Good SAT Subject Test score but bad AP Score

Applying to College
1

Hello,

I am a rising senior and recently received my scores for all the tests that I took a while ago. Although most of them were great one of my scores was bad.

I received a 3 on my AP Physics C Exam.

I want to know how bad this hurts my chances of getting into a good college.

Here’s some other information that you might need to know:

  1. I want to be a Physics major
  2. I got an 800 on my Physics Subject test
  3. I got a 5 on AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, and my many other APs
  4. I got an 800 on my Math II Subject test
  5. I got a 36 on the ACT
  6. I plan on applying to MIT, Caltech, and some other highly competitive schools

Thank you all in advance,

2

It won’t, AP scores aren’t looked at for admission purposes, only credit and placement.

3

A 3 is fine, you don’t need to worry.

4

800 on the SAT subject test means that you know the material well by regular high school level expectations.

3 on the AP test means that you know the material passably by AP level (approximately college frosh level, though it depends on the specific test and college) expectations, which are higher than regular high school level expectations.

There is no contradiction here.

5

I agree, this means as a HS junior, you got the equivalent of a C in a second semester college freshman course. Not so bad.