Advanced Placement (AP) Exams: What is new, and how important are they? 

Advanced Placement (AP) exam season is just around the corner. With it comes new changes to the format and content of some exams. In today’s article, we will cover what is new with AP exams, how important AP scores are, and if colleges truly look at the scores.  

What is new with AP Exams?

Since the College Board first implemented the online format during 2020, they have accelerated their online transition. This was done in large part because of the May 2024 cheating incidents where the exams were allegedly leaked online via Discord and other social media platforms. 

Since then, some tests have been reformatted:

AP Chemistry:

• Retitling and Resequencing units
• Updating the equation sheet 
• Removing big ideas and enduring understandings from framework
• Updating learning objectives and essential knowledge to have greater transparency

AP Physics

• Decrease from 50 to 40 multiple choice (MCQs)  questions on AP exam
• Removing multiselect questions 
• Decrease in Section I (MCQs) time from 90 to 80 minutes 
• Decrease from 5 to 4 Free-Response questions (FRQs)
• All 4 FRQs are a new type of question
  • Mathematical routines
  • Translation between representations
  • Experimental design and analysis 
  • qualitative/quantitative translation
• Incraese Section II (FRQs) time from 90 to 100 minutes
• Increase from 7 to 8 units (Fluids Unit has been added from AP Physics 2 to 1)
• Learning objectives on power
• Learning connections on rotational and translational motion
• Adding equations of motion for objects in simple harmonic motion
• Applying learning objective to all scientific practices

AP Psychology 

• Exam restructured to 5 thematic categoriesthat align with the American Psychological Association 
• Added topics like positive psychology 
• Decrease multiple choice questions (MCQs) from 5 to 4 choices 
• Increase to two free response questions (FRQs)

Below is the updated list of exams that are digital. 

How important are AP Exam Scores?

AP exams are arguably some of the most important scores that showcase student mastery of specific subjects outside of the general education requirements. Up until 2021 institutions valued SAT Subject Tests but since their discontinuation, universities have turned to AP eams. 

Will colleges look at my AP scores?

While the Common Application does not require students to submit their AP scores, students can self-report (enter the scores in themselves) their scores. This means students can specifically select which scores the colleges will look at. 

The University of California schools will typically ask students to submit their updated scores through their counselors so that they can gauge student mastery of the subject. This is especially true for any STEM majors and is something they look at during the admissions process. 

Should I submit my scores?

We highly recommend students to submit exams that they have earned a 5 on. For a 4, it depends on if the college they are self-reporting to is highly selective. Institutions like Harvard College and Cambridge only grant credit towards 5s whereas Carnegie Mellon accepts 4s and 5s. 

In many Bay Area schools, teachers will raise student grades retrospectively if they score a 5 on the exam. This is on top of the GPA boost that students earn from simply enrolling in the course. 

Key Takeaways

• New changes to AP tests: 
  • Most tests are digital
  • AP Chemistry, AP Physics, and AP Psychology have new content and format changes
• We recommend students submit their scores only if they are 5s. For scores below 5, it depends on the selectivity of the institution.
• Colleges look at AP scores to see student mastery of the subject, especially for students applying to STEM majors