The College Board, the non-profit responsible for creating and administering AP (Advanced Placement) exams, reports that, in the past decade, “the percentage of U.S. public high school graduates who took an AP Exam during high school has increased, as has the percentage of U.S. public high school graduates who scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam.”
What do increased participation and higher scores overall mean for the more than 1.2 million students who take AP classes and exams every year? AP scores can help or hurt their college applications. Here is how:
Showing Subject Mastery
As you’re applying to colleges, AP scores are a great way to put an exclamation point on your transcript. Colleges will first use your transcript to get a sense of the type of student you are. They’ll see the grades you earned and the rigor of coursework you took to make sure you are a good fit at their institutions. A strong AP score can be an emphatic statement accompanying your transcript showing that you took rigorous classes, did well in them, and clearly mastered the content according to your school and College Board. This can go a long way in helping your application stand out.
Stand Out at Test-Optional Schools
Speaking of standing out, submitting your AP scores can be a way to stand out in this test-optional world. Your scores can be a way to show your talent on a standardized test that students take across the country. If you are someone who isn’t sharing your SAT or ACT scores, your APs could go a long way in affirming your academic achievement and aptitude.
Boost Chances at Most Selective Schools
The margins between getting accepted or rejected at the country’s most selective schools are razor thin. Students need every advantage possible to help move the needle in any way, shape, or form. Submitting your AP scores is a great way to marginally improve your odds. Giving colleges one additional data point to evaluate on can be the marble that tips the scale in your favor. While AP scores are not a silver bullet, every little bit helps make your application stand out!
It Is Also Ok Not to Submit
While AP scores can be helpful, just because you took an AP test doesn’t mean you have to submit your scores. In fact, sometimes, submitting a subpar score can be detrimental to your applications. At every step of the application process, you should make sure you are only showing colleges the best version of yourself, so refrain from sharing scores you’re not proud of. In general, if you’re scoring a 4 or a 5, you should plan on submitting your test scores. If you have scores that are lower, you should work with your counselor to confirm if it makes sense to share them.
