AP Exam Dates & Schedule
The AP Exams in 2026 will take place over two weeks, from May 4 through May 15. Exams are scheduled at the same times across the country to ensure consistency. Each day offers two sessions: one in the morning, beginning between 8 and 9 a.m. local time, and another in the afternoon, starting between 12 and 1 p.m. local time.
For students who cannot test during the main dates—because of overlapping exams, illness, or school commitments—a late‑testing period will be available. This window runs from May 18 to May 22 and is reserved for those with approved conflicts.
Week 1 (May 4-8, 2026)
| Date | Morning (8 a.m.) | Afternoon (12 p.m.) |
| May 4th | Biology, Latin | European History, Microeconomics |
| May 5th | Chemistry, Human Geography | U.S. Government & Politics |
| May 6th | English Literature & Composition | Comparative Government & Politics, Physics 1 |
| May 7th | Physics 2, World History: Modern | African American Studies, Statistics |
| May 8th | Italian Language & Culture, U.S. History | Chinese Language & Culture, Macroeconomics |
Week 2 (May 11-15, 2026)
| Date | Morning (8 a.m.) | Afternoon (12 p.m.) |
| May 11th | Calculus AB, Calculus BC | Music Theory, AP Seminar |
| May 12th | French Language, Precalculus | Japanese Language, Psychology |
| May 13th | English Language, German Language | Physics C: Mechanics, Spanish Literature |
| May 14th | Art History, Spanish Language | Computer Science Principles, Physics C: E&M |
| May 15th | Environmental Science | Computer Science A |
The AP Art & Design portfolio is due May 8 at 8 p.m. ET, closing out Week 1.
AP Exam Late Testing Dates & Schedule
Students who cannot take their AP exams during the regular testing period because of approved conflicts have another option. These conflicts may include overlapping exam schedules, illness, religious observances, or school‑sponsored events.
For these situations, late‑testing exams will be offered from May 18 to May 22, 2026. To keep the process fair, the College Board provides alternate versions of each exam during this window.
All requests for late testing must be approved ahead of time by the school’s AP coordinator, who works directly with the College Board to confirm eligibility.
| Date | Morning (8 a.m.) | Afternoon (12 p.m.) |
| May 18th | Comparative Gov. & Politics, European History, World History: Modern | English Literature, Human Geography, Latin |
| May 19th | Japanese Language, U.S. Government & Politics | African American Studies, U.S. History |
| May 20th | Microeconomics, AP Seminar, Statistics | Biology, Chemistry, French Language, Microeconomics |
| May 21st | Chinese Language, Computer Science Principles, English Language, Music Theory, Precalculus | Art History, Calculus AB/BC, Italian Language, Physics C: Mechanics, Physics 2 |
| May 22nd | Environmental Science, Physics 1, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature | Computer Science A, German Language, Physics C: E&M, Psychology |
Courses with performance components—AP Seminar, AP Research, and Computer Science Principles—must submit digital work before testing and aren’t eligible for separate late exams.
AP Exam Formats: Digital vs. Hybrid
The AP Exams in 2026 continue the College Board’s move toward technology‑based testing. Most exams are delivered through the Bluebook app, but the format varies depending on the subject.
Fully Digital Exams
Some exams are taken entirely on a computer. Students complete both multiple‑choice and free‑response questions in Bluebook, typing all of their answers. At the end, the app automatically submits the exam. Subjects in this group include English Language, English Literature, U.S. History, European History, Human Geography, Environmental Science, Psychology, Latin, African American Studies, Art History, Computer Science A, and both Government courses.
Hybrid Exams
Other exams use a mix of digital and paper components. Multiple‑choice questions are completed in Bluebook, while free‑response questions are written by hand. This format is especially useful for subjects that require diagrams, calculations, or detailed math work. Hybrid exams include Biology, Chemistry, Calculus AB and BC, Statistics, Precalculus, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, and all Physics courses.
Portfolio‑Based Exams
A few AP courses rely on portfolios instead of traditional exams. AP Seminar, AP Research, and AP Computer Science Principles require students to submit digital performance tasks before the official testing dates. Because of this, their exam day looks different from the standard AP format.
AP Subject Format Comparison Table
| AP Subject | Fully Digital | Hybrid | Portfolio-Based |
| African American Studies | ✓ | ||
| Art History | ✓ | ||
| Comparative Government & Politics | ✓ | ||
| Computer Science A | ✓ | ||
| English Language & Composition | ✓ | ||
| English Literature & Composition | ✓ | ||
| Environmental Science | ✓ | ||
| European History | ✓ | ||
| Human Geography | ✓ | ||
| Latin | ✓ | ||
| Psychology | ✓ | ||
| U.S. Government & Politics | ✓ | ||
| U.S. History | ✓ | ||
| World History: Modern | ✓ | ||
| Biology | ✓ | ||
| Calculus AB | ✓ | ||
| Calculus BC | ✓ | ||
| Chemistry | ✓ | ||
| Macroeconomics | ✓ | ||
| Microeconomics | ✓ | ||
| Physics 1 | ✓ | ||
| Physics 2 | ✓ | ||
| Physics C: Mechanics | ✓ | ||
| Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism | ✓ | ||
| Precalculus | ✓ | ||
| Statistics | ✓ | ||
| AP Seminar | ✓ | ||
| AP Research | ✓ | ||
| Computer Science Principles | ✓ |
Why Are AP Exams Becoming Digital?
AP exams are moving to a digital format to make testing more secure, consistent, and efficient. The main reason for this change is security. By delivering exams digitally, the College Board eliminates the risk of stolen paper booklets, which has been a growing concern after several high‑profile cheating incidents.
Digital delivery also allows the College Board to release secure versions of exams instantly, without the need to ship physical materials to schools. This makes the process faster and more reliable.
For students, the shift to digital testing feels more modern and accessible. Since most already use computers every day, the exam environment is familiar. The Bluebook app adds helpful tools such as built‑in timers and easy navigation, which make the testing experience smoother.
Will Digital AP Exams Be Easier?
Digital AP exams are not meant to be easier. The College Board keeps the content, scoring, and overall difficulty the same no matter which format is used. What changes is simply the way students complete the test.
Some students find that typing essays and moving through questions in the Bluebook app feels faster and smoother. Others may feel distracted by working on a screen or worry about possible technical issues.
For math and science courses that still use a hybrid format, free‑response questions are written by hand. This ensures that students can show their work clearly when equations, diagrams, or calculations are involved.
AP Exam Controversies
The move to digital AP exams has sparked debate among students and educators. Some worry about technical issues, such as device glitches or slow school Wi‑Fi, which could add stress on test day.
Others feel that working on a screen makes it harder to annotate passages or tackle complex prompts. These concerns highlight how the testing experience can feel different depending on a student’s learning style.
Critics also raise questions about cheating. While the College Board argues that digital exams are more secure than paper versions, some believe new risks could emerge. The cheating scandal in 2024 brought exam integrity into the spotlight and pushed the College Board to strengthen its security measures.
Least Popular & Hardest AP Exams
Some AP exams draw very large numbers of students each year, while others only attract small groups. The least popular exams are usually the more specialized or language‑focused ones, such as AP Italian Language & Culture, AP German, or AP Seminar in certain schools. Enrollment in these courses is often limited simply because not every school offers them.
On the other hand, some AP exams are widely recognized as difficult, regardless of how many students take them. AP Physics 1 often has one of the lowest pass rates because of its challenging concepts and complex problem‑solving. AP Environmental Science and AP English Language also prove tough for many test‑takers. While the idea of “hardest” depends on each student’s strengths, these exams consistently stand out as some of the biggest hurdles.
Tips for AP Exam Success
Doing well on AP exams starts with steady preparation. Instead of cramming at the last minute, create a simple study plan that spreads your review over several weeks. Short, consistent study sessions are far more effective than long, rushed ones. Use AP Classroom to practice with real College Board questions and watch topic videos to strengthen areas where you feel less confident. It also helps to take at least one full‑length practice test in Bluebook so the digital format feels familiar before exam day.
If your exam is fully digital, practice typing essays and using the on‑screen tools so you feel comfortable. For hybrid exams, where free‑response questions are written by hand, make sure you practice setting up your work neatly on paper. On test day, remember to bring essentials like your charger, pencils, and any materials your school requires.
When the exam arrives, give yourself time by showing up early. Take a deep breath and trust the preparation you’ve done. Work at a steady pace, read instructions carefully, and try not to leave any questions blank. Above all, focus on clarity and effort—AP exams reward consistent preparation, not perfection.
Additional Guidance
Use official College Board tools as your main hub for accurate updates. Start with AP Central and the AP Students page to confirm dates, format details, and policies. Practice regularly in AP Classroom and try Bluebook’s built-in demos to get comfortable with digital testing. For extra support, add Khan Academy videos or trusted AP review books into your study routine.
