Is it possible to score a 0 on an AP exam? (2024)

FAQs

Is it possible to score a 0 on an AP exam? ›

To answer your question directly, no, you can't score a literal zero on an AP test; the scores range from 1 to 5. Even if you were to leave the entire test blank, you'd still get a 1. Now, to earn that score of 1, it means the test taker demonstrates no understanding of the material.

To clarify, it's quite rare and quite difficult to get a score of 0 on an AP exam. Typically, scores range from 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest possible score that indicates the student likely wasn't prepared for the level of the content on the exam.

AP tests are scored on a scale from 1 (low) to 5 (high). Get a 4 or higher, and you may be able to earn college credit without paying college tuition! Whether you just got your AP scores back or are considering taking an AP class, here's everything you need to know about AP scores.

Students who earn a 1 on their first AP Exam are also very likely (49%–70%) to take more AP courses and exams in high school. Many students who first earn an AP Exam score of 1 or 2 will then earn a higher score on the subsequent AP Exams they take.

So, a low score on an AP exam won't significantly impact your admissions chances, especially if your overall academic profile is strong and you got a good grade in the class itself.

The good news is that a failed exam does not affect your GPA. In addition, you can retake the AP exam the next year. To prepare, you can re-enroll in the class, study on your own, or hire a tutor who can help you tackle the more challenging subjects on the test.

Usually, a 70 to 75 percent out of 100 translates to a 5. However, there are some exams that are exceptions to this rule of thumb. The AP Grades that are reported to students, high schools, colleges, and universities in July are on AP's five-point scale: 5: Extremely well qualified.

Generally speaking, a 2 is not a good AP score, as it is not considered a passing score by the College Board. If you get a 2 on your AP exam, it might be better not to submit that score to the colleges you're applying to.

AP exams are scored 1 - 5, 3 is considered a score indicating the student is “qualified” and is considered by the college board to be the lowest passing grade.

AP test scores are indeed "curved," but it's more accurate to call it a "scaling process." Instead of a traditional curve that compares your performance to other students' performance, the AP exam scaling process converts your raw score (the number of points you earned through multiple-choice questions and free- ...

Do colleges care if you failed an AP exam? ›

Now, to address your concerns: Failing an AP exam isn't ideal, but it's not necessarily a deal-breaker for college admissions. Colleges generally care more about the rigor of your coursework and your grades than your AP exam scores.

To cancel a score is to completely remove it from the College Board's and your record. For that reason, you should not cancel unless you are certain that you never want anyone to know you took the exam in the future.

On the whole, a bad AP probably won't hurt you in and of itself, but it can be related to other concerns. A bad AP score is often correlated with a poor grade in the corresponding course, which can hurt your GPA.

AP exams have very little weight in the admissions process - the courses are what matter more (as do your grades). It won't necessarily look bad if you don't take the exam, but you may miss out on college credit if you end up going to a non-Ivy (or equivalent school).

Scores of three or lower aren't usually enough to give you any edge in admissions and might even have an negative impact on your application. These are best left off when you self-report your scores.

It depends upon how many total points are available and what the zero was out of possible points. If you have a 90/100 and a 0/100, that gives you a 45%, which is failing. If you have 90% of 1000 points and get a 0/100, that will land you with an 81.8%.

But what is a passing AP score? The College Board considers a score of 3 or higher a passing grade. That said, some colleges require a 4 or 5 to award credit. Whether a 3 is a good AP score depends on the colleges you're applying to.

The lowest possible score you can get on an AP exam, a 1 indicates that students were completely unfamiliar with the material. No U.S. colleges currently offer college credit for a score of 1. In some exams, earning a 1 is extremely rare, like in AP Studio Art, where only 1.1% of students earn a 1.