How recent must be AP scores to be considered for AP credit?

<p>I just read on another CC thread that some schools do not consider SAT II scores more than 3 yrs old. For instance, an outstanding Math SAT II taken in 8th grade is no longer acceptable 4 years later, when the student applies as a high school senior. The student must retake the test and submit a new score. It occurred to me that there might be some related questions about AP scores. So:</p>

<p>1) Are there any colleges that put a similar limit on the time validity of AP scores when considered for AP credit? Say a student obtained an AP score at the end of 9th grade. Will that score be given the same consideration for AP credit as more recent scores when the student enrolls in college 4 (or more) years later? Are there any colleges that might disregard such an early score when awarding AP credit?</p>

<p>2) Are there any written or non-written rules regarding consideration of such early scores (and classes) as proof of academic rigor? If yes, at what schools? </p>

<p>Any info much appreciated.</p>

<p>As to what you may have seen for SAT, be aware that colleges do not use for admission any SAT taken in 8th grade or before. That has long been a rule and is not something new. </p>

<p>There is no “three” year rule for SAT but colleges generally require that the SAT test be no more than five years old when applying and that is because the College Board, which administers the test, states that tests that are more than five years old are no longer reliable for prediciting the student’s potential. As long as it is not more than five years old, those taken in freshman year in high school are fine. College Board does not state that five year disclaimer for AP exams but there are some colleges that require AP exams to be no more than five years old at time of applying to get credit. Otherwise, any AP taken freshman to senior year in high school can receive credit at any college. Moreover, there is no bar to getting credit if you took the AP exam in 8th grade but as a practical matter you are unlikely to have AP tests during 8th grade.</p>

<p>The age of tests might be an issue for a student who took them in high school but then did something other than college after graduating from high school (e.g. work or military service) and later wants to apply as a freshman to colleges.</p>

<p>The College Board will report AP exam scores indefinitely. CLEP exam scores expire after 20 years. What a college/university chooses to make of “older” exam scores, or whether a college/university accepts “older” college credits for transfer is entirely up to that institution. Pick up the phone and call the institution in question, and ask.</p>

<p>@drusba: I do know the SAT I rule regarding scores from middle school. But, yes, there seems to be a 3 year rule on top of the 5 year College Board disclaimer, at least for Harvard. My question concerns the AP scores. You say there are “some colleges that require AP exams to be no more than five years old at time of applying to get credit”. Do you know of any specific schools? </p>

<p>@ucbalumnus: True. And if the age of the scores must be 3 years or less, that would apply to gap years too. Hopefully it’s not the case, but I’d really like to make sure it isn’t.</p>

<p>@happymomof1: Of course I can pick up the phone and call, but I did not ask WHAT to do, did I now?</p>