<p>A 3 is NOT the same as a one.</p>
<p>Getting a "3" on an AP test demonstrates that you are capable of understanding a subject enough to successfully pass a college equivalent course.</p>
<p>Getting a "1" on an AP test demonstrates that you are not capable of understanding a subject enough to successfully pass a college equivalent course.</p>
<p>It's as simple as that. If you receive a "3", you are a LOT better off than a person who received a "1" or even a "2". Some colleges choose not to accept "3" scores because they only assure that I student would, under probable circumstances, pass a college course, not "excel". A student who would excel in a college course would probably receive a "4" or a "5".</p>
<p>Colleges may not accept "3"s, but that doesn't mean they treat it like you received a "1" on an AP test. Think of it this way... if someone got just "3"s on AP tests, he or she might not be exempt from certain college courses, but colleges would still see that he or she is capable of handling a challenging courseload, whereas a student who earned only "1"s might not even be accepted into the same school.</p>
<p>The point is... colleges still look at your AP scores, even if they don't excuse you from remedial classes if you don't score a "4" or a higher. Don't think that a "3" and a "1" are the same with colleges... they're not.</p>