The Advanced Placement (AP) Program is a collaborative effort among motivated students, dedicated teachers, and committed high schools, colleges, and universities. Since its inception in 1955, the Program has allowed millions of high school students to take college-level courses and exams and to earn college credit while still in high school. The program consists of two parts: the course and  the exam.  Students are expected to participate in both parts of the program.

Benefits of Taking AP Courses and Exams:

AP Scholar Awards

The AP Program offers several AP Scholar Awards to recognize high school students who have demonstrated college-level achievement through AP courses and exams. Although there is no monetary award, in addition to receiving an award certificate, this achievement is acknowledged on any AP Grade Report that is sent to colleges the following fall.

Award Levels
AP Scholar

Granted to students who receive grades of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.

AP Scholar with Honor

Granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.

AP Scholar with Distinction

Granted to students who receive an average grade   of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades 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 grades of 3 or higher on the greatest number of AP Exams, and then the highest average grade (at least 3.5) on all AP Exams taken.

National AP Scholar

Granted to students in the United States who receive an average grade of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.

National AP Scholar (Canada)

Granted to students in Canada who receive an average grade of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on five or more of these exams.

National AP Scholar (Bermuda)

Granted to students in Bermuda who receive an average grade of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and grades 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 grade on the greatest number of AP Exams. The minimum requirement is a grade of 3 or higher on three exams.

International AP Scholar

Granted  to the one male and one female student attending a school outside the  U.S. and Canada that is not a DoDEA school with the highest average grade on the greatest number of AP Exams. The minimum requirement is a grade of 3 or higher on three   exams.

Notes About the Awards

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

The Calculus AB subscore, Music Theory aural subscore and Music Theory nonaural subscore grades are not used in the award calculations.

There are two steps to calculating the awards:  First, the student's average AP grade is determined based on all exams taken this year and in previous years. Second, the student's exam grades are checked to see which ones count toward the various awards  (e.g., an exam with a grade of 3 does not count toward a National AP    Scholar Award). A student must meet all criteria to be eligible; e.g., a student who has a 3.25 AP grade 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 four or more exams.

*INFORMATION COLLECTED FROM COLLEGEBOARD.COM,   INC.