Hello, I am a junior and my AP classes are AP Calculus AB, AP Biology, AP Language Composition, AP Studio Art… I’m worried that I’m not gonna do well on the AP exams. My question is: if I get a 2 or 1 on all of them, would that ruin my entire application process? When you apply to colleges, do you have to tell them your AP scores on the application? I know that my teacher told me you can choose to not show the scores to college, but colleges must know that hiding a score indicates the student did bad on that exam…? Thank you in advance for any help. 
You don’t have to report your scores to colleges when you apply. Many colleges count AP exams for very little in the admissions process- they are used primarily to get credit at the school you matriculate at.
AP scores are self-reported in the application process, so don’t report any scores you think are bad, @brandonmacd1 . Nothing wrong with doing so. ( @yonceonhismouth is correct )
I agree…imagine that many students take AP test as seniors but you have already been accepted at a college when you take those exams.
They might think that. Alternatively, they might think that the student was financially unable to afford the exam. Regardless, it’s really not going to matter in the admissions process.
Anyway, think positive. Don’t worry about things that might not happen and strive for a 5, which will make this whole thread moot. 
Kids don’t take AP exams for many reasons - costs as mentioned above, maybe they have 4 (or whatever number) of AP classes on top of upcoming finals and can’t rock all of them, so they focus on subjects most important to them. They may have a great grade in the class and subject test score and that is enough for them. There can be so much going on in May, you need to balance yourself to do well where you can and not tank everything because of too much. Not submitting a score doesn’t mean you are hiding one. Take them or don’t, submit scores or don’t. I would try to focus on the ones you have a better chance of doing well on and if time is limited, don’t stress the others or the less important exams based on what you direction you are going (science or not). We paid for five last year and D didn’t bother taking one of them. Overload city. Didn’t matter at all.
Prior to this year, accommodations of any kind were next to impossible to get on AP exams, even if you had an IEP with accommodations at your school. (Fortunately that’s now been changed. Woot!) Anyway, both my kids are entitled to extended time and never got it on those exams, and as a result both have a slew of disappointing results. (Lots of 2s. A couple of 1s. Just a smattering of 3s and 4s, in their strongest subjects.) But they’re both top students with great ACT scores (ACT gave them extended time) and both were accepted everywhere they applied. Don’t sweat it.
@yankeeinGA. My d17 is taking apush, apes and ap art. She is doing the ap art portfolio so that will count as an ap exam (to the extent that matters). She is signed up (much to her chagrin) to take the apush exam but not the apes. She really has little interest in apush and has no intent of studying for it. I signed her up to do an 8 hour crash study course this Sunday. The more I think about it - the more I think it’s all a waste of time and she shouldn’t bother. She has fallen in love with University of Colorado Boulder and it’s her top choice. Her stats are strong enough that she should get in there regardless of AP test scores (29 ACT, 3.9 will take act again). She gets extended time accommodations too but that won’t make a difference is she doesn’t study! Thoughts? Thanks
@clementine7624 apush does knock out a GE requirement at many colleges allowing them to take something more interesting or they want to take. You have already paid for the test and you don’t have to report the score, so it may be worthwhile sitting in for it - but if you are certain she will do poorly, or it will cause a lot of stress, maybe not. While AP tests are very difficult, sometimes when there is no pressure to do well, they just do better. I don’t recall mine investing a ton of time in the apush exam (compared to math and others) and they ended up doing well, getting the credit which was a nice benefit. Having something else good to report on the application never hurts. And if not good, don’t report it.
Thanks @CADREAMIN -that is pretty much where I ended up because I checked the website for Boulder and if she gets a 3 - she gets credit. So worth a try
My kid is taking AP Computer Science and the teacher knows next to nothing. Anything DD learned in that class was self taught. Schools know there are plenty of situations like this out there. Don’t worry about holding back the score.
I’m with @CADREAMIN – unless it will just traumatize her, might as well try the exam. I don’t think it matters for admissions at all, and if she scores high enough, bonus, she gets to skip something else. I’d encourage her to make the most of the crash course and study enough to get credit.