<p>Regarding impact on college applications, I would be more concerned about the low grade in the class than not taking the AP exam, or getting a low score on the exam. To begin with, not everyone takes the AP exam at the end of the course, and I don’t think schools necessarily “wonder” why students didn’t – some just choose not to, if their high school doesn’t require it. Although you can self-report your AP exam scores on the common app, you are not required to do so, and many schools, even very selective schools, will tell you that they do not consider AP scores in admissions, they are just looking to see if you have taken the most rigorous courses available to you. You only need to send AP scores to a school “officially” if you are seeking credit or to get out of a prereq, once you are admitted, and if you are not, you don’t ever have to send them.</p>