AP Scholars

The AP Program recognizes high school students who have demonstrated outstanding college-level achievement through AP courses and exams with the AP Scholar Awards. Although there is no monetary award, each award-winning student receives a certificate, and the award is acknowledged on any AP score report that is sent to colleges after the award has been conferred.

AP Scholar Levels

  • AP Scholar - Score of a 3 or higher on 3 or more exams.

  • AP Scholar with Honors - Average score of 3.25 on all exams and a 3 or higher on 4 or more exams.

  • AP Scholar with Distinction - Average score of 3.5 on all exams and a 3 or higher on 5 or more exams.

  • State AP Scholar - Granted to the one male and one female student in each U.S. state and the District of Columbia with scores of 3 or higher on the greatest number of AP Exams, and then the highest average score (at least 3.5) on all AP Exams taken.

  • National AP Scholar - Granted to students in the United States who receive an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exam.

  • DoDEA AP Scholar - Granted to the one male and one female student attending Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools with the highest average score on the greatest number of AP Exams. The minimum requirement is a score of 3 or higher on three exams.

  • International AP Scholar - Granted to the one male and one female student attending a school outside the United States and Canada that is not a DoDEA school with the highest average score on the greatest number of AP Exams. The minimum requirement is a score of 3 or higher on three exams.

There are two steps to calculating the awards:

  • The student's average AP score is determined based on all exams taken this year and in previous years.

  • The student's exam scores are checked to see which ones count toward the various AP Scholar Awards.

​A student must meet all criteria to be eligible. For example, a student who has a 3.25 AP score average but only received a 3 or higher on three exams will not receive the AP Scholar with Honor Award because the minimum requirement is a score of 3 or higher on four or more exams.

Exams taken multiple times only count once; the highest score will be used for the award calculation.

The Calculus AB subscore, Music Theory aural subscore and Music Theory nonaural subscore are not used in the AP Scholar Award calculations.

The AP Scholar Awards are academic distinctions that students may cite among their credentials on applications, resumes and so on. Students do not receive any monetary award from the College Board.