How much do AP tests matter on college application? Do they affect much beyond just being able to skip a few units in college?
Generally, they don’t matter very much in the application process.
It depends on how competitive a college you’re targeting. For instance, if you’re applying to Columbia (with its surplus of super applicants), each bit of data is reviewed when it gets down and dirty to admitting/rejecting the kids whose fate is sitting on the fence.
Let’s say there are two kids with identical GPA (4.0) in identical AP classes and took the same AP tests as sophomores and juniors but attend different schools. One kid gets 4 fives and a 4. The other gets 2 fours, a three and 2 twos. Immediately, the focus then shifts to the toughness of the school. Not all schools’ AP or Honors courses are equivalent. The 2nd kid’s TRANSCRIPT then comes into question and his star diminishes while the first kid’s star shines a little more brightly. It’ll be much easier to argue for admitting the first kid than the 2nd one.
But then again, this is only for very very selective colleges.
does it matter btwn 4s and 5s? I have a mix of 5s and 4s, but I’m afraid my 4s might affect my application negatively