How to Send Your AP Scores to Colleges
Sending your Advanced Placement (AP) scores to colleges is a crucial step in the college application process, as these scores can demonstrate your academic readiness, earn you college credit, and even strengthen your admissions profile. Whether you’ve just taken your exams or you’re preparing to apply, understanding the correct procedure ensures your scores arrive on time and to the right institutions. This guide walks you through every method, timeline, and tip you need to know The details matter here..
Why Are AP Scores Important for College Admissions?
Colleges use AP scores to assess your ability to handle college-level coursework while still in high school. Here's the thing — a score of 3 or higher (on a 5-point scale) is generally considered passing, but many competitive schools require a 4 or 5 for credit or placement. Sending your scores early—especially to colleges that request them—can also give your application a boost. Even if you’re not sure where you’ll apply, you can send scores to one school for free using your AP exam answer sheet.
When Should You Send Your AP Scores?
Timing matters. There are two main windows:
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During the exam (free score send): When you take an AP exam, you can designate one college to receive your scores for free. This option is available on your answer sheet until the June deadline (usually the third week of June). Use this if you already have a top-choice school.
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After the exam (paid score send): You can request scores to be sent at any time after exams are scored. Fees apply. For regular delivery, allow 7–14 days for processing plus mailing time. Rush delivery (additional fee) takes 5–9 days.
Pro tip: If you’re applying Early Decision or Early Action, send your scores by October to ensure they arrive before the November deadline No workaround needed..
3 Ways to Send Your AP Scores to Colleges
There are three primary methods, each suited to different situations. Choose the one that fits your needs.
1. Free Score Send (During the Exam)
- How it works: When you fill in your AP answer sheet on exam day, you enter the college code of the school you want to receive your scores. You must do this before the June 20 deadline (exact date varies by year).
- What you get: One free score report to one college per exam. If you take multiple AP exams, you can designate a different college for each, or the same college.
- Limitations: You can only send scores to one college for free per exam. If you want to send to multiple schools later, you’ll pay.
2. Online Score Report (Most Common Method)
After exams are scored (typically by July), you can log into your College Board account and request scores to be sent:
- Step 1: Go to (do not include link in article, but mention the site name). Sign in with your College Board credentials.
- Step 2: Click “Send Scores to Colleges.”
- Step 3: Select the colleges you want. You can search by name or use the four-digit college code.
- Step 4: Choose delivery method: Standard ($15 per report) or Rush ($25 per report). Standard takes about 7–14 days; Rush takes 5–9 days.
- Step 5: Pay via credit card and confirm.
Note: You can send scores to multiple colleges in one order, but each college is charged separately.
3. Mail or Fax Request (Paper Option)
If you prefer not to use online services, you can download a PDF AP Score Report Request Form from the College Board website, fill it out, and mail or fax it along with payment. This method is slower and not recommended if you’re on a tight deadline It's one of those things that adds up..
- Mail to: AP Services, P.O. Box 6671, Princeton, NJ 08541-6671.
- Fax to: 610-290-8979.
- Payment: Include a check or money order payable to “AP Services.”
How to Send Scores from Previous Years
If you took AP exams in prior years, you can still send those scores. The process is the same as above—log in and request older scores. So naturally, they remain on your College Board record for years (but may be archived after four years). There’s no extra fee for historical scores; you pay the standard per-report charge Simple, but easy to overlook..
What If You Want to Withhold or Cancel Scores?
Sometimes you might not want to send a low score. Here’s what you can do:
- Withhold a score: You can prevent a specific score from being sent to a college. This costs $10 per score per college. You must submit a written request by the June deadline of the exam year.
- Cancel a score: If you want to permanently delete a score (it cannot be reinstated), you can submit a cancellation request. This is free but irreversible. Use this only if you’re certain.
Understanding Score Delivery Timelines
- AP scores are released: Typically in July (early July for most, late July for late-testing).
- Standard delivery: 7–14 business days after your order is processed.
- Rush delivery: 5–9 business days.
- Weekends/holidays: Delivery does not count weekends or federal holidays. If you order just before a holiday, expect delays.
Important: The College Board does not send scores electronically to colleges; they mail printed reports. So even rush orders take days Not complicated — just consistent..
Common Questions About Sending AP Scores
Can I send scores to colleges after I’ve already applied?
Yes. You can send scores at any time. Many colleges accept updated scores even after you’ve submitted your application. Just check each school’s policy.
How do I send AP scores to the Common App?
You don’t send scores through Common App itself. Instead, you must request them from the College Board. Once received, colleges will match them to your application file That's the part that actually makes a difference..
Do I have to send all my AP scores?
No. You can choose which scores to send. Even so, some colleges require you to report all scores if you want to earn credit. Check each school’s policy Which is the point..
What if I forgot to write the college code on my answer sheet?
You can still send scores later via your online account. That said, the free send option is only available during the exam window. After that, you pay the standard fee.
Can I send scores to colleges that aren’t on my list yet?
Yes, you can send scores to any college that accepts AP scores (almost all U.On top of that, s. colleges). You don’t need to have applied first.
Tips for a Smooth Score-Sending Experience
- Double-check college codes: A wrong code means your scores go to the wrong place. Use the College Board’s college code search tool before ordering.
- Order early: Don’t wait until the week of a deadline. Allow at least 2–3 weeks for standard delivery.
- Keep receipts: Save your order confirmation number and payment receipt in case you need to follow up.
- Use the free send wisely: If you have a clear top-choice school, use your free send. If you’re still deciding, it’s better to send later (paid) to multiple schools.
- Consider score choice: If you have a low score on one exam, you can choose to send only higher scores—but some colleges may still ask for all.
Conclusion
Sending your AP scores to colleges doesn’t have to be stressful. Think about it: by understanding the free send option during the exam, the online ordering system, and the timing requirements, you can ensure your scores arrive when needed. Plus, remember to plan ahead, especially for early deadlines. Your AP scores are a powerful tool—make sure they reach the right hands. Whether you’re applying to a dream school or a safety, getting your scores sent correctly is one less thing to worry about during application season.
