AP Scholar Awards
The AP® Scholar Awards recognize high school students who have demonstrated exemplary college-level achievement on AP Exams. A roster of award recipients is provided online to their secondary schools and districts. Additionally, students are able to print a copy of their award certificate(s) online and the awards are reflected on all score reports sent to colleges after awards are conferred.
Notification Schedule
Recipient | Availability Date | Method |
---|---|---|
Educators | Mid-July |
|
Students | Mid-August | Notified by email |
Governors/State Superintendents | Mid-September | Award certificates are sent to the State Superintendents of Education to distribute to State AP Scholars |
Summary Data
- You can view state-level summary data for the 2016 exam administration by downloading this file (.xls/42KB).
- Visit research, reports, and data for past years’ AP Scholar volumes.
Award Levels
The AP Scholar Awards are academic distinctions for students to cite among their credentials on applications and résumés. Students do not receive any monetary award from the College Board.
Award | Criteria |
---|---|
AP Scholar: | Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams |
AP Scholar with Honor: | Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams |
AP Scholar with Distinction: | Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these 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 exams |
National AP Scholar (Canada): | Granted to students in Canada who receive an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on five or more of these exams |
National AP Scholar (Bermuda): | Granted to students in Bermuda who receive an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on five or more of these exams |
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. |
AP Seminar and Research Certificate™ | Granted to students who earn scores of 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research. |
AP Capstone Diploma™ | Granted to students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing. |
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. |
AP International Diploma | See criteria on the College Board’s International site. |
Calculation Criteria
- There are two steps to calculating the awards:
- The student’s average AP score is determined based on allexams 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.