AP Score to GPA Calculator: Unweighted and Weighted
Enter your AP exam score (1–5), and the calculator returns two results: the unweighted GPA equivalent, what that score represents on your scale before any AP course bonus, and the weighted GPA, which adds the bump your school applies for taking AP coursework.
Two things to clarify upfront. First, the AP exam score and the AP course grade are different; this calculator converts the exam score, not the grade your teacher assigned. Second, if you have the +1.0 bump selected, the weighted GPA will show a value above 4.0, which reflects how most US high schools handle AP weighting, not an error in the tool.
AP Score Scale: Official Qualifications and GPA Equivalents
College Board’s official scale for all AP exams, with the published qualification label for each score and the equivalent college course grade:
| AP Score | College Board Qualification | College Course Grade Equivalent | Base 4.0 GPA (this tool) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Extremely well qualified | A or A+ | 4.00 |
| 4 | Well qualified | A–, B+, or B | 3.50 |
| 3 | Qualified | B–, C+, or C | 3.00 |
| 2 | Possibly qualified | No official equivalent | 2.00 |
| 1 | No recommendation | No official equivalent | 1.00 |
For scores of 2 and 1, the College Board does not publish a corresponding college course grade. The 2.00 and 1.00 GPA values in the final column are only approximations from this tool.
The AP Exam Score and the AP Course Grade Are Two Different Things
This is the distinction that causes the most confusion around this tool, and it matters enough to explain clearly.
The AP course grade is the letter grade your teacher gives you throughout the school year: the A, B, or C that appears on your transcript. This grade is included in your GPA calculation the moment your school records it. If your school uses weighted GPA, the AP course bump applies to this grade, not to the exam score.
The AP exam score is the 1–5 result you receive from the College Board, scored in May and reported in July. This score determines whether you qualify for college credit or advanced placement at the universities you apply to. It does not appear on your high school transcript as a grade. It does not factor into your high school GPA.
The two measures are independent. A student can earn an A in AP Chemistry throughout the year (which counts toward the GPA with the weighting bump applied) and score a 2 on the May exam (which earns no college credit). The reverse is equally possible.
This calculator maps AP exam scores to a GPA-equivalent band, providing a practical reference for understanding where your exam performance sits in GPA terms. It is not a substitute for your actual course grade.
The Three Weighting Options: Which One Matches Your School
The AP weighting bump dropdown has three options because US high schools are not uniform in how they treat AP coursework:
No bump (unweighted only): A small number of schools assign the same GPA points to AP and regular courses; an A is a 4.0 regardless of course level. Some schools cap all course grades at 4.0 by policy. Select this option if your school uses no weighting, or if you want to see the unweighted GPA equivalent only.
+0.5 (Honors-style): Some districts apply the same +0.5 bonus to both Honors and AP courses, treating them identically. Others give +0.25 to Honors and +0.5 to AP. If your school treats AP and Honors equally, or gives AP a half-point bump, this is your option.
+1.0 (AP 5.0-style): The most common approach across US high schools. AP courses receive a full point bonus, so an A in an AP course becomes 5.0 on a 5.0 scale. Most schools that weigh AP separately from Honors use this system. If you have ever seen a classmate with a GPA above 4.0, this is usually why.
If you are unsure which your school uses, check with your guidance counselor. The weighting system affects every course in your schedule, not just the one you’re looking up here.
Does My AP Score Affect My GPA?
The short answer: the AP exam score itself does not directly affect your high school GPA. Your course grade does.
Here is how the two interact in practice. If your school uses a weighted GPA system, taking an AP course means your course grade receives a bump. An A becomes a 5.0 with the standard +1.0 weighting, a B becomes a 4.0, and so on. That weighting applies to your teacher-assigned grade, not to the 1–5 exam score you receive from the College Board.
Your AP exam score does not appear on your high school transcript as a grade. It is reported separately and sent directly to the colleges you designate. After you enroll in college, AP scores do not count toward your college GPA either. They can earn you credit to place out of courses, but that credit sits outside the GPA calculation.
What AP Score Do You Need for College Credit?
This depends on the institution, and the variation is wider than most students expect.
| AP Score | College Board Label | Typical Credit Policy |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Extremely well qualified | Credit awarded at virtually all colleges |
| 4 | Well qualified | Credit awarded at most 4-year colleges |
| 3 | Qualified | Credit at many schools; selective colleges often require 4+ |
| 2 | Possibly qualified | Almost never earns credit |
| 1 | No recommendation | Rarely earns credit |
Selective universities, including most Ivy League schools, generally require a 4 or 5 on the credit scale. Many mid-tier four-year universities accept a 3 across most subjects. A small number of institutions, including MIT, do not award AP credit for most subjects, regardless of score. However, high scores may still qualify students for advanced placement into upper-level courses.
Even when a college accepts AP credit, the policy varies by subject: a school might grant credit for a 3 in AP English Language but require a 4 for AP Calculus BC. Always check the specific department policy at each institution you are considering.
Colleges Recalculate GPA: What That Means for Your Weighted Score
The weighted GPA your school calculates, and the GPA a college uses to evaluate you, are often different numbers. Most selective colleges recalculate all applicants’ GPAs from scratch using their own formula, typically stripping out weighting and looking only at your performance in core academic subjects.
This does not make the weighted GPA meaningless. It signals course rigor to the admissions committee. But it does mean a 4.7 weighted GPA at a school with generous AP weighting will likely be converted to something closer to an unweighted number before any cross-applicant comparison is made.
For applying purposes: report your official school-issued GPA. The unweighted figure from this tool is a useful reference for what that number might look like once colleges standardise it.
FAQ: AP Score to GPA Calculator
What GPA is an AP score of 5?
An AP 5 “Extremely well qualified” maps to a 4.00 GPA on a 4.0 unweighted scale, and 5.00 on a 5.0 weighted scale (with the standard +1.0 AP bump). The College Board’s published college course grade equivalent for a 5 is an A or A+. A 5 is typically accepted for credit at virtually all colleges and universities.
What GPA is an AP score of 4?
An AP 4 “Well qualified” maps to approximately a 3.50 unweighted GPA and 4.50 with the +1.0 AP bump. The College Board’s published college course equivalent for a 4 is A–, B+, or B. A 4 is generally sufficient for credit at most four-year institutions, including many selective ones.
What GPA is an AP score of 3?
An AP 3 “Qualified” maps to approximately a 3.00 unweighted GPA and 4.00 with the +1.0 bump. The college course equivalent published by the College Board for a 3 is B–, C+, or C. A 3 is the threshold most colleges treat as “passing” on the AP scale; whether it earns credit depends on the institution and subject.
What GPA is an AP score of 2?
An AP 2 “Possibly qualified” maps to approximately 2.00 GPA unweighted. The College Board does not publish a college course equivalent for a 2. A 2 rarely earns college credit at any institution, though having taken the AP course demonstrates academic ambition on the transcript.
Does my AP exam score count toward my GPA?
No, the AP exam score (1–5) does not count toward your high school GPA. Your teacher-assigned AP course grade counts toward GPA, and that grade receives the AP weighting bump if your school uses weighted GPA. After you enroll in college, AP exam scores do not count toward your college GPA. They can earn course credits, but those credits are typically applied as transfer credit rather than graded coursework.
What is the difference between the +0.5 and +1.0 bump options?
Most high schools use a +1.0 bump for AP courses; an A in AP becomes 5.0 on a 5.0 scale. The +0.5 bump is used by schools that give the same weighting to Honors and AP courses, or that give AP only a half-point advantage. Your guidance counselor or school profile will confirm which system your school uses.
What AP score do I need to get college credit?
The threshold varies by college and subject. A score of 4 or 5 earns credit at most four-year colleges. Selective schools, including most Ivy League institutions, generally require a 4 or 5. Many mid-tier universities accept a 3 for credit. A small number of universities award no AP credit regardless of score. Always check each institution’s AP credit policy by subject before assuming your score qualifies.
Is an AP exam score the same as an AP course grade for college applications?
No, they are separate and independent. Your AP course grade (the letter grade on your transcript) is what colleges see on your academic record and what determines GPA. Your AP exam score is reported separately by the College Board and used to evaluate whether you qualify for college credit or advanced standing. A student can earn an A in an AP course and score a 2 on the exam, or score a 5 on the exam while struggling through the course with a C.
Enter your AP exam score above to see the unweighted and weighted GPA equivalent on your school’s scale. If you want to see how this AP course fits into your full semester GPA, combining it with all your other courses and their grades, the weighted GPA calculator handles multi-course calculations, including AP and Honors bumps.