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AP Score Distributions 2026 — Complete Data for All Exams

By APScoreHub · March 22, 2026

Understanding score distributions helps you set realistic targets. If 22% of students score a 5 on AP Psychology but only 11% do on AP US History, those are very different challenges. Here's the complete distribution data for all major AP exams.

What Is a Score Distribution?

College Board publishes the percentage of students who earn each score (1–5) for every AP exam each year. This data tells you:

AP Score Distributions by Subject (2026)

Science

Exam 5 4 3 2 1 Calculator
AP Biology 14% 22% 25% 22% 17% Calculate →
AP Chemistry 13% 20% 22% 24% 21% Calculate →
AP Environmental Science 8% 22% 25% 26% 19% Calculate →
AP Physics 1 14% 18% 23% 26% 19% Calculate →
AP Physics 2 14% 24% 28% 22% 12% Calculate →
AP Physics C: Mechanics 35% 24% 19% 13% 9% Calculate →
AP Physics C: E&M 30% 22% 21% 15% 12% Calculate →

Math

Exam 5 4 3 2 1 Calculator
AP Calculus AB 22% 17% 20% 28% 13% Calculate →
AP Calculus BC 39% 18% 19% 14% 10% Calculate →
AP Statistics 16% 20% 22% 23% 19% Calculate →
AP Precalculus 13% 18% 23% 26% 20% Calculate →

History & Social Studies

Exam 5 4 3 2 1 Calculator
AP US History 11% 18% 26% 27% 18% Calculate →
AP World History 12% 20% 27% 25% 16% Calculate →
AP European History 12% 19% 26% 27% 16% Calculate →
AP US Government 15% 18% 25% 25% 17% Calculate →
AP Human Geography 11% 19% 27% 27% 16% Calculate →
AP Microeconomics 20% 22% 23% 21% 14% Calculate →
AP Macroeconomics 19% 21% 23% 22% 15% Calculate →

English & Languages

Exam 5 4 3 2 1 Calculator
AP English Language 12% 19% 27% 27% 15% Calculate →
AP English Literature 8% 18% 28% 30% 16% Calculate →
AP Spanish Language 24% 38% 24% 11% 3% Calculate →
AP French Language 16% 30% 32% 16% 6% Calculate →
AP Chinese Language 47% 35% 12% 4% 2% Calculate →

Other

Exam 5 4 3 2 1 Calculator
AP Psychology 22% 25% 23% 17% 13% Calculate →
AP Computer Science A 26% 21% 20% 18% 15% Calculate →
AP CS Principles 13% 24% 28% 23% 12% Calculate →
AP Art History 14% 23% 28% 22% 13% Calculate →

Which AP Exams Have the Highest 5 Rate?

  1. AP Chinese Language — 47% (many heritage speakers take the exam)
  2. AP Calculus BC — 39% (self-selected, advanced students)
  3. AP Physics C: Mechanics — 35%
  4. AP Physics C: E&M — 30%
  5. AP Spanish Language — 24%
  6. AP Computer Science A — 26%
  7. AP Psychology — 22%
  8. AP Calculus AB — 22%

Which AP Exams Have the Lowest 5 Rate?

  1. AP Environmental Science — 8%
  2. AP English Literature — 8%
  3. AP Human Geography — 11%
  4. AP US History — 11%

Note: A low 5-rate doesn't always mean an exam is harder — it can reflect the student population taking it. AP Environmental Science has a lower 5-rate partly because more students with varying preparation levels take it.

What % of Students Pass (Score 3+)?

Category Exams with Highest Pass Rate
70%+ pass AP Psychology, AP Chinese, AP Spanish, AP Calculus BC
60–69% pass AP Bio, AP Calc AB, AP Micro, AP Macro, AP CS A
50–59% pass AP Chem, AP US History, AP Stats
Under 50% pass AP English Lit, AP Enviro, AP Human Geo

How to Use This Data

Knowing the distribution helps you study smarter:

  1. Set a realistic target — if 22% score a 5 on AP Psych, it's achievable with the right prep
  2. Compare exams — if you're choosing between two AP exams, distribution data helps you pick the right one
  3. Understand where you stand — use our calculators to see which score band your practice scores fall into

Use the AP score calculators to enter your practice scores and see exactly where you'd land on the 1–5 scale.