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! Whether you just got your AP scores back or are considering taking an AP class, here’s everything you need to know about AP scores.
What Are AP Scores Used For?
In general, AP scores can be used for college credit, placing out of certain college course requirements, and to show admissions officers that you have pushed yourself academically in high school. Different colleges use AP scores in different ways, so it is important that you go to a particular college’s website to determine how it uses AP scores.
1. Earn College Credit
Some colleges will give you college credit if you score well on an AP exam. These AP credits count 
toward your graduation requirements, meaning that you can take fewer courses while in college. Given the cost of college, this could be a huge step toward making your dream college more affordable.
2. Satisfy College Requirements
Some colleges will allow you to “place out” of certain requirements if you do well on an AP exam, even if they do not give you actual college credits. For example, you might be able to skip the huge survey course and dive right into more specialized classes for your major. In some cases, you might not need to take a class in a certain discipline (like a mandatory writing class) at all.
3. Look Good to Admissions Officers
Even if your AP scores don’t end up earning you college credit or allowing you to place out of certain courses, most colleges will respect your decision to push yourself by taking an AP course. A high score on an AP exam show mastery of more difficult content than is taught in many high school courses. Many schools will take that into account during the college admissions process.
What Your AP Test Scores Mean
| Score | Qualification |
|---|---|
| 5 | Extremely well qualified |
| 4 | Well qualified |
| 3 | Qualified |
| 2 | Possibly qualified |
| 1 | No recommendation |
How to Earn AP Credit
A 4 or a 5 is the AP score that will most likely earn you college credit. A 3 might get you college credit depending on the college (different schools have different policies). Therefore, your goal is to earn at least a 3, preferably a 4 or 5. If you receive below a 3, it is highly unlikely that you will get college credit for your high school AP course.
Of course, no matter how you do on the AP test, you still get a grade for that AP class from your high school. Good grades in AP courses always look good on your transcript!
2016 AP Score Distributions
Here’s how last year’s crop of AP students performed on some popular tests. Final 2017 AP score distributions will be released in the fall.
| AP Test | Average Score |
5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP English Language | 2.82 | 10.7% | 17.6% | 27.1% | 32.1% | 12.6% |
| AP U.S. History | 2.70 | 11.9% | 17.9% | 22.5% | 23.3% | 24.4% |
| AP English Literature | 2.75 | 7.4% | 17.8% | 29.4% | 33.4% | 12.0% |
| AP Calcluus AB | 3.80 | 24.8% | 17.3% | 17.4% | 9.7% | 30.7% |
| AP U.S. Gov and Politics | 2.64 | 12.3% | 13.5% | 24.9.% | 24% | 25.2% |
| AP World History | 2.61 | 6.6% | 15.6% | 29.4% | 28.7% | 19.7% |
| AP Biology | 2.85 | 6.6% | 21.0% | 33.6% | 28.8% | 10.1% |
| AP Physics 1 | 2.33 | 4.6% | 14.0% | 21.2% | 30.2% | 30.0% |
| AP European History | 2.71 | 7.4% | 16.0% | 29.2% | 35.1% | 12.3% |
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