I recently got a 4 on the AP Lang and Comp Exam but I never took the class as I was coached by my teacher
It does show initiative, and can only help you… but be aware many students do it. I feel It might show more initiative if it was a course like computer science that you self taught yourself (as opposed to English which lets be honest you’ve had classes in your whole life - assuming you are a US student).
To show how common that is… I did that too - with both AP Lang and APES. But, yes, it does show initiative.
I doubt the Us even know what APs you took and what your scores were until after you’ve been accepted, so unfortunately, I feel the role is just to give you credits if the U you will be attending gives credits for particular scores in specified AP courses. S entered his U with 60 credits due to all the APs he took. That was the max his U allowed. He took some AP exams self-studied (no class nor coaching) and got 5s.
Was there a good reason for taking it, such as you plan to major in that area? If so, it certainly can’t hurt. My D did the same with AP psych and got a 5, but her app made it clear that she is interested in majoring in psych. If it is clear there is a reason, I feel that is much better than trying to rack up AP scores.
AP exams aren’t used for college admission. A college might give you credits for it AFTER you’ve admitted and enrolled, though.
Self-study for the exam only if you have a genuine passion for the subject.
If your main objective in self-studying is to impress college AdComms, then your time would be better spent on an EC that doesn’t make you look like a studying drone.