AP Score Reports Linked by Social Security#

<p>When you take your AP exams, be careful to be consistent about reporting your social security # every time you take an AP test, or not at all. If you report it for one AP and don't report it for the next, College Board creates two separate, unlinked records. As a result, your college may not receive all your AP scores-and give you all the credit you're entitled to- and you may not receive the level of recognition (distinguished scholar, national scholar, etc...) to which you are entitled if you have successfully completed multiple AP exams. It doesn't matter that the names, addresses, dates of birth, etc...all match.</p>

<p>S's AP record was missing an exam result and we discovered that this was the reason why. Dispite warning D of this problem, she also neglected to be consistent (its easy to forget if you take tests over multiple years) and once again, she had missing AP scores. This can be fixed with the phone call, but if you were to just instruct College Board to send 'all' your AP results to your college, you are likely to discover at some later date that the information you thought you sent had only been partially communicated.</p>

<p>Some people who take APs don’t have social security numbers…</p>

<p>2wentyEight: Then you’d just have to be VERY consistent with the rest of the data you provide…OR very good about checking to be sure all your scores have been linked. </p>

<p>This happened to my D as well this year. We got her 9th grade reports. Then we got her 10th grade which included her 9th. But…when her 11th came, I just HAPPENED to remember that her 10th contained her 9th, so I wondered where they were and called to ask. </p>

<p>CollegeBoard had created a new account for her too. We got them linked very easily, but…BARELY in time before they sent the reports to the college. It could have been fixed either way. But, if one doesn’t KNOW this is happening, they don’t know to even ask about it.</p>

<p>My daughter had a new account created (probably?) because she used her middle initial for 2 years then didn’t do it the last year.</p>

<p>R124687: Aren’t people just given an AP number which they can use?</p>

<p>You do get an AP number assigned, but it changes every year. Of course, you can use it to sort out any problems that arise, but it won’t help in making sure your grades are linked.</p>

<p>However, I’ve taken all my APs without ever providing a social security number, and I haven’t had any problems. Just make sure not to let an anxious proctor rush you through filling out the form.</p>

<p>And remember that if you give a SS# one year, and leave it off the next, College Board creates a new account even though the names, addresses, birth dates and schools all match. It’s not very smart database design, frankly. This sort of internal integrity is easy to ensure but they have no incentive to do it.</p>

<p>2wentyeight:
Yes, you’re assigned an A/P number. But it’s different every year. And some kids (mine) wouldn’t save a piece of paper with a number on it if it was going to save their life! </p>

<p>So, year one you take a test and you’re given an A/P number. You can use that to call and check scores if you want. It’s moderately useless otherwise. </p>

<p>Next year, there is no reference to that number at all. You don’t enter it on your forms. You DO enter your SS# (if you know it…time to memorize it y’all…you’re growing up and that’s how you’ll be identified from now on…need it for health benefits etc), and you DO of course re-enter your name. You’re given a NEW A/P number. </p>

<p>So you send your test in and CB goes to record your scores. I’m sure it’s “automatic”. MANY MANY people have same first/last names. Without a SS# for verification…their system probably says “No match”…and auto-creates a new account.</p>

<p>So, that year, you receive ONLY that year’s grades (and so do any colleges you asked to have sent the grades!). So be sure to have it all linked by the time you take your senior tests, make sure your social is recorded on your account, and be sure to USE it on your senior tests. Or you’ll be sending scores to colleges that year for credit/placement and not even know they’re not getting them all.</p>