How AP Exams Are Scored
The Advanced Placement® (AP) exam is scored on a 1 to 5 scale, with 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest. Your final score1 is based on your composite score, combining raw scores from 2 sections: multiple-choice (MCQs) and free-response (FRQs) questions. Each question has points multiplied by specific “multipliers,” which vary by section and subject. In short,
Points per Answer x Multiplier = Raw Score per Answer
These raw scores are added to form your total raw score for each section. The composite score is the sum of both section scores, and College Board® converts it into a 1 to 5 scale using a statistical process.
Composite score = Section I (MCQ) score + Section II (FRQ) Score
For example, in AP Biology, the MCQ and FRQ sections are each worth 60 points, totaling 120 points, which is then translated into your final score.
Let’s learn how the MCQ and FRQ sections are assessed and scored on the AP exam.
Section I: Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
The first part of your AP exam consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), where you select the correct answer from the options provided. For most AP exams, the MCQ section typically makes up 40-50% of your final score. A machine scans your answer sheet, calculating a raw score based on the number of correct answers. There’s no penalty for incorrect answers, so be sure to make an educated guess if you’re unsure!
Section II: Free-Response Questions (FRQs)
The second part of the AP exam, the free-response questions (FRQs), tests your analytical and problem-solving skills. These responses are not machine-scored and are reviewed by college professors and AP teachers. The FRQ section typically accounts for 50-60% of your composite score. College Board uses a scale of 1 to 10 (or up to 12 for some questions) to grade responses holistically, focusing on overall effectiveness rather than minor errors.
What Are AP Scores Used for?
AP scores are crucial in college admissions and graduation, as they reflect your readiness for college-level coursework. Here’s how they matter:
- Eligibility and Admission: Colleges often use AP scores as a benchmark to evaluate prospective students. A strong score sets your application apart, increasing your chances of acceptance. In fact, 85% of colleges report that AP experience positively influences admissions decisions.
- College Readiness: High AP exam scores indicate that you have mastered college-level material, reassuring admissions officers of your ability to succeed in advanced courses and boosting your graduation prospects.
- Career Path Opportunities: Strong AP scores, especially in subjects such as Calculus or Biology, improve your chances of pursuing competitive careers in fields like engineering, medicine, and law. Top schools, including Ivy League colleges, often use AP scores to assess eligibility for specific majors.
- Core Courses: AP scores in key subjects such as English Language and Calculus AB are significant. Admissions officers highly value good scores in these core areas when reviewing an application.
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What Is Advanced Placement and Credit?
The main purpose of taking AP exams is to get advanced placement and course credits in colleges by scoring high on the AP exams. Let’s break it down to help you understand the impact of having a good AP score on your transcript.
Advanced Placement
Scoring 3, 4, or 5 on an AP exam allows most colleges to grant you advanced placement, letting you skip introductory courses in that subject during your freshman year. This gives you the opportunity to enroll in higher-level classes, provided you’ve earned a qualifying score on the AP exam for that subject. Many students take multiple AP courses in 11th and 12th grade to bypass college basic courses.
Credits
A good AP score (3 or higher) can earn you college credit, acknowledging your mastery of core courses required for graduation. Most colleges offer advanced placement or college credit, though some provide only one. To ensure your AP scores are accepted, verify that the colleges you’re interested in participate in the Advanced Placement program. Scores are sent directly from College Board to your chosen institutions, and you can send them to multiple schools for a fee ($15 per report). Policies on credit and placement vary by institution.
What AP Exam Scores Do Colleges and Universities Accept?
Most colleges accept AP scores of 3 or higher, but not all institutions recognize every AP exam score. Generally, scores of 4 or 5 are accepted, with some colleges granting credit for a 3. The score requirements vary by subject; for example, a college might accept a 3 in AP Statistics but require a 5 in AP English Language. The number of credits awarded also differs between colleges. Below is a table showing standard AP score credit policies across colleges:
| AP Exam Score | Recommendation | College Grade Equivalent |
Probability of AP credit being applied |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Extremely Well-Qualified | A+ or A | Usually |
| 4 | Well-Qualified | A-, B+, or B | Usually |
| 3 | Qualified | B-, C+, or C | Maybe |
| 2 | Possibly Qualified | — | Very rarely |
| 1 | No recommendation | — | No |
Each college has its own AP placement and credit policy. For instance, Harvard requires a 5 on the AP Calculus AB exam for placement but offers no credit. At the same time, Louisiana State University accepts scores of 3, 4, and 5 and grants both placement and credit. Be sure to check your college's AP credit policy in advance by visiting the College Board website to see which scores are accepted.
AP Exam Score Distribution
If you’re considering taking AP exams, reviewing past exam passing rates can help you identify subjects requiring more preparation. A score of 3 or higher is typically considered passing. Below is a list of AP exam passing rates for the last 3 years by subject to guide your decision.
| Course | Average Passing Rates (2023-2025)2,3,4 |
|---|
| AP Research | 86.5% |
| AP Seminar | 85.5% |
| AP 2-D Art and Design | 83.1% |
| AP 3-D Art and Design | 72% |
| AP Art History | 64.4% |
| AP Drawing | 84.5% |
| AP Music Theory | 60.3% |
| AP English Language and Composition | 61.5% |
| AP English Literature and Composition | 74.5% |
| AP African American Studies | 75.8% |
| AP Comparative Government and Politics | 72.2% |
| AP European History | 67.6% |
| AP Human Geography | 58.5% |
| AP Macroeconomics | 65.2% |
| AP Microeconomics | 67.5% |
| AP Psychology | 64.4% |
| AP United States Government and Politics | 64.7% |
| AP United States History | 64.2% |
| AP World History | 64.1% |
| AP Calculus AB | 62.1% |
| AP Calculus BC | 79.4% |
| AP Computer Science A | 67.4% |
| AP Computer Science Principles | 63.3% |
| Precalculus | 78.3% |
| AP Statistics | 60.6% |
| AP Biology | 67.9% |
| AP Chemistry | 76.2% |
| AP Environmental Science | 58.9% |
| AP Physics 1 | 52.9% |
| AP Physics 2 | 70.7% |
| AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 71.2% |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | 73.9% |
| AP Chinese Language and Culture | 88.3% |
| AP French Language and Culture | 73.3% |
| AP German Language and Culture | 68.9% |
| AP Italian Language and Culture | 72.7% |
| AP Japanese Language and Culture | 75.3% |
| AP Latin | 57.4% |
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | 83.9% |
| AP Spanish Literature and Culture | 68.1% |
Overall, AP exam passing rates exceed 50% in most subjects, with a few exceptions such as AP Physics 1. While AP courses and exams are challenging, the rewards are worthwhile. If you’re interested in how students performed on the 2025 AP exams4, here’s a list of the results.
AP RESEARCH AND SEMINAR
| Course | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Research | 15% | 28% | 46% | 10% | 2% | 89% |
| AP Seminar | 10% | 19% | 57% | 12% | 2% | 86% |
ARTS
| Course | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP 2-D Art and Design | 12% | 29% | 42% | 14% | 3% | 83% |
| AP 3-D Art and Design | 7% | 25% | 40% | 24% | 4% | 72% |
| AP Art History | 16% | 24% | 26% | 24% | 10% | 66% |
| AP Drawing | 17% | 32% | 36% | 12% | 3% | 85% |
| AP Music Theory | 18% | 18% | 24% | 25% | 15% | 60% |
ENGLISH
| Course | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP English Language and Composition | 13% | 28% | 33% | 16% | 10% | 74% |
| AP English Literature and Composition | 16% | 27% | 31% | 16% | 10% | 74% |
HISTORY AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
| Course | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP African American Studies | 16% | 33% | 30% | 16% | 5% | 79% |
| AP Comparative Government and Politics | 16% | 23% | 34% | 16% | 11% | 73% |
| AP European History | 13% | 35% | 24% | 19% | 9% | 72% |
| AP Human Geography | 17% | 25% | 23% | 25% | 10% | 65% |
| AP Macroeconomics | 18% | 23% | 25% | 22% | 12% | 66% |
| AP Microeconomics | 19% | 24% | 24% | 21% | 12% | 67% |
| AP Psychology | 15% | 32% | 25% | 19% | 9% | 72% |
| AP United States Government and Politics | 24% | 25% | 23% | 18% | 10% | 72% |
| AP United States History | 14% | 36% | 23% | 19% | 8% | 73% |
| AP World History | 14% | 33% | 17% | 27% | 9% | 64% |
MATH AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
| Course | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Calculus AB | 20% | 29% | 15% | 23% | 13% | 64% |
| AP Calculus BC | 44% | 22% | 13% | 15% | 6% | 79% |
| AP Computer Science A | 25% | 22% | 20% | 10% | 23% | 67% |
| AP Computer Science Principles | 11% | 20% | 32% | 22% | 15% | 63% |
| AP Precalculus | 28% | 26% | 27% | 11% | 8% | 81% |
| AP Statistics | 17% | 21% | 22% | 16% | 24% | 60% |
SCIENCES
| Course | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Biology | 19% | 24% | 28% | 21% | 8% | 71% |
| AP Chemistry | 17% | 29% | 32% | 16% | 6% | 78% |
| AP Environmental Science | 12% | 28% | 29% | 15% | 16% | 69% |
| AP Physics 1 | 18% | 25% | 23% | 14% | 20% | 66% |
| AP Physics 2 | 20% | 29% | 23% | 21% | 7% | 72% |
| Physics C E&M | 23% | 24% | 25% | 19% | 9% | 72% |
| Physics C Mech. | 20% | 24% | 28% | 17% | 11% | 72% |
WORLD LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
| Course | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Chinese Language and Culture | 51% | 19% | 18% | 5% | 7% | 88% |
| AP French Language and Culture | 13% | 25% | 35% | 21% | 6% | 73% |
| AP German Language and Culture | 19% | 23% | 27% | 19% | 12% | 69% |
| AP Italian Language and Culture | 21% | 24% | 28% | 19% | 8% | 73% |
| AP Japanese Language and Culture | 40% | 12% | 21% | 8% | 19% | 73% |
| AP Latin | 13% | 17% | 29% | 25% | 16% | 59% |
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | 22% | 32% | 31% | 12% | 3% | 85% |
| AP Spanish Literature and Culture | 8% | 23% | 39% | 21% | 9% | 70% |
The AP score distribution reveals scoring trends that reflect the difficulty of each subject, helping you assess whether it’s the right fit for you. However, persistence, grit, aptitude, and study habits are key to success. If you need guidance on AP courses, UWorld is here to help!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a passing AP exam score?
There are no fixed “passing scores” for the AP exam. Scores of 3 to 5 may qualify you for college credit and improve your admissions chances. However, each college has its own AP placement and credit criteria, so it’s important to check specific college policies.
What’s the average score for AP exams?
The average score of each AP exam varies by subject. The average or mean score ranges from 2.5 to 3.6 for all AP exams.
What percent is a 5 on an AP exam?
Usually, 70 to 75 percent out of 100 translates to a 5 in the AP score.
Is the AP exam scored on a curve?
AP exams are never scored on a curve. To prevent this said ‘curve’ from occurring, College Board ensures that AP scores are calculated specifically to reflect consistency in scoring from year to year.
How do I check my AP exam scores?
AP scores are posted online on the AP student website. You can access them through your College Board account. After logging into your account, input your AP number or the student ID number you used on your AP answer sheet to get your score.
How do I get my AP scores early?
AP exam scores can’t be released early, as College Board sets an official release date. However, if your scores are sent directly to colleges, they may receive them slightly earlier, and you might access them through the college’s system before they appear on your College Board account.
Who receives my AP scores?
Once your scores are released, you, the college or university you designated in My AP, and educators in your school and district, including your AP teachers, will automatically receive them.
Do colleges look at AP exam scores?
Most renowned colleges and universities evaluate your AP exam scores to assess your eligibility for a particular course and/or give you college credit. These scores may also contribute to your admissions decision.
When do AP scores come out?
AP exam scores are released each year in July.
How do I save a copy of my AP score report?
Access your AP scores by logging into your College Board account. Visit the AP Scores for Students section to download an unofficial copy of your scores. However, this copy is for your personal reference only and cannot be used to send it to colleges for credit or placement-related purposes.
How do I send AP scores to colleges?
To send an official score report to a college or university, sign in to AP Scores for Students to order one ($15/report). College Board will send an official score report to the college on your request.
When were AP exam scores released in 2025?
The 2025 AP exam scores were released July 7.
How can you cancel your AP scores?
To cancel your AP scores, fill out the AP Score Cancellation form on the College Board website and submit it to your nearest AP coordinator. Alternatively, you can also mail or fax the duly filled form to:
AP Services
P.O. Box 6671
Princeton, NJ 08541-6671
Fax: 610-290-8979
To ensure that the institution you selected does not receive your score, AP Services must receive your request by June 15 of the particular year you take the exam.
Read More About the AP Exams
Your AP exam prep starts here! Find out when to begin taking AP exams, which courses are the hardest, how many AP classes to take, and the key benefits of AP courses.
All about AP courses! Explore our guide to the hardest and easiest AP courses, their benefits, and how to choose the right ones to boost your academic and career path.
Get ready for your AP exams! Learn about the AP exam schedule, late-testing dates, and the complete exam calendar to plan your study sessions for maximum success.
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Getting ready for AP exams? Here’s everything you need to know about AP exam registration, including how to sign up, eligibility requirements, costs, and key timelines.
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Your complete guide to AP exam policies! Stay updated on the newest AP exam guidelines, security measures, and accommodations for a stress-free test day.
Follow our expert educators’ step-by-step guide, filled with active learning, flashcards, a proven study schedule and other powerful methods to ensure you’re fully prepped.
References
1About AP Scores. (n.d.). apstudents.collegeboard.org. Retrieved July 16, 2025, from https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/about-ap-scores
22023 AP Score Distributions. (2023). apcentral.collegeboard.org. Retrieved July 16, 2025, from https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-score-distributions-by-subject-2023.pdf
32024 AP Score Distributions. (2024). apstudents.collegeboard.org. Retrieved July 16, 2025, from https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/about-ap-scores/score-distributions/2024
42025 AP Score Distributions. (2025). apstudents.collegeboard.org. Retrieved July 16, 2025, from https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/about-ap-scores/score-distributions
