When do AP scores come out?
AP scores come out in early July, about two months after the May exams. Here is what happened in 2026, what to expect for 2027, how to see your scores, and the deadlines that matter before release day.
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The short answer
AP scores are released in early July. In 2026, students could see their scores from Monday 6 July 2026, and colleges began receiving scores a few days earlier. The College Board announces the exact date for 2027 during the 2026-27 school year, so check the AP Students website in spring. Scores are released in waves, so a friend in another region may see theirs a little before or after you.
How to check your AP scores
- Sign in to your College Board account at the AP Students website, the same account you use for My AP.
- Open View your scores. You may need your AP ID or student ID if this is your first time.
- You will see a score from 1 to 5 for each exam you took this year, plus scores from earlier years.
If you cannot sign in, use the College Board's account recovery. Do not create a second account, or your scores may not appear.
Deadlines before release day
- Free score send: 20 June. Each year you take AP exams, you can send your scores to one college or university free, if you choose it by 20 June.
- After 20 June, sending scores costs a fee per report (the College Board lists $15 for standard delivery), and you can send them at any time.
- Score cancellation and withholding have their own deadlines in June, which are listed on the College Board website. Check them before your exams end if you are worried about an exam.
What the scores mean
- 5: extremely well qualified
- 4: very well qualified
- 3: qualified
- 2: possibly qualified
- 1: no recommendation
Many US colleges award credit or placement for a 3 or above, and more selective colleges often ask for a 4 or 5. Each college sets its own policy, so check the AP credit policy page of each one on your list.
Planning around release day
You take AP Physics 1 and AP Calculus AB in May 2027 and want to apply to a US university in the autumn. What should you do, and when?
- By 20 June 2027: choose one university for your free score send, if you already know your first choice.
- In early July 2027: check your scores in your College Board account.
- Over the summer: look up each university's AP credit policy and decide whether to self-report the scores on your applications. Many universities accept self-reported scores until you enrol.
Estimating your score before July
In practice exams you average 55% on AP Physics 1. Will that be a 3 or above?
- The College Board sets cut points each year, so there is no fixed percentage for each score.
- Use a score calculator built on the official scoring guidelines, such as our AP Physics 1 score calculator, to estimate your likely range.
- Treat the estimate as a guide only, and focus on the questions where you lost the most points.
If your score is lower than you hoped
- Check what each college requires: a 3 may still earn credit somewhere.
- Remember that AP scores are usually optional in applications. You choose which scores to report.
- Consider retaking the exam the next May if the subject matters for your course; both scores stay on your record unless you withhold one.
- Use the free-response questions from your year, published by the College Board, to see where you lost points.
AP scores for students outside the US
Students who take AP exams outside the US, including in India, get their scores on the same release day through the same College Board account, at the local time that matches the US release. If you took your exams at an authorised test centre, the centre cannot release scores early; they come only from the College Board. See our guide to AP exams in India.
What to do on release day
- Sign in and note each score, including exams from earlier years.
- Compare them with the AP credit policies of the universities on your list.
- Decide which scores to self-report on applications, and whether to send official reports now or later.
More questions
Can I cancel or withhold an AP score?
Yes, within the College Board's deadlines. Check the current dates on the AP Students website.
How long are AP scores kept?
The College Board keeps your AP scores on file, so you can send them to universities later, for a fee per report.
Common mistakes
- Missing the 20 June free score send because you wanted to see your score first.
- Creating a second College Board account and then not finding your scores.
- Assuming every college gives credit for a 3.
- Refreshing all day on release day: scores roll out in waves.
Practice questions
Try each one before opening the answer.
Q1. When were 2026 AP scores released to students?
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Q2. What is the deadline for the free score send?
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Q3. What does an AP score of 4 mean?
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Frequently asked questions
What time do AP scores come out?
The College Board releases scores in waves from the morning US Eastern time on release day. Students outside the US see them at the corresponding local time.
Can I see my AP scores early?
No. Scores are released to everyone from the College Board's release day, in waves.
Do colleges see my scores before I do?
Colleges you chose for score sends can receive them shortly before student release, as happened in 2026.
Key takeaways
- Scores come out in early July: 6 July in 2026.
- Check them in your College Board account.
- Choose your free score send by 20 June.
- Scores run from 1 to 5; credit policies vary by college.
- The 2027 date is announced by the College Board in the school year.