The AP Scholar Awards: A Complete Guide

You probably already know that doing well in your AP classes and exams can earn you college credit. But did you know that could also qualify you for AP Scholar Awards?

These awards prove your commitment, subject mastery, and potential for college success. In this article, we’ll tell you how to qualify, apply, and earn this achievement.

• What Are the AP Scholar Awards?
• AP Scholar Awards and Prizes
• How to Qualify for the AP Scholar Awards
• How to Get into the AP Scholar Awards
• How to Win AP Scholar Awards
• AP Scholar Awards Previous Winners
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Are the AP Scholar Awards?

The AP Scholar Awards are academic honors given by the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) program to recognize high school students who have shown exemplary achievement on multiple AP exams. Students who earn an AP Scholar Award receive an official certificate and have the award noted on any score report sent to colleges.

Benefits of getting an AP Scholar Award

What’s in it for you if you become an AP Scholar? Here are the benefits of getting that title:

1. Recognition of academic excellence

Earning an AP Scholar Award is a recognition of your academic excellence and dedication, honoring the hard work you put into taking multiple AP courses and exams. You’ll receive an award certificate, and your high school and district will be notified that you achieved this honor. The award can give your college applications a boost.

Many high schools also celebrate AP Scholars at awards ceremonies or in school news, giving you public recognition, which can also be a nice extra validation that all those late-night study sessions paid off.

2. Demonstrates college readiness and motivation

Achieving an AP Scholar Award shows that you’re ready for college-level academics, proving that you took challenging courses and did well in them. The award can also give you confidence heading into college, knowing you’ve already succeeded at college-level work.

Striving for an AP Scholar Award can also motivate you to take on academic challenges in high school. The experience will teach you to build strong study habits and time-management skills.

3. Potential savings in college

If your high AP exam scores qualify for credit or advanced placement in college, you could save on tuition by skipping introductory courses. Thanks to that, you may be able to graduate early or take more advanced courses sooner.

AP Scholar Awards and Prizes

The AP Scholar Awards come in different levels, reflecting how many exams you mastered and your average scores. Here are the awards you can earn:

• AP Scholar. This is the entry-level AP Scholar Award, and you get it if you pass at least three AP tests.
• AP Scholar with Honor. To get this award, you’ll need an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more exams.
• AP Scholar with Distinction. This is the highest standard AP Scholar award. To receive it, you should get an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams and scores of 3 or higher on five or more exams.
• AP International Diploma (APID). This is a special award for students who show impressive achievement across various disciplines, normally by taking AP exams in multiple subject areas (such as languages, sciences, and math). The APID is an international recognition for versatility and high performance.
• AP Capstone Awards. Students who complete the AP Capstone program can earn the AP Capstone Diploma or the AP Seminar and Research Certificate. The Capstone Diploma requires taking AP Seminar and AP Research courses plus four additional AP exams, while the Seminar and Research Certificate requires just those two courses.

Note: There are no scholarships or money from the College Board for these awards. The “prize” is the recognition itself.

How to Qualify for the AP Scholar Awards

Qualification is automatic for the AP Scholar Awards. But to make sure everything is clear to you, we’ll break down the major eligibility requirements and other details below.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the AP Scholar Awards, you must be a high school student (typically in grades 9–12) taking AP exams. Eligibility for each award differs:

• Score 3+ on at least three AP Exams with scores of 3 or higher to be eligible for the basic AP Scholar Award.
• Score 3+ on at least four exams and have an average score of 3.25 or above to be eligible for the AP Scholar with Honor award.
• Score 3+ on at least five exams with an average score of 3.5 to be eligible for the AP Scholar with Distinction award.

Exams you retake only count once, so only your highest score on a repeated exam will count. Also, certain subscores (like the subscores on AP Calculus or AP Music Theory) are not counted toward the award.

Required documents

You don’t need to submit any documents to apply for an AP Scholar Award since the awards are based solely on your AP exam record.

If you want colleges to know you earned an AP Scholar Award, you will need to send them your official AP score report. Any AP awards you’ve earned are also listed on your score reports that colleges receive.

Contest fees

There is no fee to receive an AP Scholar Award. However, there are fees to take AP exams themselves. Here’s a quick look at the fees:

If you plan to take multiple AP exams (as you would to qualify for AP Scholar Awards), keep in mind the cost of each test. Some schools or states help cover AP exam fees, and the College Board offers a fee reduction for students with financial need

Registration deadline

There is no separate registration deadline specifically for the AP Scholar Awards since you earn it through your exam scores.

If you want to be in the running for an AP Scholar Award in a given year, you need to take AP exams by the annual AP testing dates (AP exams are administered each year in May). Your school will have its own registration deadline for signing up for AP exams, which is around October or November of the school year for May exams.

How to Get into the AP Scholar Awards

If your goal is to become an AP Scholar, you should plan your high school academics accordingly. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can work toward earning an AP Scholar Award:

Step 1: Plan your AP courses early.

You should start planning your AP courses early in high school. Look at the AP classes offered at your school (or self-study options) and map out a schedule for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade that includes several AP classes. 

Talk to your counselor about prerequisites for AP classes so you can get into those courses on time. Early planning can ensure that you fit the number of AP courses you want in your schedule without overloading yourself in one year.

Step 2: Register for AP Exams on time.

Each AP exam is given once a year in May. AP exam registration usually happens through your school in the fall, so make sure you sign up for every AP exam you plan to take before your school’s deadline.

If you’re homeschooled or your school doesn’t offer an AP exam you want, you can arrange to test at another school. You can do this by contacting AP Services or a local AP coordinator by the fall deadline.

Many students take 1 to 2 AP exams in their sophomore year (if offered), more in junior year, and possibly additional exams in their senior year. That being said, you should pace yourself.

It’s better to take five AP exams that you can manage and score well on than to overload with eight exams and risk lower scores. If you don’t score a 3 or higher on one, you can still earn awards with the others or retake an exam the next year if absolutely needed.

By the end of junior year, check how many APs you have passed; some students are able to earn AP Scholar or higher awards as early as after 11th grade. If not, you have senior year to add more. The key is to accumulate enough passing scores across different subjects over time.

Step 3: Study well for each AP exam.

A score of 3 is a passing score, but 4s and 5s will raise your average and strengthen your eligibility for the Honor or Distinction levels. Study well for each AP exam throughout the year rather than cramming when it’s almost May.

Stay on top of your AP class homework, use prep books or online resources for practice questions, and consider forming study groups with classmates. Good studying habits and time management will increase your chances of scoring highly.

Step 4: Check your scores and award status.

After you’ve taken your AP exams, the scores are released in July. Log in to the College Board’s AP score portal to view your results. The system will automatically determine if you have qualified for an AP Scholar Award based on your previous and new scores.

If you meet the criteria, your award will be listed in your online score report. You will also get an email from College Board mid-summer letting you know about the award. At that point, you can download and print your AP Scholar award certificate from the score portal.

How to Win AP Scholar Awards

Every AP student wants to do well, but how can you improve your chances of reaching the AP Scholar levels? Here are some tips to help you earn an AP Scholar Award:

1. Focus on your strong subjects.

Play to your strengths when choosing AP exams since they can improve your chances of getting high scores. If you love math and science, for example, taking AP Calculus, AP Physics, and AP Chemistry might lead to high scores that count toward the award and may earn you college credit.

Even if you’re planning to take a math- or science-heavy program in college, you can still take AP Art History or AP English Literature and Composition if you’re interested in them to show a well-rounded education.

2. Balance quantity with quality.

It might be tempting to sign up for as many AP courses as possible to chase the awards, but remember that colleges care more about your performance than the sheer number of exams.

As such, don’t overload yourself with so many APs that you can’t study properly for each since it’s better to have five AP exams with strong scores than ten exams with mediocre results.

Plan a balanced schedule each year that challenges you but still allows enough study time for each AP class. It’s important to maintain a high average score if you’re aiming for the higher award tiers, and spreading yourself too thin might hurt your average.

3. Use available resources and practice.

Complete all the coursework and assignments in your AP classes since they’re designed to prepare you for the exam.

Outside of class, use AP prep books or reputable online platforms like Khan Academy to take full-length practice exams. The College Board itself releases free-response questions from previous years, which are great practice for essay or problem-solving sections.

If you struggle with any topic, ask your teacher, get an AP tutor, or find study guides. Consistent practice can improve your chances of getting high exam scores.

4. Aim high.

If you’ve got one AP Scholar Award level in reach, consider aiming for the next since having a goal can motivate you. For instance, if by junior year you have three 3+ scores (qualifying you as an AP Scholar), see if you can take one more exam and push your average up to get the AP Scholar with Honor. Or if you have four exams down, perhaps go for a fifth to earn Distinction.

However, only do this if you feel you can maintain a strong performance since it’s not worth adding an AP in a subject you’re not ready for and risking a low score. But if you’re enjoying AP classes and doing well, pursuing the higher-tier award can be a fun challenge.

AP Scholar Awards Previous Winners

Secondary schools and districts are provided with a roster of AP Scholar Awardees. For example, Ravenscroft lists 42 AP Scholar Awards, 22 AP Scholar with Honor Awards, and 54 AP Scholar with Distinction Awards. These students include:

• Alexis Avery (Class of 2021, AP Scholar)
• Jeremy Badger (Class of 2022, AP Scholar with Honor)
• Jane Atkeson (Class of 2021, AP Scholar with Distinction)
• David Kim (Class of 2023, AP Scholar)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is AP Scholar a national award?

Yes, the AP Scholar Awards are recognized nationally and even internationally since they are granted by the College Board.

2. What level of recognition is AP Scholar?

The AP Scholar Award is a national recognition, but it’s considered a Tier 4 extracurricular achievement given to high school students for scoring well on multiple AP exams.

3. What is the highest AP Scholar Award?

The highest standard AP Scholar award is AP Scholar with Distinction, which requires at least five AP exams with scores of 3+ and an average score of 3.5 or higher. In the past, there was a National AP Scholar title, which required you to average 4+ on eight exams, but that was discontinued after 2020.

4. How many AP exams should I take?

Take three to five AP exams if you’re aiming for AP Scholar recognition. Taking more than five exams can help with college credit, but only if you can manage the workload and maintain high scores. Remember that quality matters more than quantity.

Takeaways

• AP Scholar Awards recognize high school students who excel on multiple AP exams. They are awarded by the College Board, and levels include AP Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor, and AP Scholar with Distinction.
• There’s no separate application to become an AP Scholar since it’s automatic based on your AP scores. If you plan your AP courses well, study hard, and score 3 or higher on enough exams, you’ll be notified of the award by email in July after the exams.
• Need help deciding what AP classes you should take to improve your chances of getting good scores while also preparing you for the college program you want? Consult a private admissions expert to help you balance your options.