What's a Perfect AP Score?

I've been taking a few AP classes and I'm wondering—what is considered a perfect AP score, and how rare is it for students to achieve that? I'd appreciate any info you can give me!

A perfect AP score is a 5, which is the highest score you can receive on an AP exam. The AP exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 representing "extremely well qualified" to receive college credit for the subject. A score of 4 means you are "well qualified," while a 3 means you are "qualified." Scores of 2 or 1 generally are not seen as sufficient for college credit.

Achieving a perfect AP score of 5 is a notable accomplishment but not extremely rare. The percentage of students who receive a 5 varies by subject and year. For example, in some subjects like AP Calculus BC and AP Physics C: Mechanics, around 30-40% of test-takers score a 5. On the other hand, for more popular subjects like AP English Language and Composition or AP World History, the percentage of students scoring a 5 is often closer to 10-15%. The College Board releases data on the distribution of scores for each AP subject every year, so you can get a better understanding of how rare a score of 5 is within a specific subject.

It's important to remember that while a score of 5 is impressive, a score of 4 is still considered strong and can qualify you for college credit at many schools. Furthermore, taking AP classes and exams shows colleges that you've challenged yourself academically by participating in rigorous courses. Good luck with your AP exams!