Should You Submit Your AP Scores?

As college application season rolls in, high school students are faced with more choices than ever—test-optional policies, essay prompts, activities lists, and the infamous "optional" AP scores. But if you’ve earned a 4 or 5 on an AP exam, is it worth reporting?

Short answer: Yes. And here’s why.

AP Scores Signal Academic Readiness Beyond Your GPA

Earning a 4 or 5 on an AP exam shows colleges that:

• You can succeed in college-level coursework.

• Your grades aren’t inflated by an easy class or teacher.

• You’ve mastered a nationally standardized curriculum in a subject area.

Even if your school doesn’t weight AP classes heavily, your score provides an objective benchmark. Admissions officers—especially at selective schools—rely on these external metrics to compare students from very different academic environments fairly.

A 2022 NACAC report showed that 73% of admissions officers at selective institutions rated "strength of curriculum" and "academic achievement in rigorous courses" as major factors in admission. Strong AP scores support both.

Not Submitting Scores Can Raise Questions

If you took an AP class, colleges can often see that on your transcript. If no score shows up, they may start asking:

• Did this student take the test and do poorly?

• Are they avoiding transparency?

It’s not always a red flag. But it can cast a shadow—especially if peers from your school are submitting high scores. In a test-optional world, optional doesn’t mean invisible. Omission can speak louder than submission.

AP Scores Can Save You Time and Money

Many colleges still award credit or allow placement out of introductory classes if you earn a 4 or 5, particularly in subjects like:

• Calculus (AB/BC)

• Biology, Chemistry, Physics

• English Language & Literature

• U.S. Government or History

• Economics

Submitting your scores early can help with course registration, give you flexibility to double major, and even let you graduate a semester early.

High Scores Still Strengthen Your Application (Even Without Credit)

Not every college offers credit for every AP exam, especially Ivy League and elite institutions. But strong scores still benefit you:

• They reinforce your academic focus or intended major.

• They give you a competitive edge for departmental honors or selective programs.

• They support your essays and teacher recommendations.

For example, applying as a Political Science major with 5s in AP U.S. Government and Comparative Government? That shows alignment between your transcript and your interests.

When Not to Submit an AP Score

There are cases where withholding a score is smart—such as:

• A 1 or 2 (or even a weak 3)

• An exam unrelated to your prospective major that doesn’t strengthen your story

• A score that looks out of place next to stronger ones

If you’ve got multiple 4s and 5s, sending a 3 in an unrelated area only waters down your report. Keep it clean and strategic.

Why AP Scores Matter More Than You Think

Submitting AP scores might seem like a minor detail—but it can elevate your application or subtly weaken it. In a sea of perfect GPAs, AP scores are one of the few standardized benchmarks left. They help colleges verify your transcript and trust that your A in AP Chemistry really meant something.

Colleges don’t require them—but they definitely notice when they’re missing.

What AP Scores Really Prove

While grades vary wildly by teacher or school, AP exam scores are externally scored by national graders. That means your 4 in AP Lit or 5 in AP Physics reflects real, verifiable knowledge—not just a lenient grading curve.

AP scores help:

• Validate your transcript

• Showcase subject mastery

• Signal college readiness

• Earn placement or credit (at many schools)

Score-by-Score: When to Submit, and When to Hold Back

5 – Extremely Well Qualified

Always submit. It confirms mastery, and even if it won’t earn credit (e.g., at Stanford or Yale), it reinforces your academic strengths.

4 – Well Qualified

Usually submit. Especially if it relates to your major or fills a GPA gap. Great for schools like NYU, Michigan, or Duke.

3 – Qualified

It depends. Submit only if:

• Your school gives credit for it

• It’s in a non-major subject

• Your other scores are limited

Avoid submitting if it weakens your academic narrative.

2 or 1 – Possibly/Not Qualified

Never submit. Withhold or cancel. They don’t earn credit and raise doubts—especially if you earned an A in the same class.

What It Says If You Don’t Submit Scores

Colleges will notice. If your transcript is packed with APs but your application has no matching scores, they’ll wonder why.

Here’s what it might look like to them:

Scenario	What Admissions Might Think
6 APs, no scores	“Did this student bomb the exams?”
10 APs, 4s and 5s only	“Smart. Strategic. Consistent.”
12 APs, just 2 scores	“Hmm… is this transcript inflated?”

Even if not explicitly penalized, you’ve now introduced doubt—and doubt can cost you in a competitive pool.

Real Example: Student A vs. Student B

• Student A: 19 APs, all A’s, no test scores submitted

• Student B: 12 APs, mostly A’s and B’s, 10 test scores submitted (all 4s and 5s)

Who do you trust more?

Student B. They showed their cards. Student A looks like they’re hiding something.

Tips for Smart Score Reporting

• Use 4s and 5s to back up your major, GPA, and narrative.

• Don’t clutter your profile with mixed signals.

• Cancel or withhold weak scores, especially in core subjects.

• Use the College Board Score Send tool carefully—select which scores go where.

• Research each college’s AP policies (some want all scores if you send any).

  
  

FAQs

Should I send a 3 on an AP exam?

Only if it’s in a non-major subject and earns credit. Otherwise, withhold.

Can I send some AP scores and not others?

Yes. Use the Score Send tool strategically.

Will colleges assume I failed if I don’t submit a score?

Not always, but they might wonder. Especially if it was in a major subject.

Do AP scores matter more now that SAT/ACT are optional?

Yes. They’re often the only standardized scores you submit.

Should I cancel or withhold a bad score?

Withhold if you may use it later. Cancel if you’re sure it won’t help at all.

Final Word

If you’ve got AP scores that match your academic story, show them off. If not, leave them out — just don’t overdo it.

In the end, AP scores are more than just numbers — they’re your receipts. And in admissions, proof beats promise every time.