what is the distribution of scores for the 2026 ap exams
The 2026 AP score distributions are published by College Board and show the percentage of students earning 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 on each exam. Across the released subjects, the share earning a 3 or higher ranges from 59% on AP Music Theory to 90% on AP Research.
What the distribution shows
College Board’s 2026 tables list score breakdowns by subject, including a “3+” column that combines students scoring 3, 4, or 5. A few examples from the released data: AP Calculus BC had 46% 5s and 82% scoring 3+, while AP Chinese Language and Culture had 48% 5s and 85% scoring 3+.
Selected 2026 results
| Exam | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Research | 17% | 31% | 42% | 8% | 2% | 90% |
| AP English Language & Composition | 16% | 26% | 31% | 16% | 11% | 73% |
| AP Calculus AB | 20% | 28% | 17% | 24% | 11% | 65% |
| AP Calculus BC | 46% | 22% | 14% | 14% | 4% | 82% |
| AP Biology | 15% | 25% | 31% | 21% | 8% | 71% |
| AP Chinese Language and Culture | 48% | 19% | 18% | 6% | 9% | 85% |
Quick read
The pattern is familiar: some of the highest 5 rates are in AP Chinese, AP Japanese, AP Calculus BC, and AP Research, while courses like AP Music Theory, AP Statistics, and some physics and social science exams show lower 3+ rates. If you need a specific subject, the published 2026 tables have the full breakdown for each AP exam.
Source note
The figures above come from College Board’s 2026 score distribution tables, which list the percentages for each score level by exam.