If you’re wrapping up your AP exams this spring, congratulations — you’re one step closer to being college ready! But don’t close your textbooks just yet — there’s one final, important step you need to take: make sure your AP scores are sent to your college.

Why does this matter?
Many colleges and universities use your AP scores to determine if you can skip intro-level courses, earn college credit, or even qualify for honors programs. In some cases, having strong AP scores can also help with placement into higher-level classes — saving you time and money down the road.

Here’s how to do it:

• When you take your AP exams, you get the option to send your scores to one college for free.
• If you already know where you’re going (or have a strong favorite), make sure you fill this out carefully when prompted.
• If you didn’t select a college during testing, no worries — you can still send your scores later through your College Board account, but you’ll have to pay a small fee for each report.

A few quick tips:

• Double-check your college’s AP credit policy. Each school decides which AP scores they’ll accept and how they apply to credits or placement.
• Send scores early. Some colleges want your official AP scores before orientation or class registration, so don’t wait until the last minute.
• Use your College Board login. Your AP scores are tied to your College Board account, so make sure you can log in and that your personal info (especially your name and date of birth) matches what your college has on file.

Bottom line:
Taking AP exams is a big achievement — don’t miss out on the rewards! Take five minutes now to make sure your scores are on their way to your future school. It’s one less thing to stress about this summer!