AP Grades Explained for Students: What Do AP Scores 1–5 Mean?

As an AP student, it can be difficult to understand the AP grading system and know what each score means. You may have questions such as: 

• What grades do I need to pass? 

• What grades are required by my college? 

• What grades do most students get in each subject? 

This article will give you the answers to these questions, as well as a comprehensive understanding of the AP grading system and how your scores are calculated. 

Key Takeaways

• AP exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5, where 5 is the highest possible score.

• Many US colleges grant credit and/or advanced placement for scores of 3 and above, but selective universities often require a 4 or 5.

• Scores are released in early July each year via your College Board account.

What Are AP Grades?

AP stands for Advanced Placement. The College Board's AP programme allows high school students in the US to take college-level courses and sit standardised exams.

At the end of each course, students sit an AP exam. That exam is then marked and converted into a final grade. This is your AP score, and it’s marked on a scale from 1 to 5.

These scores are designed to show how qualified you are to receive college credit for that subject. The higher your score, the stronger your demonstrated mastery of college-level material.

For more information, check out our comprehensive guide to how AP classes work.

How Does The AP Grading System Work?

The AP grading system (opens in a new tab) uses a score from 1 to 5 to indicate student ability, where 1 is the lowest score and 5 is the highest. 

Colleges tend to consider scores of 4 or 5 as good. Each college, however, sets its own advanced placement criteria, so a score of 3 could also be enough to gain advanced placement. Most colleges consider a score of 1 or 2 as low and do not permit advanced placement.

This table lays out each AP exam score and the degree of recommendation the score indicates, along with an equivalent college score.

What Is a Good AP Grade?

It depends on your target college.

For most students, a 3 or above is considered a good AP score, as it demonstrates competence at college level. However, if you're applying to highly selective universities, like Duke (opens in a new tab), a 4 or 5 is often required before credit is awarded.

The best approach is to check the AP credit policy at each of your target colleges directly, so you know exactly what score to aim for in each subject.

How Are AP Grades Calculated?

You will be given an AP score for each paper you take. For example, if you take AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2, you will be given two scores. 

Most AP courses are assessed by means of one written examination. This typically includes two sections, multiple choice followed by an essay or free response section. 

In different subjects and examinations, each section is weighted differently, as explained on the AP courses pages on the College Board website (opens in a new tab).

For example, in the AP Physics 1 examination (opens in a new tab), the 40 multiple-choice questions are weighted equally to the four free-response questions, even though the recommended timing allocations are different.

Physics 1 Assessment Example

Each free-response or essay question is evaluated for its overall effectiveness using a 1 to 9 scale. 1 is the least, and 9 the most effective response. Raw free response scores are added to the multiple choice total to give an overall composite score.

Not all courses are assessed in this way. For example, AP 2-D Art and Design is assessed via a digital portfolio.

How are AP Grade Boundaries Decided?

Exam composite scores vary between subjects and papers, depending on the number of questions and how marks are weighted. 

The College Board uses a standard-setting process to convert composite scores into final AP grades, meaning the boundaries can change slightly from year to year.

This process involves comparing AP student performance with that of college students on equivalent courses, helping ensure that each AP grade reflects a consistent standard of achievement.

How to Interpret Your AP Results

With only five possible grades, it’s easy to see how well you have performed and whether your college will accept you for advanced placement. Appeals and resits are possible if you are disappointed with your grade. 

If you achieve a 1 or 2, you can appeal for the multiple choice section of your test to be remarked, for a cost of $30. When multiple-choice tests are submitted, they are scored by a computer, so when you appeal, the test is then re-scored by a human. Your score can go up or down, and it cannot be appealed again. This is then the final score. 

The free-response section of an exam cannot be remarked, but you can request a copy, which costs $15. 

It is possible to resit an AP exam, but only in May of the following year. It is important to consider carefully whether resitting an AP exam is worth it. Will a higher score mean you can gain an advanced placement in that course? Will you be able to study hard and achieve a higher score with the time and resources you now have available?

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is a 3 a passing AP grade? 

Yes. The College Board officially considers a score of 3 to be "qualified" and a passing grade. However, whether a 3 earns you college credit depends on the individual policies of each university. Some schools require a 4 or 5, so always check with your target colleges. 

Is a 2 a bad AP score? 

A 2 indicates partial understanding and is not considered passing by the College Board. No colleges currently award credit for a 2. If you receive a 2, you are not required to submit it to colleges on your application.

Do AP scores expire? 

No. College Board does not put an expiry date on AP scores. However, individual colleges may have their own policies about how recent scores need to be, so it is worth confirming with any institution you are applying to.

Improve Your AP Scores with Save My Exams

Whatever score you’re aiming for, structured revision makes a real difference. Here's how Save My Exams can help you to improve your AP scores:

1. Detailed revision notes that cover exactly what you need to know for your exams.

2. Past papers are the perfect tool to help you become familiar with the real thing.

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With everything you need in one place, you can spend less time searching, and more time understanding and practicing.

And, by using these resources consistently, you’ll develop a stronger understanding of your AP courses, boosting your exam confidence.

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References

• College Board – AP Score Scale Table (opens in a new tab)

• Duke - Advanced Placement Credit (opens in a new tab)

• College Board - AP Courses and Exams (opens in a new tab)

• College Board - AP Physics 1 (opens in a new tab)