<p>I agree PKswmr76, AP exams not only test students on the material that they were supposed to learn in the school year, but also introduce students to college-level work. AP exams are a good way to see if applicants are capable of doing college work and passing a college-level examination. GPA is a bad measurements of academic skill because it varies from school to school; AP exams make up for that.</p>
<p>Even though they deny it, many top colleges consider AP exams in the admissions process. On two supplements (Yale and Princeton), there is a specific section to report them. If they don't consider AP score, then why do they put it on the application? Having good (3 or above) AP scores can help an applicant, but having a bad score can lead a admissions officer to grade inflation in the school. But standardized scores aren't everything, so din't stress about your 3 in chem.</p>