Education · AP Exams
When Do AP Scores Come Out in 2026?
2026 AP Exam scores will be released starting Monday, July 6, 2026 at 8:00 AM Eastern Time. The College Board releases scores in waves by geographic region — East Coast students typically see scores first, with the release rolling west across the U.S. throughout the day. Most students will have access within 24 hours, and international students may receive scores 1-3 days later.
2026 AP Score Release Schedule
- Release date: Monday, July 6, 2026
- Release start time: 8:00 AM Eastern Time
- Full rollout completion: Typically 3-4 days after initial release
- Where to view: myap.collegeboard.org
- Notification: College Board sends an email when your scores are ready
What Time Do AP Scores Come Out?
AP scores typically begin releasing at 8:00 AM Eastern Time on the official release date. However, this is the START of the release wave, not the time every student will see their scores. The College Board staggers score releases throughout the day to manage server traffic. East Coast students usually access scores first, followed by Midwest, Mountain, and Pacific time zones. Students whose scores have not appeared by the end of the first release day should check back over the next 3-4 days. International students often receive scores 1-3 days after the U.S. release.
How to Check Your AP Scores
- Go to myap.collegeboard.org
- Sign in with the same College Board account you used to register for your AP exams (do NOT create a new account)
- Make sure your account email and contact info are current — the College Board will email you when scores are ready
- If you have your AP ID handy, keep it accessible (you may need it for verification)
- If you don't see scores immediately on July 6, check back within 24-72 hours
AP Score Release History
- 2026: Monday, July 6
- 2025: Monday, July 7
- 2024: Monday, July 8
- 2023: Wednesday, July 5
- 2022: Tuesday, July 5
The College Board has consistently released AP scores in the first or second week of July for the past several years. The 2026 release on July 6 follows this established pattern.
What Happens After AP Scores Are Released
- You can view your score immediately in your College Board account
- You can send your scores to colleges (one free score report is included with your exam registration)
- You can request to withhold or cancel scores you don't want colleges to see
- Most colleges grant credit for scores of 3, 4, or 5, though policies vary by school and subject
- Score reports are typically sent to your designated college within 7-10 days of release
New AP Exams Scoring for the First Time in 2026
The College Board is releasing scores for two new AP courses for the first time on July 6, 2026:
- AP Cybersecurity (exam code 71) — the first AP course covering network security, threat analysis, and digital forensics
- AP Networking (exam code 70) — covers computer networking fundamentals, protocols, and infrastructure design
If you took one of these new exams in spring 2026, you'll be in the very first cohort to receive scores.
Frequently asked questions
2026 AP scores will be released starting Monday, July 6, 2026 at 8:00 AM Eastern Time. The release rolls out by geographic region throughout the day, with full rollout typically taking 3-4 days.
AP scores typically begin releasing at 8:00 AM Eastern Time on the official release date. Students on the East Coast usually see scores first, with releases rolling west throughout the day.
AP scores release in waves by geographic region, not all at once. If you haven't seen your scores by the end of the release day, check back over the next 3-4 days. Late testers and international students may wait longer.
Log in to myap.collegeboard.org with the same College Board account you used to register for your exams. Do not create a new account.
The College Board sends an email notification to the address on your College Board account when your scores are available. Make sure your email is current.
No. The College Board does not provide early access to AP scores. Any site or service claiming to offer early scores is not legitimate.
You can request a multiple-choice rescore for a fee, or order a review of your free-response booklet. The deadline to request these services is typically late October. Score changes are rare and usually only result from processing errors.
Yes. You can withhold a score from colleges or cancel a score entirely through your College Board account. Cancellation is permanent.
One free score report is included with your AP exam registration. You can send additional reports for a fee. Score reports typically reach colleges within 7-10 days of release.
A score of 3 or higher is generally considered passing. Most colleges award credit for scores of 3, 4, or 5, though policies vary by school and subject.
AP scores are not required for most college applications. They are typically used for college credit and placement after admission, not as an admissions factor. However, strong AP scores can support a competitive application.
Students who took late testing dates typically receive their scores by late July or early August, a few weeks after the main release.
International students typically receive AP scores 1-3 days after the initial U.S. release. The exact timing depends on the country and processing.
The College Board offers a phone score service for a fee (typically around $15) if you cannot wait for online access or need scores rushed. Visit AP Services for current details.
AP scores never expire and remain in your College Board record indefinitely. However, individual colleges may have their own policies about how old a score can be to count for credit (typically within 4-5 years of high school graduation).
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