Should I report a 4 on an AP exam to colleges?

Hey guys, your average stressed junior here. So, I got a 4 on one of my AP exams and I’m not sure if that’s good enough to report to colleges? I mean, is a 4 looked down upon by admissions, or is it still considered a solid score? Any insight would help, thanks!

Hey there, no need to stress over a 4 on your AP exam—that's actually a great score! In the AP scoring system, a 4 is considered 'well qualified' and indicates that you have a strong understanding of the material. While it's true that more selective colleges might see a lot of 5s from applicants, a 4 is certainly not something that would count against you. In fact, many colleges grant credit or advanced placement for scores of 4 and above. If the rest of your application is strong, this AP score can complement your academic profile well.

You also have the discretion to choose which scores to send to colleges, so if you feel that a 4 doesn’t represent your best work, you might opt not to report it. However, in most cases, reporting a 4 can show colleges that you're challenging yourself with difficult coursework and still performing admirably. Just keep it in context with your overall application and the specific colleges you're applying to.

For example, if you're applying to a highly competitive program that is directly related to the AP subject, and you have other, stronger scores, you might focus on those. But generally, a score of 4 is something to be proud of!