AP Award Levels: What's the Difference?

Yo, I've heard about different AP award levels you can earn based on your scores. Can anyone explain the differences between them and what it takes to earn each level? How much do colleges care about these awards?

Hey there! There are indeed different AP award levels that the College Board bestows upon students based on their AP exam scores. Here's a breakdown of the different award levels and the requirements for each:

1. AP Scholar: To earn this designation, you must score a 3 or higher on at least three AP exams.

2. AP Scholar with Honor: For this award, you need to achieve an average score of at least 3.25 across all your AP exams and score a 3 or higher on a minimum of four exams.

3. AP Scholar with Distinction: To be recognized as an AP Scholar with Distinction, you must have an average score of at least 3.5 across all your AP exams and score a 3 or higher on at least five exams.

4. AP State Scholar: This award is given to the top male and female students in each U.S. state and the District of Columbia. Awardees must have the highest combination of AP exam scores and averages of at least 3.0 on all their exams.

5. National AP Scholar: This prestigious award requires an average score of at least 4.0 across all your AP exams and a score of 4 or higher on at least eight exams.

Regarding how much colleges care about these awards, it's important to remember that these distinctions are a supplementary part of your college application, rather than a primary focus. While the awards can help strengthen your application and demonstrate your academic dedication, colleges typically place more importance on the actual AP courses you've taken and the grades you've earned in those classes. This is because they're more interested in assessing your overall academic performance and course rigor, rather than focusing solely on your exam scores and the corresponding awards.

In summary, AP awards can make a small positive impact on your college application, but they're not as significant as your grades, course load, and other factors. It's still a good idea to mention any AP awards you've earned in the honors section of your application, but don't worry too much if you don't receive a particular award level—colleges consider many other aspects of your profile as well.