.
What each score means
The College Board publishes this table on its AP score-setting page:
| AP score | Recommendation | College 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 | none listed |
| 1 | No recommendation | none listed |
The College Board’s student site adds that many US colleges grant credit or placement for scores of 3 and above, while each college sets its own policy.
From raw points to 1-5
Each exam has a multiple-choice section and a free-response section. Your points in each are weighted and combined into a composite score, and the composite is then converted to 1 to 5. The cut points for each level are set by subject through a standard-setting process, so the composite needed for a 5 in AP Biology isn’t the same as in AP English Language. That’s why there’s no universal “percent correct for a 5.”
The AP score calculator estimates the conversion by subject. Try it for AP Biology, AP English Language or AP Statistics after a practice test.
Where AP scores go
Scores are released in July, and you choose which colleges receive them. Colleges use them for credit and course placement after admission; some also consider them during admissions. Your AP class grade, by contrast, goes on your transcript and into your GPA.
Related: Advanced Placement · summative assessment