Reporting AP exam scores

Okay, so I’ve just checked my AP scores for this year and I really really messed up on AP Biology… On my other four exams (Art History, Chinese, Calc AB, Statistics), I’ve all gotten 5s, but I got a 3 on AP Biology… Throughout highschool, I’ve been focusing mainly on biology, so attending a research program related to biology last summer and doing a biology internship this summer. So, would it be super bad and strange if I didn’t report my AP Biology score? I’m looking at schools like Dartmouth and Williams, so I feel like they’d consider a 3 to be a pretty bad score. Thanks so much for the help!

you could try to take the test again next year, but you may do worse because you haven’t taken the class in a year. I don’t think a 3 would be that bad. It certainly wouldn’t help you, but I don’t think it would be a reason not to admit you. Best of luck

With so many good scores to report, I would not report the bio one.

Tough call. I have heard the pro’s and con’s of selective AP reporting (why show a weak score when you have plenty of good) vs. reporting everything (the AO might assume the worse if you don’t report an AP score of an AP class that shows up on your transcript). My son opted for full disclosure, including a 3 with a bunch of 5’s, and this did not hurt him (got in everywhere he applied, including the tippy tops). I would probably lean in the direction of disclosing if the rest of your application is going to show a focus on biology as you indicated. A 3 is not great, but it won’t leave the AO wondering if it were a 1 or a 2. A 3 on one AP exam is not the reason you will be denied admissions. If you are looking at Dartmouth and Williams, I am assuming your GPA and primary test scores (SAT or ACT) are top notch. The one 3 is pretty far down the list of importance.

My DD did the same, reported s bunch of fives and one three, she of attending UChicago.

I know it would be tough but I would retake it since you are focusing one these school. I self studied AP Chemistry and ended up with a pretty good score. If you can’t, then yes, don’t report it.