AP® Scholar Awards 2027
See the exact score and exam-count requirements for each AP Scholar Award level, and what it takes to reach the next one.
By Amanda DoAmaral · Updated Sep 1, 2026
AP® Scholar Awards recognize students who perform well on AP exams. College Board grants these awards automatically based on your scores. You do not need to apply.
There are three award levels: AP Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor, and AP Scholar with Distinction. Each has different requirements. Your award appears on your official AP score report, which colleges see when you send scores.
AP Scholar requires scores of 3 or higher on at least three AP exams. AP Scholar with Honor requires a 3.25 average and four or more scores of 3 or higher. AP Scholar with Distinction requires a 3.5 average and five or more scores of 3 or higher.
AP Scholar Award Requirements
College Board uses your AP exam scores to determine your award. They calculate your average across all exams you've taken. Only your highest score counts if you retake an exam.
Requirements by Award Level
| Award | Score Requirement | Number of Exams |
|---|---|---|
| AP Scholar | 3 or higher | 3+ exams |
| AP Scholar with Honor | 3.25 average | 4+ exams with 3+ |
| AP Scholar with Distinction | 3.5 average | 5+ exams with 3+ |
Honor and Distinction require the average and the exam count together. A 3.5 average doesn't qualify you for Distinction if you only passed four exams.
How Your Average Gets Calculated
College Board includes every AP exam you've ever taken in your average, including exams from previous years. If you scored a 2 on one exam and 5s on everything else, that 2 still factors in. The Calculus AB subscore from Calculus BC doesn't count separately.
If you want a rough sense of where a score will land before results post, the AP score calculators give you an estimate for each exam.
Get the Resources You Need
Fiveable has study guides, practice questions, and cheatsheets for all 42 AP subjects. In our 2026 voluntary survey, 96% of reported AP scores were qualifying.
What AP Scholar Awards Mean for College Admissions
AP Scholar Awards show colleges that you took a demanding course load and did well on the exams. They appear on your official score report alongside your individual exam scores.
These awards don't come with scholarship money from College Board. They are a credential you can list in the honors section of a college application, on a resume or LinkedIn profile, and on scholarship applications.
The award itself won't get you into college. Your individual AP scores, your grades, and the rest of your application matter more. It is one more sign that you've done well in challenging courses.
How to Earn Each Award Level
Which award you can earn depends on which classes you take and how you prepare.
AP Scholar
You need scores of 3 or higher on at least three exams. There is no average requirement at this level, so three passing scores earn it.
If you start AP classes as a sophomore, you can realistically have three passing scores by the end of junior year. You can also look at easier AP classes while you build toward it.
AP Scholar with Honor
This level adds an average requirement. You need a 3.25 average across all exams plus at least four passing scores.
That average includes every AP exam on your record, so a single low score pulls it down. Taking an exam you haven't prepared for, just to add to the count, can cost you the award.
AP Scholar with Distinction
The highest current level requires a 3.5 average and five passing scores. That usually means taking several exams and scoring mostly 4s and 5s.
Students often reach it by senior year, after taking AP exams across three or four years. Balancing harder AP classes against subjects where you're confident keeps the average up.
Discontinued AP Scholar Awards
College Board used to offer additional recognition levels. These awards are no longer given, but if you earned one previously, it still appears on your score report. College Board lists the recognitions it currently offers on its own AP Scholar Awards page.
National AP Scholar (Discontinued)
This was the highest individual award. It required:
- Average score of 4 or higher across all exams
- Scores of 4 or higher on at least eight exams
Very few students reached this level. College Board retired this award after 2022.
State AP Scholar (Discontinued)
Each state selected one male and one female student annually. Winners had the most AP exams passed with a 3 or higher, combined with the highest average of at least 3.5.
This award was competitive, since only two students per state could win it each year.
When You'll Find Out About Your Award
College Board notifies award recipients by email in late summer or early fall. Your award also appears in your online score report starting in July. (See the full AP exam schedule for exact score release dates.)
Award Timeline
| Date | What Happens |
|---|---|
| May | Take AP exams |
| July | Scores released, awards visible online |
| August-September | Email notification sent |
| When requested | Award shows on score reports sent to colleges |
You don't need to do anything to claim your award. If you qualify, College Board adds it to your record automatically.
AP Scholar Awards vs Other Recognitions
College Board offers several recognition programs. AP Scholar Awards are based purely on exam performance, while others have different criteria.
AP Capstone Diploma
The Capstone Diploma requires completing the AP Seminar and AP Research courses with scores of 3 or higher, plus passing four additional AP exams. It rewards finishing a full program of coursework, so it works differently from the Scholar Awards.
AP with WE Service Recognition
This recognition combines AP coursework with community service projects. You complete the WE Service component along with your AP class.
College Board National Recognition Programs
These recognize underrepresented students who score well on the PSAT/NMSQT® or the SAT®. They're separate from AP Scholar Awards and have different eligibility requirements.
How to Prepare
Every award level comes down to exam scores, so raising one subject from a 3 to a 4 can move your average across a threshold.
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Frequently Asked Questions About AP Scholar Awards
What are the AP Scholar Awards?
AP Scholar Awards are academic recognitions from College Board for students who perform well on AP exams. There are three tiers: AP Scholar (3+ on 3 exams), AP Scholar with Honor (3.25 average on 4+ exams), and AP Scholar with Distinction (3.5 average on 5+ exams). These awards appear on your official AP score report.
Is AP Scholar a national award?
AP Scholar Awards are national recognitions given by College Board, but they're not competitive awards. Any student who meets the score requirements receives the award. The discontinued National AP Scholar award was more prestigious, requiring 4+ on at least 8 exams with a 4.0 average.
What level of recognition is AP Scholar?
AP Scholar is the entry-level recognition, requiring scores of 3 or higher on three AP exams. Above it are AP Scholar with Honor (3.25 average, 4 exams) and AP Scholar with Distinction (3.5 average, 5 exams). These are academic acknowledgments, not competitive awards.
How do I get AP Scholar with Distinction?
You need a 3.5 average across all AP exams you've taken and scores of 3 or higher on at least five exams. Your average includes every AP exam on your record, so you'll want mostly 4s and 5s to maintain a high enough average.
What's the difference between AP Scholar with Honor and Distinction?
AP Scholar with Honor requires a 3.25 average and four passing exams. AP Scholar with Distinction requires a 3.5 average and five passing exams. Distinction is harder because you need both a higher average and more exams passed.
Do AP Scholar Awards help with college admissions?
AP Scholar Awards show colleges you've challenged yourself academically. They appear on your official score report alongside your exam scores. While they won't single-handedly get you admitted anywhere, they're a credential you can list on applications and resumes.
When do I find out if I got an AP Scholar Award?
Awards appear on your online score report in July when scores are released. College Board also sends email notifications in late summer or early fall. You don't need to apply. If you meet the requirements, the award is added automatically.
Do AP Scholar Awards come with money?
No. AP Scholar Awards are academic recognitions only. College Board doesn't provide any monetary award or scholarship with them. However, you can list them on scholarship applications as evidence of academic achievement.
What happened to National AP Scholar?
College Board discontinued National AP Scholar after 2022. It required an average of 4 or higher across all exams and scores of 4+ on at least eight exams. If you earned it before it was discontinued, it still appears on your score report.
How is my AP Scholar average calculated?
College Board calculates your average using every AP exam you've taken across all years. If you retook an exam, only your highest score counts. The Calculus AB subscore from Calculus BC doesn't count separately in the calculation.