Is 4 aps good for college?

Asked by: Wilburn Okuneva  |  Last update: November 16, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (5 votes)

College counselors recommend that students strive to take 5-8 AP classes throughout their high school career, especially if they are interested in attending a highly-selective institution such as an Ivy League college.

Is 4 aps enough for college?

For Ivies and other top 30 schools, aim for 8-12 or more, if feasible. For the top 30-50 schools, 5-8 will usually suffice. Of course, make sure you're not overloading yourself. Poor grades, even earned in challenging classes, never helped anyone's college applications.

Do colleges accept AP scores of 4?

Colleges are generally looking for a 4 (“well-qualified”) or 5 (“extremely qualified”) on the AP exam, but some may grant credit for a 3 (“qualified”). These scores mean you have proven yourself capable of doing the work in an introductory-level college course.

Is 4 aps in a year too much?

Depending on what kind of school you want to go to, you should be taking between 3 and 5 AP® classes this year. You will need to manage your time well, however, as you also need to study for the SAT® or ACT® during this time.

Is 4 good for AP score?

Hello! A score of 4 on an AP exam is generally considered good and can demonstrate your proficiency in that subject. Ivy League admissions officers understand that not every student will have a perfect score of 5 on all their AP exams.

Ranking ALL 39 AP Classes By DIFFICULTY

29 related questions found

Does Harvard accept 4 on AP?

If you want your AP® scores to help you at Harvard, you need to have at least 4 scores of 5.

Is a 4 passing on an AP exam?

Most schools accept a 4 for credit. Before you take any AP exam, check with the colleges you're considering to find out what their policies are for granting AP credit. Each school sets its own AP policies. For example, The California State University requires at least a 3 on any AP exam to award credit.

How many APs look good for college?

And how many AP classes do you need for ivy league college applications? College counselors recommend that students strive to take 5-8 AP classes throughout their high school career, especially if they are interested in attending a highly-selective institution such as an Ivy League college.

How many APs do Ivy Leagues want?

The Ideal Number of AP Classes for Ivy League Schools

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as top colleges evaluate applications holistically. However, most competitive applicants take between 8 to 12 AP courses during high school.

How much do APs boost your GPA?

GPA Weight

At many high schools, honors and AP classes both offer more heavily weighted training compared to regular classes. While honors courses usually add 0.5 points to your GPA, AP classes often add 1 point. In other words, a 3.5 GPA would be boosted to a 4.0 in an honors class and a 4.5 in an AP class.

Can I retake an AP exam if I got a 4?

You've spent tons of time studying and preparing, but sometimes, taking a test doesn't go as planned. If you don't score as well as you are hoping, can you retake an an AP exam? The short answer is yes, but there's more that you need to know before making a decision.

What is the hardest AP class?

Hardest AP Classes
  • AP Physics 1 – 45.6% ...
  • AP United States History – 47.5% ...
  • AP United States Government & Politics – 49.2% ...
  • AP Environmental Science – 53.7% ...
  • AP Human Geography – 54.4% ...
  • AP English Language and Composition – 56.1% ...
  • AP Latin – 56.7% ...
  • AP Calculus AB – 58.0%

Does Duke accept 4 on AP?

Duke recognizes the Advanced Placement program of the College Board and grants credit for some advanced courses with scores of 4 or 5 on the AP exam.

Do colleges accept 4 on AP exams?

AP Exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5. Many U.S. colleges grant credit and/or advanced placement (that means they let you skip the equivalent course once you get to college) for scores of 3 and above.

How many APs is too many?

Taking and doing well on more than 5 AP course exams doesn't significantly improve a student's chances of getting good first-year college grades and four-year degree completion, the nonprofit found.

What is the easiest AP class?

Based on student polls, the five AP courses that are considered the easiest are:
  • Computer Science Principles.
  • Psychology.
  • Human Geography.
  • Environmental Science.
  • U.S. Government and Politics.

Should I submit a 3 AP score to the Ivy League?

Not submitting AP scores for AP courses students take at their high school can raise red flags. But there are no hard and fast rules, such as not submitting 4s or 3s, as some suggest because, in some cases, students should submit those lower scores since admissions officers will assume even worse if they withhold them.

How many APs should I take in senior year?

It's completely fine to not take any APs freshman year. Ideally, you should pace yourself and limit the number of APs you take every year. 3 for sophomore year and 5 each for junior and senior year is going to feel much better than 8 junior year and 5 senior year.

What grade do most colleges look at?

Your transcript from the end of your junior year is typically used during the application process, and many colleges ask to see a transcript with fall senior year courses and grades as well.

How many APs does the average student take?

The Key Number

If that answer isn't fully satisfying, here is a look at the average number of APs students tend to take over the course of their high school years, broken down by college selectivity: Selective schools: around 7–12 APs. Semi-selective schools: 4–8 APs. Less selective schools: 1–5 APs.

How many APs do I need to get into Duke?

Because Duke considers both GPA and course rigor “very important” to admissions, you'll need all, or mostly all, As in the most challenging courses available. The average student admitted to a top school like Duke will commonly have completed between eight and twelve AP classes.

Is a 4 a bad AP score?

In the grand scheme of AP scoring, a 4 is definitely considered a strong result. It shows that you have a good grasp of the course material and are capable of college-level work, which is exactly what colleges are looking for. For most top-tier colleges, a 4 is seen favorably.

What colleges don't accept AP credits?

Disallow course credit for any AP work. Nine schools give students no credit for AP work. These institutions include some of the top schools in the country: Dartmouth University, Brown University, the California Institute of Technology, Williams College, and Amherst College.

Is 3 a bad AP score?

A score of 3 on an AP exam is considered passing, and while it may not be the most impressive score, it won't necessarily harm your application either. Colleges, especially selective ones, primarily focus on the rigor of the courses you've taken and the grades you earned throughout high school.