What is AP and how is it scored?
AP (Advanced Placement) is the name of the university-level courses and exams that College Board offers to high school students. For 2026 and 2027 there are 42 courses and exams. Each exam is scored from 1 to 5.
- 5: extremely well qualified (equal to an A+ or A grade at university)
- 4: very well qualified (A-, B+ or B)
- 3: qualified (B-, C+ or C)
- 2: possibly qualified
- 1: no recommendation
An AP score can help in two different places: in your application, to show your academic preparation, and after you start university, to earn credit or an exemption.
Credit rules differ from school to school
According to College Board, most universities in the US give credit, an exemption or both for a high enough AP score. Each school decides for itself which score is high enough and what it gives in return. Many institutions in more than 60 countries outside the US also recognize AP scores for credit or exemption.
To show the difference, we put the official rules of two schools side by side:
| AP exam | MIT (fall 2026 entry) | UC Irvine |
|---|---|---|
| Calculus AB | No credit for a 5. You can enter the accelerated 18.01A/18.02A course. | 3, 4 or 5: 4 units for Mathematics 2A or 5A |
| Calculus BC | 5: credit for course 18.01 | 3: 8 units. 4 or 5: the 2A and 2B (or 5A and 5B) sequence |
| Chemistry | No credit | 3: 8 elective units. 4 or 5: Chemistry 1A and 4 elective units |
| Physics C: Mechanics | A 5 on either of the two Physics C exams earns credit for 8.01 | 5: 4 units for Physics 3A |
| Computer Science A | No credit | 3, 4 or 5: 8 elective units |
| Statistics | No credit | 3, 4 or 5: 4 units for Statistics 7 or 8 |
MIT gives credit only for a 5 and says these rules may change for later entry years. We suggest you check the policy of your target schools in College Board's AP Credit Policy Search tool or on the school's own page.
The role of AP in your application
Some universities use AP not only for credit but also in the admission decision.
- Cambridge usually expects applicants using the US system to have at least 5 AP exams with a score of 5 for 2027 entry, in subjects related to the field they apply for. For mathematics it prefers AP Calculus BC, and for physics the two Physics C exams. It also asks for an SAT or ACT score.
- Yale does not require AP scores, but it encourages students who took AP courses to send them. At Yale, AP does not replace the SAT or ACT. An SAT or ACT score is required.
Cambridge does not consider a US high school diploma alone to be enough preparation. So students who aim for the United Kingdom and study in the US system should plan their courses early.
Which subjects make sense?
As a general rule, we suggest you choose subjects related to your target field. Cambridge also expects AP exams to relate to the field you apply for. The groups below are a starting point:
- Engineering and science: Calculus BC, Physics C: Mechanics, Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, Chemistry
- Computer science: Calculus BC, Computer Science A, Physics C: Mechanics
- Economics and business: Calculus AB or BC, Statistics, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics
- Social sciences and law: English Language and Composition, United States History, World History: Modern, European History, Psychology
Calculus BC and the Physics C exams are on Cambridge's preferred list and also among the exams that MIT gives credit for. If you are thinking about engineering, it helps to focus on these subjects.
2027 exam calendar
The 2027 AP exams run from 3 to 14 May 2027, and the late-testing week is 17 to 21 May 2027. The days of some of the exams named above:
- 3 May: Physics C: Mechanics
- 4 May: Microeconomics
- 5 May: Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
- 6 May: Chemistry
- 7 May: Macroeconomics, United States History
- 10 May: Calculus AB, Calculus BC
- 11 May: Statistics
- 12 May: English Language and Composition, Computer Science A
Start times can be different outside the US. Your school or the exam center's AP coordinator will tell you the time.
Registration, fees and results
- Registration: Students do not register themselves. Your school or an authorized AP exam center does the registration.
- Deadline: The exam order for full-year and fall-term courses closes on 13 November 2026 at 11:59 pm US Eastern Time. Centers may set an earlier internal date.
- Late orders: Orders placed between 14 November 2026 and 12 March 2027 carry an extra fee of $40 per exam.
- Fee: $129 per exam for the 2027 exams outside the US. Your school or exam center may charge more to cover supervision and administration costs.
- Results: Most scores are released in July.
- Sending to a school: Until 20 June 2027 you can send your 2027 score report to one university or scholarship program of your choice at no extra charge.
If you plan to take the exam in Türkiye, we suggest you talk to the center in September or October. That way you will not miss the deadline in mid-November.
How many AP courses should you take?
There is no number that is right for everyone. Some schools, such as Cambridge, state the number clearly, while many do not. Instead of increasing the number of courses, we suggest you aim for good scores in courses related to your target field. It also helps to consider your school's course load and the exam calendar in May.
Related pages
Last checked: 23 October 2026. Rules and fees may change; we check the current situation together before you apply.
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