How to Cancel or Withhold AP Scores

After taking an AP exam, you might decide that you do not want a particular score on your record or sent to colleges. Maybe you had a bad exam day, the subject was not your strongest, or you simply want to keep a low score from appearing on your score report. College Board offers two ways to handle this: withholding scores and canceling scores. These are very different options, and choosing the wrong one can have consequences you cannot undo. This guide explains both options in detail so you can make an informed decision.

Withholding vs. Canceling: What is the Difference?

Withholding and canceling are not the same thing, and understanding the distinction is critical before you take action. Here is a side-by-side comparison:

• Withholding means your score still exists on your College Board record, but you choose not to send it to specific colleges. You can reverse this decision at any time. Withholding costs $10 per score per college.
• Canceling means your score is permanently deleted from your College Board record. It cannot be recovered, viewed, or sent to any college ever again. Cancellation is free but irreversible.

In most situations, withholding is the better choice because it keeps your options open. You already control which scores colleges see through the score-sending process, so there is rarely a reason to permanently destroy a score.

How to Withhold AP Scores

Withholding AP scores is done through your My AP account on College Board's website. Follow these steps:

1. Log in to your College Board account at myap.collegeboard.org.
2. Navigate to your AP scores and select the score-sending or score-reporting section.
3. Choose which scores to withhold from specific colleges. You can withhold individual exam scores without affecting your other scores.
4. Pay the withholding fee. The cost is $10 per score per college you want to withhold it from.
5. Confirm your request. The withholding takes effect for future score reports sent to the colleges you specified.

The deadline to request score withholding for the current exam year is typically June 15. However, you can also withhold scores from future score reports at any time — the June 15 deadline primarily applies to scores from the current year's exams before they are released.

Important: If you already sent a free score report to a college during exam registration, withholding will not remove the score from that college's records. The withholding only applies to future score reports. Once a college has received your score, you cannot take it back.

How to Cancel AP Scores

Canceling an AP score requires a written request submitted directly to College Board. Unlike withholding, you cannot do this through the online portal. Here is the process:

1. Write a signed letter or request to AP Services that includes your full name, date of birth, AP number or College Board ID, the specific exam score or scores you want canceled, and your signature.
2. Submit your request by mail, fax, or through College Board's contact process. Send to: AP Services, P.O. Box 6671, Princeton, NJ 08541-6671. You can also fax to (610) 290-8979.
3. Meet the deadline. Your cancellation request must be received by June 15 of the exam year to cancel that year's scores.

Score cancellation is free. There is no fee to cancel an AP score. However, you will not receive a refund of the exam fee — that covers the cost of administering the exam, not the score itself.

Once your cancellation is processed, the score is permanently deleted. You cannot view it, recover it, or send it to any college. If you later change your mind, your only option is to retake the exam. See our guide on retaking AP exams for details.

When to Consider Withholding vs. Canceling

For most students, withholding is the better option because it is reversible and achieves the same practical result. Here is when each option makes sense:

Choose withholding if:

• You scored a 1 or 2 and do not want specific colleges to see that score.
• You might want to use the score later — for example, if your college transfer plans change or a future school accepts a lower score than you expected.
• You want to keep the score on your personal College Board record for your own reference.

Choose canceling if:

• You are absolutely certain you will never need or want the score for any purpose.
• You plan to retake the exam and want the original score completely gone from your record.
• You want to ensure the score does not appear on any future score report, even accidentally.

Can You Cancel After Scores Are Sent?

No — once a college has received your AP score, you cannot remove it from their records. Canceling a score after it has already been sent to a college only removes it from your College Board record. The college still has the score on file. This is why it is important to act before the June 15 deadline if you want to prevent scores from being sent.

If you designated a free score recipient during exam registration, that college will receive your score automatically when scores are released in July. Neither canceling nor withholding after that point will remove the score from their system. Plan ahead if you think you might want to withhold or cancel.

Strategic Considerations

Most colleges do not penalize students for low AP scores, so withholding or canceling is often unnecessary. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Colleges primarily use AP scores for credit and placement, not admissions. A low AP score will not hurt your chances of getting in. Admissions decisions are based on your transcript, test scores, essays, and activities — not your AP exam results.
• Self-reporting is common. Many colleges ask you to self-report AP scores on your application. You are not required to report every score, and you can choose to report only the scores you are proud of.
• A 3 is a passing score. Even if you were hoping for a 5, a 3 earns college credit at many institutions. Check your target school's AP credit policies before deciding to cancel or withhold. You might be throwing away college credit.
• The $10 withholding fee adds up. If you are withholding from multiple colleges, the costs can accumulate. Consider whether withholding is actually necessary given that most colleges do not penalize low scores.

Cost Breakdown and Deadlines

Here is a summary of the costs and deadlines for each option:

• Score withholding: $10 per score per college. Deadline: June 15 for current year scores, but can also be done for future score reports at any time.
• Score cancellation: Free. Deadline: June 15 of the exam year. Must be submitted in writing.
• Exam fee refund: Not available. Canceling or withholding does not refund the ~$98 exam fee.
• Reversing a withhold: Free. You can un-withhold a score and include it in future score reports at no additional cost.
• Reversing a cancellation: Not possible. The score is permanently deleted.

For more information on sending scores to colleges, see our guide on how to send AP scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

This guide is based on publicly available College Board policies as of early 2026. Score cancellation and withholding deadlines, fees, and procedures may change. Visit AP Students for the most current information. This page is not affiliated with or endorsed by College Board.