Should I withhold bad AP scores?

Not submitting AP scores for AP courses students take at their high school can raise red flags. But there are no hard and fast rules, such as not submitting 4s or 3s, as some suggest because, in some cases, students should submit those lower scores since admissions officers will assume even worse if they withhold them.

Should I cancel bad AP scores?

So, if you didn't get the results you wanted, don't sweat it too much. Rather than cancel, you might consider just not reporting the score. Many colleges allow you to self-report the scores you feel best represent your abilities, and this can exclude any that aren't up to your expectations.

Should you report bad AP scores?

Bad AP scores will not affect your college admission. You don't have to report bad AP test scores to the universities to which you are applying. Even if you report bad scores, the college may still consider it commendable that you took on the coursework.

Do colleges care if you get a bad AP score?

Although AP scores are far from the most important part of your application, high scores can act in your favor, whereas a number of low scores can be a red flag. This is especially true at selective schools.

Does it look bad if you do bad on an AP test?

Colleges will not look at your score

You will not be required to send your AP score to your colleges unless you want to earn college credit.

Can Early Action Hurt You?

Will bad AP scores hurt me?

A bad AP score is often correlated with a poor grade in the corresponding course, which can hurt your GPA. While AP courses benefit you by improving your weighted GPA, it may not be worth it if your overall grade in the course is very poor.

What is the most failed AP exam?

At many high schools, AP Physics is notorious for its difficulty level. In addition, it has the lowest overall pass rate of any AP exam.

Will colleges reject you for bad AP scores?

A bad exam score doesn't affect your application that much if you are taking other AP classes and do well in those, make sure that your GPA isn't affected by this score. Colleges look at AP scores to analyze how well you would do in a basic college course, but don't worry about it too much.

Is getting a 2 on an AP test bad?

Generally speaking, a 2 is not a good AP score, as it is not considered a passing score by the College Board. If you get a 2 on your AP exam, it might be better not to submit that score to the colleges you're applying to.

Can you get a 0 on an AP exam?

To clarify, it's quite rare and quite difficult to get a score of 0 on an AP exam. Typically, scores range from 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest possible score that indicates the student likely wasn't prepared for the level of the content on the exam.

Is there a downside to sending in bad AP scores?

The college will not do anything for a bad AP score. This means they will not rescind your admission, but they also won't let you skip the class. All it shows is that you tried to take a college level class and didn't do well on the exam that covered the content in the class. That's it.

How do I hide my bad AP scores?

Is getting a 3 on an AP exam bad?

An AP® score of 3 is a respectable score. The College Board designates a 3 to be “qualified”. That means that you understood and executed the material to the point that you could pass the college class. While you did not receive the highest grade in the class, you did pass.

Is it better to cancel or withhold AP scores?

If you plan to cancel your score, use the score cancellation form. To withhold a score from colleges simply means that others are not informed you took the exam and are not shown your score. This is the safer option if you do have a score that you want removed from your record, since you can always change your mind.

Should I send my AP scores if I got a 2?

In short, all scores of 5 on AP exams should be reported to elite colleges. However, for scores of 4 or 3, submitting the scores is dependent on the student's coursework and other AP results. Scores of 2 or 1 should never be shared.

Should I report a 3 on an AP exam to Ivy League?

An AP Score of 3 or 4 will likely not get you any college credit or respect at a top school like Stanford/Ivies/MIT. A score of 5 may not either — top colleges like to think that their courses are more rigorous than APs and thus should not be passed out of, and earning a 5 is simply expected for top admits.

Should I report a 4 on an AP exam to Ivy League?

I'd recommend you include your AP score of 4 on your application, especially if it's in a subject area related to your intended major or area of interest.

Do AP scores really matter?

Colleges and universities use AP exam scores as a factor in the admissions process, but they do so while considering them alongside the student's GPA, extracurricular activities, and other application information. Said differently, AP exam scores are just one factor in making admissions decisions.

Does Harvard not look at AP scores?

Harvard only accepts AP® scores of 5 for course credit. If you have 4 scores of 5, you can opt to obtain Advanced Standing. You can use AP® credits to opt-out of lower-level classes. Harvard has general academic requirements that all students must take.

What is the lowest AP pass rate ever?

1. AP Physics 1. Despite a reputation as one of the most difficult AP classes, Physics 1 is also one of the most popular—144,526 students took it in 2022. Physics 1 has the lowest pass rate of any AP exam (43.3%) along with one of the lowest percentages of students scoring a 5 (just 7.9%).

What is the least passed AP class?

AP Physics 1 is the hardest AP class with the least passing rate of 51.6. It means almost half of the students fail this exam. It's 3 hours exam consist of 50 MCQs and 5 free-response questions.

Why do so many students fail AP exams?

“The students need to recheck the practice material throughout the semester to see if what they're learning in class seems to mesh with what they'll be asked on the exam. Students who aren't in touch with the pending exam questions are blindsided by low exam grades after succeeding in the course itself.”

Is getting a 4 on an AP exam bad?

A 4 or a 5 is the AP score that will most likely earn you college AP credit. Of course, no matter how you do on the AP test, you still get a grade for that AP class from your high school. Good grades in AP courses always look good on your transcript!

Is a 50% on AP exam a 3?

A 50% is considered a 3 or passing. This is when your AP credit is considered in colleges for being qualified, well qualified or extremely well qualified.

Are AP tests curved?

AP Exams are never scored on a curve, and this year is no different.