Score More. Spend Less. Bundle 3+ College Prep products for 20% off.

How Is the AP® Biology Exam Scored?

The AP® Biology Exam is scored using a combination of multiple-choice and free-response sections, with specific guidelines to determine your overall AP Bio score on a scale of 1 to 5.
Illustration of a cell from UWorld’s AP Biology Course

The AP Biology exam consists of 2 sections:

  • Section I: 60 multiple-choice questions, worth 1 point each, graded by a computer.
  • Section II: Four short-answer and two long-answer free-response questions, manually graded by AP Readers. Long-answer questions are worth 8–10 points, while short-answer questions are worth 4 points each.

Each section contributes approximately 50% to your total score. However, since the exact contribution of each section can vary, the total scores are combined and translated into a weighted composite raw score. This composite score is then scaled to a final score between 1 and 5, representing your performance level. You’ll only see this scaled score in your results.

You will not be able to see your weighted combination score on the final results or even the individual score for each section. Instead, you will only receive your AP Biology scores on the 1–5 scale.

Visual of digital & print AP Bio study guides showing streamlined study materials designed for fast success.
Visual of digital & print AP Bio study guides showing streamlined study materials designed for fast success.

AP Biology Scoring Table

As mentioned earlier, your total exam score is translated into a weighted combination and then scaled to a final AP Biology score distribution between 1 and 5. Each score reflects a specific level of performance. Colleges use these scores to determine eligibility for free college credit and placement, with most requiring a score of 3 or higher.

These scores are developed through extensive research conducted by the AP Program to ensure that the AP Biology Exam reflects college-level biology knowledge. Let’s take a look at the score conversion table:

Final AP Biology Score College Grade Equivalent
5 A+ or A
4 A-, B+, or B
3 B-, C+, or C
2 —
1 —

As you can see, scores below 3 do not equate to a good college grade. Here’s how each score translates to how well-qualified you might be for placement and free credit.

AP Biology Exam Score Qualification
5 Extremely well qualified
4 Very well qualified
3 Qualified
2 Possibly qualified
1 No recommendation

If you score a 4 or 5 on the AP Biology exam, that is considered an excellent score. As shown above, scores between 3 and 5 typically qualify for free credits during college placement. However, check with your prospective colleges for their specific requirements. To maximize your performance, explore our AP Biology Study Guide in print and digital format for expert illustrations and concise notes for every exam unit.

AP Biology is hard. We make it easier.
Practice the toughest topics and get ahead.
Unlock Success Today!
Visual of AP Bio question bank displaying exam-level questions & illustrated explanations on laptop, tablet, & mobile phone.

AP Biology Score Distributions

In 2024, 265,000 students took the AP Biology exam, with almost 70% scoring 3 or higher. Below is a comparison of AP Biology score distributions from the last three years:

  • Graph View
  • Table View
Final Score % of Students in 2023 Exam % of Students in 2022 Exam % of Students in 2021 Exam
5 14.3% 15.0% 7.4%
4 23.0% 23.1% 19.4%
3 27.2% 29.7% 32.4%
2 23.6% 21.6% 30.0%
1 12.0% 10.5% 10.8%

With the right preparation and tools, scoring a 5 on the AP Biology exam is achievable. Most students pass, and so can you! 

You can try UWorld’s online AP Bio practice tests to help you get better acquainted with the exam format and test your knowledge of the units and concepts you’ve studied. Taking practice tests regularly will help you track your progress. You can also make quick notes to refer back to when you’re reviewing for the exam.

Free-Response Question Scoring Statistics for 2024:

Question Number Mean Total Number of Points
1 3.09 9
2 3.65 9
3 2.39 4
4 2.16 4
5 0.80 4
6 1.67 4

AP Biology Minimum Score Requirement for College Credits

As we mentioned earlier, most colleges require a minimum score of 3 to qualify for free credit and placement. However, you should also know that just taking AP Biology can also make your transcript look good to the college admissions committee, even though it would qualify you for free credits.

If you’re gunning for those free credits, here’s a list of some colleges and their minimum AP Bio score requirements.

University AP Biology Score Requirement
Harvard, Cambridge, MA 5
Duke University, Durham, NC 5
Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 5
Brown University, Providence, RI 4
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 4
University of Texas, Austin, TX 3
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 3
Get A’s and 5’s in AP Biology Without the Stress!
Boost your confidence for exam day with an interactive, easy-to-use AP Biology prep course.
Start Your Prep!
Visual of AP Bio prep course product suite showing streamlined study materials designed for fast success.

Frequently Asked Questions

Scoring a 5 is the best score. However, scoring between 3 and 5 qualifies you for placement and free credits in college.
In the 2024 exam, the average score was 3.15.
AP Biology scores are curved to ensure consistency and fairness across different exam administrations. The curving process helps standardize scores year-to-year, accounting for variations in exam difficulty. This ensures that the scores accurately reflect a student’s performance and are comparable to college-level grading standards, maintaining the exam’s reliability and validity.
Investing in the right study materials and creating an efficient study plan are the best ways to ensure a high score. Our online prep course offers expert resources to help you achieve a 5 on the AP Biology exam.
The scores will be released in July 2025. You can check your scores online through your College Board® account.

References

  1. Past AP Biology Score Distributions. (2024). AP Students. Retrieved on December 30, 2024, from https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/about-ap-scores/score-distributions/ap-biology
  2. 2024 Chief Reader Report - AP Biology. (2024). College Board. Retrieved on December 30, 2024, from https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap24-cr-report-biology.pdf
  3. AP Credit Policy Search. (2024). AP Students. Retrieved on December 30, 2024, from https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/getting-credit-placement/search-policies/course/2

Read More About AP Biology

AP Biology Exam Format

Understanding the format of the exam gives you an advantage. We've created an easy-to-read guide that breaks down the exam format, types of questions, and more!

AP Biology Course and Exam Description

Dive into our comprehensive guide to the AP Biology curriculum for detailed insights into the units, topics, and key concepts you will explore throughout the course.

How to Study for the AP Biology Exam

A comprehensive guide packed with expert tips and strategies to help you ace the AP Biology using the best course materials, tailored plans, and flexible schedules.

Best AP Biology Prep Course Review

Discover the best AP Biology prep courses available. Compare key features, pricings, reviews, and benefits to select the course that best fits your learning.

Best AP Biology Study Guide Comparison

Kaplan vs. Barron's vs. Princeton Review vs. UWorld—compare strategies, features, and effectiveness to find the ultimate guide for AP Biology success.

How to Self-Study for AP Biology

Learn effective tips and strategies to self-study for the AP Biology exam. Build confidence, master core concepts, and achieve a high score independently, too.

Quick Links
View More...
Scroll to Top

Frequently Asked Questions

New Purchase: All new subscriptions go into effect from the time they are activated and not at the time of setup/purchase. A subscription can be activated immediately or any time thereafter. If your initial purchase consists of multiple courses (Qbank, Self-Assessment exam, CCS, etc.), each can be activated individually and independently via your account on our website. This process of activating a subscription after purchase allows you the flexibility to start a subscription when you are truly ready to use it.

We recommend that all subscriptions be activated within 180 days of setup/purchase. Once a subscription is activated, it cannot be paused or suspended for any reason and will run continuously for the duration of the course material.

Renewal: A renewal is an extension of time to continue access to a current activated subscription. Because a renewal is an extension to an already active subscription, it is effective from the existing expiration date, not from the day of purchase and cannot be deferred to start at a later date/time.

Note: All of our subscriptions are based on the Eastern Time Zone (GMT/UTC -5 hours or New York Time), which may be different than your local time zone.

Any of our product offerings can be purchased from our website with payment due in full at time of purchase via a credit or debit card with American Express/Discover/MasterCard or Visa logo.

You will need to register for an account in order to purchase any of our products. Once you have registered for an account or if you already have an account:

  • Log in to your UWorld account
  • Click on the Cart icon at the top of the page and then select your desired product to see a list of available packages and their prices
  • Select the package you wish to purchase
  • Verify your profile information, address, and educational status, then click the Update button
  • Enter your Billing address and credit/debit card information, then click Review Order
  • Verify that the correct product is in your cart and click Place Order
  • A purchase receipt will automatically be sent to your registered email address

If you complete your purchase but do not receive a receipt, please contact the Customer Care Team at [email protected]

You can subscribe to any of our online courses/services using a credit or debit card with a Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express logo. After a successful payment, your subscription will immediately be available for activation via your account on our website or available complementary mobile applications.

You can also subscribe via personal check, money order, or demand drafts taken in U.S. dollars. These types of payments should be mailed to us and should include the name of the subscription and the duration, along with the details asked for in the registration form. We will set up your account as soon as we receive your payment and notify you via email of your access credentials. All direct-mail payments must be in U.S. dollars and made payable to:

UWorld, LLC
9111 Cypress Waters Blvd
Suite 300
Dallas, TX 75019

We do not accept cash via mail, currencies other than U.S. dollars or payments via fax.

Individuals purchasing our CPA Review product may finance their purchase using Affirm during checkout process. Your eligibility depends on your credit score and other criteria, as per Affirm’s policies (outlined here). A soft credit check, a credit check that does not affect your credit score, will be performed by Affirm to determine your loan eligibility. You will need a US based bank account to qualify.

All refunds are evaluated on a case-by-case basis for products purchased directly from UWorld. One case has no bearing on another. Refund amounts determined by UWorld are final.

In-App Purchases: We are unable to process any refunds for purchases made via mobile application (in-app). Please contact Apple for all refund/credit requests for Apple in-app purchases.

USMLE Step 2 CS, Step 3 CCS, Subject Reviews & Self-Assessment Exams: These subscriptions are non-refundable, non-transferable, and cannot be converted into another subscription.

CPA Review: Students may request to cancel their CPA review product only within 10-days of activation of any of the materials. To qualify for a refund, no more than 10% of the course (lectures, Qbank, or a combination there-of) may have been used per exam section. All CPA Review refunds are subject to a cancellation fee of $75 (for single section purchases) or $250 (for package
purchases), plus any applicable shipping charges. No return of merchandise is necessary.

All other Qbanks: Refunds are considered for subscriptions of more than 30 days. Refund amounts are based on the number of days elapsed since the subscription start date or the number of questions used, whichever amounts to a higher deductible.

Example scenarion: An individual purchases a 180-day Qbank subscription and generates a few test blocks equal to 20% of the questions in the Qbank. After 45 days, he/she requests a refund. Because the elapsed duration is greater than the percentage of questions used, the refund amount will be based on a subscription converted to the closest duration (60 days) by deducting the applicable 60-day subscription fee from the refund. In the same scenario, if the individual had used 85% of the questions, the refund would be 15% of the subscription fee paid.

Note 1: A processing fee of 10% (minimum of $10 and maximum of $25) will be applied to all refund amounts.

Note 2: All refunds, pro-rated or otherwise, must be requested within 360 days of original purchase. Refunds for purchases made more than 360 days ago will be issued as non-refundable, non-transferable store credit.

Note 3: Subscribers must notify UWorld of their intent to obtain a refund before activating their subscription (or) during the active duration. If the reset option is used or all of the questions are used, no refund will be allowed (see “I want to reset/delete my Qbank test history (or) start all over again, is this possible?” below for further details). No refunds will be offered for expired subscriptions.

Note 4: For combination package purchases, individual subscription fees will be applied when calculating the refund. If any self-assessment Exam(s) is utilized from a package, the entire purchase is rendered non-refundable.

Note 5: Although access to Qbanks via certain mobile devices is provided as an additional feature, it is not intended to be a replacement for computer access, and no refunds or cancellations will be honored due to user inability to install and/or use the provided software on any mobile device (regardless of whether the device meets the minimum system requirements).

Please use the following steps to purchase a renewal for your subscription:

  • Log in to your account on our website
  • Click on the User Icon in the top right corner of the screen
  • Click on the Renew button corresponding to your subscription
  • Select the Renewal duration you wish to purchase
  • Verify your profile information, address, and educational status, then click the Update button
  • Enter your Billing address and credit/debit card information, then click Review Order
  • Verify that the correct package is in your cart and click Place Order

Upon a successful transaction, you will be sent a confirmation email receipt.

A renewal is an extension of time to continue accessing an active subscription, and it will not start the subscription over, provide a reset, or grant access to additional questions that were not previously accessible. Because a renewal is an extension to an already active subscription, it is effective from the existing expiration date, not from the date of purchase, and cannot be deferred in any way to start at a later date/time.

Please note that to qualify for renewal pricing, you will need to renew the course before it expires. Renewals are not offered to expired subscriptions. If you fail to secure a renewal before the expiration date, you will need to purchase a new subscription at the regular price directly from our website to regain access to the material.

Note: All times and dates displayed for subscription expiration correspond with the Eastern Time Zone (GMT/UTC -5 hours or New York Time), which may be different than your local time zone.

Note: If your initial purchase was a combination package, you will need to renew each active subscription individually. You do not need to renew a course that has not been activated.

You may request to upgrade or downgrade your subscription purchase as long as it has not been activated. If you purchase a combination package, all included subscriptions must be unused. Please be advised that current subscription pricing will apply.

If your subscription has been activated, unfortunately, we cannot upgrade it retroactively. If seeking to downgrade, please refer to our refund policy for available options.

We do not offer custom duration(s) or combination packages other than those outlined on the website. Please refer to our purchase page for currently available subscriptions (including discounted combination packages for some products).

Self-Assessment exam subscriptions are for 14 days each. Subscribers whose active subscription(s) have not expired can purchase renewals from 7 days or more at any time before their active subscription expires. Please refer to the respective course description page for renewal options.

We offer a demo on each of our product pages that contains a sample of the product interface and a few sample questions. We do not offer guest/trial accounts to test our software and view materials.

It is possible to purchase a subscription as a gift for someone else. However, the intended recipient will need to register an account on our website (or have an account registered for them, with their profile information entered accurately). If the user is present at the time of purchase, the purchase can be made from their account on our website using any credit or debit card with a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover logo.

If the user is not present, or you wish for the gift to be a surprise, please contact Support directly using the contact form to arrange payment for the gift subscription. You will need to provide the user’s registered email address so the account can be located.