For high school students navigating the world of college applications, every detail seems to carry weight. Among these, AP scores are often a topic of concern: Do I need to take them? Is taking them enough, or do I also have to get a 5 on the exam for it to count? Do the exam scores make or break my application?! As with many things college-application related, the answer isn’t black and white. While AP scores play a role, they’re just one piece of the puzzle.
Will Colleges Even Look at My Scores?
Scores on AP exams are not part of your official transcript (only the fact that the class was an AP level course). So will colleges see the scores? They will if you report them. The self-reporting section of most applications allows you to showcase your performance on various standardized tests, including the AP exams, but it’s optional that you report them. If you report your scores, a college then has at least the option to view them.
Should You Report Your Scores?
It depends on both the college’s selectivity level and your scores. Generally speaking, you’ll want to report scores of 5s (excellent) and 4s (very good). For highly selective schools, consider withholding 4s, unless you have several 5s to report as well. Scores of 3 or lower? That’s not as cut-and-dry. Depending on the school, 3s can be seen as good scores. But generally speaking, you can skip reporting scores of 3 or below.
Weighing the Impact of AP Exam Scores: According to CollegeBoard, most colleges consider the criteria below, in order:
- Grade Point Average: Your overall GPA serves as an indicator of your academic success in the context of your high school. A student’s grades in college-preparatory classes remain the most significant factor in college admission decisions.
- Course Rigor: Most colleges consider your grade in college prep courses as the strongest sign of your ability to do well in college. It signals to colleges that a student is intellectually curious and will bring a strong work ethic to their campus. Colleges look for students who took the most challenging courses available to them. (So don’t worry if your high school doesn’t offer many college prep classes: admissions officers take this into account. They may look favorably upon students who seek challenge outside of school to account for that, however! Consider community college courses or online AP courses if you’re able.)
- Test Scores: Regardless of the varied opinions on standardized testing (such as the SAT or the ACT), test scores remain important at many colleges.
- Class Rank: Although class rank has declined in significance, it is still reviewed by many colleges.
- Essays: Personal statements and essays are a measure of a student’s writing ability. More importantly, though, they’re a window into a student’s background and personality. (Side note for parents: admission officers really do want to hear the student’s voice, in the student’s own words in their writing! Don’t worry if your student’s writing isn’t to the highest standards.)
- Recommendations from Counselors and Teachers: Especially at more selective colleges, recommendations from counselors and teachers can carry a lot of weight. These recommendations should be highly specific, describing not just a student’s love of learning, but the ways in which the student has added to the classroom experience, challenged themselves, and attempted original projects or showcased intellectual curiosity.
- Extracurriculars: Evidence of participation in and/or commitment to extracurricular activities is important to an admissions officer. Colleges want to know that a student is likely to be an active participant in campus activities and in groups, clubs, or teams at their school. It also tells the reviewer more about a student: are they a leader? have they already shown interest in a certain field of study? do they have specific skills the college is looking for? is the student active and involved? Mention of continued interest in these activities can also lead to additional consideration from a reviewer, as spots in many activities need to be filled by their applicant pool. (An example: A student mentions playing trumpet in marching band, and indicates they hope to continue it in college. The college needs band members, so the student is now a more valuable candidate to them.)
- Additional Factors: Like it or not, the applicant pool is also combed for demographic consideration as well, including students who may not meet traditional criteria but will add to the class diversity through geographic location, racial or ethnic background, extenuating or unusual life circumstances, and experiences living or studying overseas.
The takeaway: AP scores are not a sole deciding factor for admissions officers, and in fact are not even among the first points of consideration. But in highly competitive environments, exceptional scores (especially in your intended major) can stand out. Remember though, that it’s taking the AP classes themselves that matter most, as enrolling in challenging courses demonstrates academic rigor that is valued by many colleges. So even if you don’t report your scores, your course choices will speak volumes.