AP score distributions 2021

[Anonymous]

This website has the best presentation of AP score distributions, all in one chart, with commentary. The scores come directly from College Board tweets, as released. https://www.totalregistration.net/AP-Exam-Registration-Service/AP-Exam-Score-Distributions.php?year=2021

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of one exam, it seems most score distributions are lower this year (eg, 1/4 of APUSH test takers got 4/5 on exam vs 1/3 the prior year). Assuming that trend continues, do you believe colleges will note this (even for applicants from hs classes of 2023 and 2024 who are also impacted by this) or is that expecting too much minutia in their application review?

I wish College Board would separately release the score distributions for in person testers and digital testers. Could shed some light on impact of remote learning and cheating.

The premise for your question is that AP scores count for college admissions in the first place. In fact, they don’t.

Next question?

My child’s hs counselor advised that colleges may use AP test scores as another data point in admissions given the elimination of sat subject tests and test optional for sat/act tests. - OP

+1. My kids s counselor did as well. My kid only got the World History SAT subject test before they were cancelled. Her counselor said they would use APs instead. And that APs would help validate high grades during DL.

This is speculation. No college has said that they will use or require AP test scores for admissions.

University of Michigan said in their admissions video on YouTube that AP scores may be helpful for applicants that apply test optional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of one exam, it seems most score distributions are lower this year (eg, 1/4 of APUSH test takers got 4/5 on exam vs 1/3 the prior year). Assuming that trend continues, do you believe colleges will note this (even for applicants from hs classes of 2023 and 2024 who are also impacted by this) or is that expecting too much minutia in their application review?

I wish College Board would separately release the score distributions for in person testers and digital testers. Could shed some light on impact of remote learning and cheating.

The premise for your question is that AP scores count for college admissions in the first place. In fact, they don’t.

Next question?

My child’s hs counselor advised that colleges may use AP test scores as another data point in admissions given the elimination of sat subject tests and test optional for sat/act tests. - OP

I heard this directly from a college Admissions Director on a Zoom call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of one exam, it seems most score distributions are lower this year (eg, 1/4 of APUSH test takers got 4/5 on exam vs 1/3 the prior year). Assuming that trend continues, do you believe colleges will note this (even for applicants from hs classes of 2023 and 2024 who are also impacted by this) or is that expecting too much minutia in their application review?

I wish College Board would separately release the score distributions for in person testers and digital testers. Could shed some light on impact of remote learning and cheating.

The premise for your question is that AP scores count for college admissions in the first place. In fact, they don’t.

Next question?

My child’s hs counselor advised that colleges may use AP test scores as another data point in admissions given the elimination of sat subject tests and test optional for sat/act tests. - OP

I heard this directly from a college Admissions Director on a Zoom call.

And I have heard the same from a private college counselor. I mean, it's obvious. The only people who are fighting this are the ones whose kids aren't in AP classes.

[Anonymous]

Ha ha ha no one is fighting anything. We’re just not losing our minds and obsessing over the college admissions process as you are, nor are we taking the word of a few random people as gospel. Don’t worry, your little snowflake will get into college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am OP and not sure why what my child’s counselor said is “misinformation” but the experience of a pp whose child clearly applied to college before the change to no subject tests/test optional was solidified is currently applicable. Also in no way did I say or do I think that AP scores are the primary factor in college admissions. But I do think it is naive to think they may not have more weight given changes in testing requirements over the past year.

Anyway, for those who asked, the head of the AP Program at College Board has been tweeting the score distributions.

Your premise remains incorrect and your child’s counselor is speculating.

There are at least two pp’s on this board who have been told that OP’s premise is correct for this admissions cycle by the college admissions officers themselves.

Not to mention it’s very logical. It’s a standardized data point in a year in which the usual methods of comparison have been thrown in disarray. “How they did it before” is irrelevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ha ha ha no one is fighting anything. We’re just not losing our minds and obsessing over the college admissions process as you are, nor are we taking the word of a few random people as gospel. Don’t worry, your little snowflake will get into college.

Just go ahead and admit that your kid didn’t do well on their AP’s. It’s ok, your snowflake will get into college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ha ha ha no one is fighting anything. We’re just not losing our minds and obsessing over the college admissions process as you are, nor are we taking the word of a few random people as gospel. Don’t worry, your little snowflake will get into college.

Just go ahead and admit that your kid didn’t do well on their AP’s. It’s ok, your snowflake will get into college.

The scores haven’t been released yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of one exam, it seems most score distributions are lower this year (eg, 1/4 of APUSH test takers got 4/5 on exam vs 1/3 the prior year). Assuming that trend continues, do you believe colleges will note this (even for applicants from hs classes of 2023 and 2024 who are also impacted by this) or is that expecting too much minutia in their application review?

I wish College Board would separately release the score distributions for in person testers and digital testers. Could shed some light on impact of remote learning and cheating.

The premise for your question is that AP scores count for college admissions in the first place. In fact, they don’t.

Next question?

My child’s hs counselor advised that colleges may use AP test scores as another data point in admissions given the elimination of sat subject tests and test optional for sat/act tests. - OP

I heard this directly from a college Admissions Director on a Zoom call.

And I have heard the same from a private college counselor. I mean, it's obvious. The only people who are fighting this are the ones whose kids aren't in AP classes.

+1. We heard this from an admissions presentation for a top 20 SLAC. General theme was: we understand that you may not be able to submit everything you would have in a typical year. But, it’s in your best interest to submit anything you have (that reflects favorably on you).

I’m assuming parents fighting this have kids who believe they tanked the APs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ha ha ha no one is fighting anything. We’re just not losing our minds and obsessing over the college admissions process as you are, nor are we taking the word of a few random people as gospel. Don’t worry, your little snowflake will get into college.

And yet you are spending Sunday afternoon on DCUM arguing with strangers about college admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ha ha ha no one is fighting anything. We’re just not losing our minds and obsessing over the college admissions process as you are, nor are we taking the word of a few random people as gospel. Don’t worry, your little snowflake will get into college.

Just go ahead and admit that your kid didn’t do well on their AP’s. It’s ok, your snowflake will get into college.

The scores haven’t been released yet.

Juniors have their 10th grade scores as a baseline. And, there are always surprises, but in general many kids can predict their scores based on grades in the class, grade on the practice APs administered and how they feel about the test material. Maybe not enough to say a 4 vs 5. But I’m on Kid 2, and they have always gotten the 4/5s they expected. And DS had one 3. And he knew as soon as he took the test that he was looking at a 2-3.

Also, some kids are good test takers, and some are not.

And, of course, many private schools have done away with APs, and don’t have the chance this year to get a strong score to send to colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of one exam, it seems most score distributions are lower this year (eg, 1/4 of APUSH test takers got 4/5 on exam vs 1/3 the prior year). Assuming that trend continues, do you believe colleges will note this (even for applicants from hs classes of 2023 and 2024 who are also impacted by this) or is that expecting too much minutia in their application review?

I wish College Board would separately release the score distributions for in person testers and digital testers. Could shed some light on impact of remote learning and cheating.

The premise for your question is that AP scores count for college admissions in the first place. In fact, they don’t.

Next question?

My child’s hs counselor advised that colleges may use AP test scores as another data point in admissions given the elimination of sat subject tests and test optional for sat/act tests. - OP

+1. My kids s counselor did as well. My kid only got the World History SAT subject test before they were cancelled. Her counselor said they would use APs instead. And that APs would help validate high grades during DL.

This is speculation. No college has said that they will use or require AP test scores for admissions.

University of Michigan said in their admissions video on YouTube that AP scores may be helpful for applicants that apply test optional.

DS top choice is Michigan. He did very well on ACT. Think he failed all 4 APs. So hope if he is not test optional it will not matter if he doesn’t submit AP scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of one exam, it seems most score distributions are lower this year (eg, 1/4 of APUSH test takers got 4/5 on exam vs 1/3 the prior year). Assuming that trend continues, do you believe colleges will note this (even for applicants from hs classes of 2023 and 2024 who are also impacted by this) or is that expecting too much minutia in their application review?

I wish College Board would separately release the score distributions for in person testers and digital testers. Could shed some light on impact of remote learning and cheating.

The premise for your question is that AP scores count for college admissions in the first place. In fact, they don’t.

Next question?

My child’s hs counselor advised that colleges may use AP test scores as another data point in admissions given the elimination of sat subject tests and test optional for sat/act tests. - OP

+1. My kids s counselor did as well. My kid only got the World History SAT subject test before they were cancelled. Her counselor said they would use APs instead. And that APs would help validate high grades during DL.

This is speculation. No college has said that they will use or require AP test scores for admissions.

University of Michigan said in their admissions video on YouTube that AP scores may be helpful for applicants that apply test optional.

DS top choice is Michigan. He did very well on ACT. Think he failed all 4 APs. So hope if he is not test optional it will not matter if he doesn’t submit AP scores.

If I am recalling correctly, it was suggested as a potential helpful datapoint for test optional. I think good scores certainly wouldn’t hurt even with a great ACT/SAT, but personally I wouldn’t submit bad scores. A college counselor we met with suggested either submitting all AP scores or none. That way, it might look like you just forgot to submit scores and not that some were good and some were bad. I’m not sure about the ACT, but the SAT top 25% for last year was 1550.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of one exam, it seems most score distributions are lower this year (eg, 1/4 of APUSH test takers got 4/5 on exam vs 1/3 the prior year). Assuming that trend continues, do you believe colleges will note this (even for applicants from hs classes of 2023 and 2024 who are also impacted by this) or is that expecting too much minutia in their application review?

I wish College Board would separately release the score distributions for in person testers and digital testers. Could shed some light on impact of remote learning and cheating.

The premise for your question is that AP scores count for college admissions in the first place. In fact, they don’t.

Next question?

My child’s hs counselor advised that colleges may use AP test scores as another data point in admissions given the elimination of sat subject tests and test optional for sat/act tests. - OP

+1. My kids s counselor did as well. My kid only got the World History SAT subject test before they were cancelled. Her counselor said they would use APs instead. And that APs would help validate high grades during DL.

This is speculation. No college has said that they will use or require AP test scores for admissions.

University of Michigan said in their admissions video on YouTube that AP scores may be helpful for applicants that apply test optional.

DS top choice is Michigan. He did very well on ACT. Think he failed all 4 APs. So hope if he is not test optional it will not matter if he doesn’t submit AP scores.

If I am recalling correctly, it was suggested as a potential helpful datapoint for test optional. I think good scores certainly wouldn’t hurt even with a great ACT/SAT, but personally I wouldn’t submit bad scores. A college counselor we met with suggested either submitting all AP scores or none. That way, it might look like you just forgot to submit scores and not that some were good and some were bad. I’m not sure about the ACT, but the SAT top 25% for last year was 1550.

That is skewed by test optional though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This website has the best presentation of AP score distributions, all in one chart, with commentary. The scores come directly from College Board tweets, as released. https://www.totalregistration.net/AP-Exam-Registration-Service/AP-Exam-Score-Distributions.php?year=2021

The kids facing the big problems are the ones applying to U.K. and EU universities.

A lot of them use AP test scores to see whether students are comparable to domestic high school students.

College Board pushed the score release dates back by a month, and that means a lot of kids are in limbo. My son could follow three different life paths next year. Each path could be wonderful in its own way, but we can’t do much about putting him on the relevant path till the AP scores come out.