So many students are freaking out about whether or not the test scores will hurt them in college admissions or whether or not they look bad. I’m here to let you know that you do not need to worry about them. You could get a 1 and maybe that shows a poor understanding of the topic, but it won’t hurt you. Colleges care more about the fact that you took an AP class and challenged yourself. AP scores are used for credit and placement, not for admissions. Don’t worry about a low grade. You will be fine. I promise you.
Um, no.
You (from what I have seen) make an awful lot of definitive declarations on this board, without providing proof or even an explanation of your reasoning.
For students applying to competitive schools who are coming from relatively unknown public high schools, poor AP scores (note the plural) can definitely cast some doubt on the rigor of your course load.
@NickFlynn Ask @skieurope
Cali, this is something that YOU cant “promise”
You have no way of “knowing” what goes on in the rooms where admissions decisions are made.
Do you seriously think that admissions committees at top colleges are going to ignore AP scores of 1-3 when evaluating and making decisions about which applicants to admit and which to reject ? IF the committee HAS a students AP test results there is no reason to think they would ignore them, anymore than they would ignore subject tests scores. Those test scores confirm whether a student actually understood the subject material.
It is naive to think KNOWN AP tests scores are ignored when admissions decisions are being made.
They are ALSO used for credit and placement, at some colleges.
I would not make a statement like this if it were not true. http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/articles-and-advice/test-prep/blog/icymi-ap-scores-dont-matter-college-admission/
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/exam-credit/ap-credits/index.html
http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/30/pennq-and-a-part-5/?_r=0
http://www.collegeadmissionspartners.com/college-testing/how-good-do-my-ap-scores-need-to-be/
Um, yeah, and that backs up your point how?
" If this is the case for your high school, it is imperative that you score well on AP exams. If a college admission officer sees that you got an A in an AP course—but scored a 1 or 2 on the associated AP exam—that raises a red flag. Either the high school exhibits grade inflation or you did not care to take the exam seriously."
Kind of what I was saying, right?
@NickFlynn You do not need to submit them. You said that I have no evidence for my claim. I just posted 5+ articles supporting what I said. Don’t start moving the goal posts now.
“You have not lost your chances for admission based on the results of your A.P. test results. If one of the tests is in an area critical to your success in a specific academic program, you may want to ask your teacher in that subject to write a letter of recommendation.”
THAT statement from the head of admissions at Penn does NOT say that " it won’t hurt you" as you originally said.
And skiEuropes admissions results - which are 1 data point- are NOT PREDICTIVE of admissions decisions for ALL students with lower AP scores. .You are extrapolating without enough facts .
That article ALSO does NOT SAY that AP scores are NOT a factor. 8-|
An admissions officer at a selective school told me that she likes to see an applicant have a 5 on either Calc AB/BC or Chem.
While this obviously doesn’t mean they reject students who don’t have such a score, it definitely shows that it “matters”.
Not to mention, if applying to schools in the UK, AP scores are probably the most important factor after SAT’s.
AP scores matter for admissions to highly competitive colleges. And that’s IME, not the thoughts of a student or a parent poster. Not an anecdote of one kid, without knowing the rest of how he/she overcame.
Why does so danged much CC advice tell kids to lay back? You’re competing against thousands with strong records, academic and in activities. If you want a tippy top, be on top of your game.
Btw, 3 of those 5 sources are from private counselor services. Many consultants make their living by convincing families they hold some special secret understanding and that families “need” their (expensive) help to navigate through the booboos. Consider the source. Look for the spin. Filter. There are a few I completely trust on CC, but that comes from listening to them, over time.
That’s a life lesson.
Even the CB says it on their apscores website. So to the people on here reason this, you have 6 sources you can go to. Don’t worry about your AP scores. They won’t hurt you in admissions. I’m just trying to present info. You can choose to worry if you want, but you should save those gray hairs for something else in life 
I would say it is specific to the university you are looking to apply to or attend. Each one will have its own policy. The couple I specifically asked of the admissions staff each said they do not have access to the AP scores even if sent in and do not consider them in admissions. But that was only three schools specifically asked.
Absolutes can be irresponsible. The best sources are individual schools. In general, I advise self-reporting 4s and 5s to the most competitive colleges unless they are on your transcripts. They can help. Some schools (and the humans they hire to read) will consider them, some will not.
From College Board:
If I don’t get a good score on an AP Exam, will it hurt my chances for college admission?
Most likely not. Nearly 60 percent of all AP Exams are scored 3 or higher, indicating that the majority of AP students are succeeding at college-level course work. When we surveyed 100 admission officers, more than 75 percent indicated that a low score on an AP Exam would NOT harm an applicant’s admission prospects. (However, admission officers at highly selective colleges and universities appeared more likely to consider a low score a concern in the admission process.) When making admission decisions, colleges consider many more factors than just exam scores, including the strength of your course work and your GPA in rigorous courses. Colleges want to see that you are taking the most rigorous course work available to you. By enrolling in AP courses you demonstrate that you are interested in challenging yourself and learning at a college level.
https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/help#faq10
http://www.petersons.com/college-search/ask-experts-college-admission.aspx
Cali, 3 of your sources are consultants. UC says, “…AP test scores lower than 3 will not adversely affect their chances for admission.” But is does NOT say a student can be max competitive if the scores are low. That’s an important distinction for schools with high competition. The thousands of others with 4 and 5 will have that extra validation and be better positioned
And Penn hedges.
I am telling you we look at AP- absolutely. It is a factor in how one competes against so many thousands of strong candidates. Yes, low scores can hurt you. As can not reporting scores related to the possible major, if you took the class(es) before senior year. Yes, they are self-reported. (If a hs doesn’t offer AP, that’s not a liability.)
You cannot proclaim. You don’t know. Any kid who had a low score not matter will have had much more in the package that helped overcome. And that’s not as simple as saying the rest of the stats were high.
^^ "You can choose to worry if you want, but you should save those gray hairs for something else in life "
And you can choose to bust your tail and work hard to make the most of your situation, or you can be a slacker.
The worry should have come well before the test scores - as in, when you were taking the course and learning the material for the test.
If your only point is “Once it’s done, it’s done”, I suppose that’s fair. Don’t worry. Be happy.
Worry can be helpful when it leads to constructive action. One of D’s friends scored a 2 on her first AP exam, which she took as a freshman (in Bio). She hadn’t taken the AP Bio course, but Honors Level Bio, and had tried to learn the additional material herself. Her stepfather passed away 3 weeks before the exam.
She ended up changing her schedule for the fall, taking the actual AP Bio course, and ultimately scored a 5 the next year. She used the experience as the basis for one of her scholarship essays, and she will be attending State Flagship in the fall.
A bad score is not the end of the world. However, IMHO, blanket statements along the lines of “Don’t worry” that could be easily misinterpreted as “you don’t have to do anything” can be harmful. A bad score can be the kick in the pants that some kids need to start growing up.
It isn’t just about college admissions…
If you got an A in an AP course, but a low score on the AP exam, be worried that your high school may be teaching that course (and perhaps others) poorly, so that actual college courses (in any college) may be a shock to you in terms of how much material they will cover how deeply compared to what you are used to from high school, including AP courses.
This is actually a really interesting discussion.
Below is a link to a video by Erinn Andrews, a lady who claims to be a former Stanford admissions officer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96XL8vBBB7o
The video focuses on Case Study 2, but notice how she circled the AP score of 2 on the Case Study 1 column. Even for Case Study 2, she made a reference to the good AP scores, but acknowledged that it was light.
Sure you don’t have to submit that score of 2, but if you attend a public school where AP Exams are free, and your courseload says that you took 5 or so AP classes, but only submitted the scores for 2 AP classes, then it’ll probably look suspicious.
“you have 6 sources you can go to”
=))
3 of these “sources” are companies which are PAID to assure naive parents that their D/S has a good chance of acceptance.
They are hardly impartial sources.
“Even the CB says it on their apscores website.”
read more carefully next time.
As twicearound posted above , that’s not what it says. There is this very important disclaimer that applies to students vying for tip top colleges-
'However, admission officers at highly selective colleges and universities appeared more likely to consider a low score a concern in the admission process."
Concern = likely rejection at highly selective colleges.
Admissions officers at the most selective colleges are looking for reasons to reject students, because there are way too many qualified applicants .
I got a mid 90s in an AP class and got a 4 on the exam. Would that be something to worry about? I’m sort of happy with the four but I’m not sure if it will discredit my high grade. This is my first AP and it was Bio so I’m a little new to this.