When Do AP Scores Come Out & What's A Good Score?

While advanced placement classes (aka AP classes) may not always be for the faint of heart, they do come with plenty of perks. Taking AP courses on subjects you enjoy is a great introduction to college-level coursework while you're still in high school.

The good news is that there are plenty of different subjects to choose from. Eligible high school students can currently take over 35 different AP courses on anything from computer science principles to European history.

Not only do AP classes look great on a college application, but if you get high enough AP test scores, you can even earn college credits or advanced placements. But as many students know, awaiting the results of an AP test is kind of the worst. Especially if you're not sure when to expect them.

Fear not, because we're here to fill you in on everything you need to know about AP score release dates, exams, and classes. You'll also learn how AP exam scores affect the college admissions process and how your AP results may be able to save you time and money when you head to college.

When do AP scores come out?

While the exact date that AP test scores are revealed may be a little different each year, you can usually expect to get your final score between mid-June to early July. The easiest way to find out exactly when scores become available is to check out the College Board website.

The whole advanced placement program is run by College Board, the same folks behind the SAT test. The College Board site will also give you the inside scoop on test dates for different AP classes.

No matter what subject you plan to test in, AP exams are always given in May and only happen once every school year. Your exact exam dates will depend on the test or tests you plan to take. For instance, you might take the Calculus AB test on May 8th and the Physics C test on May 9th.

If you're taking an AP exam for a course you took at school, your teachers should be able to give you all the details about where to show up and when. But if you want to test on a subject you were homeschooled in or took through an authorized online provider, it's a little more important to stay on top of test dates.

How do you receive your AP scores?

If you haven't already, you'll want to sign up for a free College Board account. If you've ever accessed your PSAT/SAT scores online, then you may already have an account and will want to use the same login and password.

If you have any issues getting your account set up, reach out to AP Services for Students with this online form or give them a call at 888-225-5427. Also make sure that your account's email address is up to date because that's how you'll be notified that it's time to log in and feast your eyes on your test results.

In order to access your AP score report in your College Board account, you'll also need your AP number or the student ID number you filled in on your answer sheet. The good news is that once your test scores are uploaded to your account, they'll be available to view or send to colleges for four years.

Why does it take so long to get your AP scores?

We get that it can be a real pain to wait a month or two to see how you did on your AP test. The delay largely goes back to the format of various AP exams and how they are graded.

In addition to a multiple-choice section, many AP tests also include free-response questions, which aren't quite so easy to grade. Each year the Educational Testing Service (ETS) hires a bunch of high school teachers and college professors to read and rank the free-response questions one by one.

As you can imagine, this individualized scoring makes for a lengthy process. While it'd be nice to get your AP scores early, you can at least rest assured that someone will take the time to carefully review the results of all that test prep.

What's a good AP score?

AP test scores are graded on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. While a 3 is generally considered a passing score, whether it'll be enough to earn you college credit will depend on the college.

Some state universities may let you slide into a college credit with a 3, but most Ivy League schools require you to score at least a 4 or 5. That's why it's not a bad idea to check the AP policies of the schools you're hoping to apply to before the test.

How good AP scores vary by subject

Another thing to keep in mind is that some AP classes and tests are notoriously harder than others. For this reason, it's worth comparing your results to those of other students who took the same exam.

The College Board publishes a breakdown of AP score distributions each school year that shows the percentage of students who received each score. Less than 10% of students score a 5 on AP exams, so if you turn out to be one of these academic superstars, don't hesitate to mention it in your college application letters.

How do AP classes and scores impact college admissions?

While it definitely never hurts to mention a high score on an AP exam to potential colleges, it's not the end of the world if your score wasn't as flattering as you'd hoped. Many colleges will simply appreciate the fact that you were able to pass an AP course whether they award you college credit for it or not.

After all, even if you end up having to retake the course in college, think about how much easier it will be the second time around. It's also important to keep in mind that AP scores are far from the only thing most colleges take into consideration.

They'll also be taking a look at your GPA, SAT and/or ACT scores, and extracurriculars. The bottom line is that while a high score is great, you shouldn't let your fear of failure keep you from taking any AP courses you're interested in.

How AP classes contribute to college credits

AP test scores aren't necessarily a defining factor when it comes to college admissions, but that doesn't mean they don't matter at all. This is especially true if you want to use AP courses to earn college credits or advanced placement.

These two concepts may sound similar, and in some cases you may even be awarded both for the same course. But it's still important to understand the subtle differences between the two.

College Credits

In order to graduate from any college or university, you'll need to earn a certain number of college credits (usually 120 for a bachelor's degree) by passing certain classes. If you get a great AP exam score, your college may award you a number of credits that count towards your goal.

Say, for instance, you scored a 4 on your AP English Language and Composition exam. A college might be impressed enough to award you 8 credits before you even start your first semester, which is a nice way to save tuition money.

Advanced Placement

If a college awards you advanced placement, that means that your AP score demonstrates that you know a subject so well that there's no need for you to take another class on it. For example, if you scored a 5 on your AP Biology exam, then a college might let you skip Intro to Biology even if it's a basic course that everyone else is required to take.

While you may also be awarded college credits, advanced placement is a nice perk even if you aren't. It can go a long way toward freeing you up to take more classes that you're interested in or allow you to take more advanced classes sooner.

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