When and How to Report AP Scores

Most colleges do not consider AP scores in the admissions process, but showing mastery of the AP material with a high score can help colleges assess a student's readiness for college-level work (some colleges will even accept them in lieu of SAT/ACT scores).

Keep in mind that your grades and performance in AP classes throughout the year always matter, and a high AP score will not "erase" poor performance in a class.

What Is a Good AP Score? It differs by college--some colleges will award college credit for a score of 3 (the lowest passing score) or higher, while others may only give credit for a score of 4 (or 5). Colleges generally post this information on their websites so you can see (before you potentially self-report scores) what scores a particular college values.

When to Report AP Scores

  • You can self-report your AP scores on college applications (Common App, Coalition, etc.).
  • Only report scores you want to (unless you are applying to one of the minuscule number of colleges that requires all test scores at the time of application)
  • Official AP score reports are typically only required after you commit to a college (senior year). This is when you should send official scores via the College Board for potential college credit or placement.

How to Report AP Scores

1. Self-Reporting (during the application process)

  • List your AP scores in the testing section of the Common App.
  • You likely don't need to send official reports yet!
  • You can select which scores to send, and you can revise this for different college applications (maybe you want to report all scores to some colleges but only certain scores to others--it's easy to revise before submitting an application).

2. Sending Official Scores (after committing) - Seniors, this step is for you!

  • Log in to your College Board account.
  • Go to the AP Scores section..
  • Click "Send Scores to Colleges." Enter the college's name and submit.
  • The first report (in a testing year) is free if done by a certain deadline
  • Note: The score report will include ALL AP exams taken unless you withdraw or cancel a test date. At this point, you've already been accepted, and the school is just using this report to determine which credits you are eligible for (and to check what you may have reported earlier). Visit CollegeBoard.com for more info on AP score reporting.