AP Exam Schedule
Official AP exam schedule with all test dates, times, and subjects. Updated for 2025 and 2026. Find when your AP exam is and plan your study schedule.
📝 AP Exam: Complete guide to Advanced Placement (AP) test dates. See schedules for all available years, registration deadlines, and key dates. Administered by College Board.
Click a year above to see the complete AP schedule with exam dates, registration deadlines, and countdown timers.
About the Advanced Placement (AP)
High school students taking college-level coursework in 38 different subjects. Most US high schools offer at least a handful of AP classes; competitive students often take 4-12 across their high school career.
Each AP exam runs 2-3 hours with multiple-choice and free-response sections. Most are paper tests; a growing number (CSP, English Language, etc.) have shifted to digital. Exams are administered over a two-week window in early-to-mid May at the student's high school.
APscoring & score release
Scoring: AP scores are 1-5. A 5 is "extremely well qualified", a 3 is "qualified" and the typical college credit threshold. Most flagship state universities require a 4 or 5 for credit; community colleges often accept a 3.
Score release: Scores are released in early-to-mid July through the College Board student dashboard. Score reports include a detailed breakdown by section.
How to register for the AP
Register through your school AP coordinator (not directly online). Standard registration usually closes in early November of the school year before the May exam. Late registration runs through March with a $40 late fee per exam.
Recent AP changes
College Board has been digitizing AP exams in waves since 2024. AP CSP, AP English Language, AP Statistics, and others moved to fully digital in 2025. Paper-and-pencil remains for most science and math exams.
AP preparation timeline
Most students follow the year-long AP course at school, then add 4-8 weeks of focused review in March-April. Common review tools: Princeton Review, Barron's, AP Classroom (free, official from College Board).
AP Test Dates
Official AP exam schedule with all test dates, times, and subjects. Updated for 2025 and 2026. Find when your AP exam is and plan your study schedule.
Related
AP FAQ
When is the next AP test date?
The schedule above shows all AP dates with live countdowns. Past dates are grayed out; the days-until badges show the next available date. College Board typically announces dates 6-12 months ahead.
How long is the AP exam?
Each AP exam runs 2-3 hours with multiple-choice and free-response sections. Most are paper tests; a growing number (CSP, English Language, etc.) have shifted to digital. Exams are administered over a two-week window in early-to-mid May at the student's high school.
What is a good AP score?
AP scores are 1-5. A 5 is "extremely well qualified", a 3 is "qualified" and the typical college credit threshold. Most flagship state universities require a 4 or 5 for credit; community colleges often accept a 3.
How much does the AP cost?
$98 per exam (US, 2025), with reduced-fee options for students who qualify. Register through College Board at apstudents.collegeboard.org.
How long should I prepare for the AP?
Most students follow the year-long AP course at school, then add 4-8 weeks of focused review in March-April. Common review tools: Princeton Review, Barron's, AP Classroom (free, official from College Board).
Can I reschedule my AP test date after registering?
Most testing organizations allow date changes for a fee, with deadlines 1-4 weeks before the test. Check College Board's policy at apstudents.collegeboard.org.