Created by the College Board, the AP Exams are 2-3 hours long and are designed to test students’ mastery of content and skill sets. Most exams consist of both multiple-choice and free-response questions.  Some AP Exams require students to complete performance tasks, either in place of or in addition to multiple-choice and free-response questions. These include AP Computer Science Principles, AP Research, AP Seminar, and AP Art & Design.

The AP Exams are designed to align with the AP Course framework, content, and conformity of questions that students learn throughout the year.  The College Board consults with AP Course teachers across the country to design and grade each exam, and they revisit exam design on an annual basis.

Test Dates

The 2023 AP Exams will be administered in schools as paper-to-pencil exams over a two-week testing window in May. AP scores are released in July. See below for the full list of test dates.

AP Subject Test Date
Art and Design Friday, May 5 (by 8pm ET)
Art History Friday, May 5 @ 12:00pm
Biology Wednesday, May 10 @ 12:00pm
Calculus AB Monday, May 8 @ 8:00am
Calculus BC Monday, May 8 @ 8:00am
Chemistry Monday, May 1 @ 12:00pm
Chinese Language and Culture (computer-based) Tuesday, May 2 @ 8:00am
Comparative Government and Politics Wednesday, May 3 @ 12:00pm
Computer Science A Wednesday, May 3 @ 12:00pm
Computer Science Principles Monday, May 8 @ 12:00pm
Computer Science Principles: Performance Tasks Monday, May 1 (11:59 pm ET)
English Language and Composition Tuesday, May 9 @ 8:00am
English Literature and Composition Wednesday, May 3 @ 8:00am
Environmental Science Tuesday, May 2 @ 8:00am
European History Friday, May 5 @ 8:00am
French Language and Culture Thursday, May 11 @ 8:00am
German Language and Culture Friday, May 12 @ 8:00am
Human Geography Thursday, May 4 @ 8:00am
Italian Language and Culture Monday, May 8 @ 12:00pm
Japanese Language and Culture (computer-based) Tuesday, May 9 @ 8:00am
Latin Friday, May 12 @ 12:00pm
Macroeconomics Thursday, May 4 @ 8:00am
Microeconomics Friday, May 5 @ 12:00pm
Music Theory Friday, May 12 @ 8:00am
Physics 1: Algebra-Based Thursday, May 11 @ 12:00pm
Physics 2: Algebra-Based Friday, May 12 @ 12:00pm
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Tuesday, May 9 @ 2:00pm
Physics C: Mechanics Tuesday, May 9 @ 12:00pm
Psychology Tuesday, May 2 @ 12:00pm
Research: Performance Tasks Monday, May 1 (11:59 pm ET)
Seminar Thursday, May 4 @ 12:00pm
Seminar: Performance Tasks Monday, May 1 (11:59 pm ET)
Spanish Language and Culture Wednesday, May 10 @ 8:00am
Spanish Literature and Culture Monday, May 1 @ 12:00pm
Statistics Thursday, May 4 @ 12:00pm
U.S. Government and Politics Monday, May 1 @ 8:00am
U.S. History Friday, May 5 @ 8:00am
World History: Modern Thursday, May 11 @ 8:00am

Test Format

The AP Exams are 2-3 hours long and are designed to test students’ mastery of content and skill sets. Most exams consist of both multiple-choice and free-response questions.  Some AP Exams require students to complete performance tasks, either in place of or in addition to multiple-choice and free-response questions. These include AP Computer Science Principles, AP Research, AP Seminar, and AP Art & Design.

In 2023, all AP exams will. be administered in-person, as paper-to-pencil tests, with the exception of AP Chinese and AP Japanese language which are in-school, computer-based tests.

Scoring

The multiple-choice sections of the AP Exams are scored digitally. For the free-response questions and performance tasks, the College Board consults with experienced AP teachers and college professors to score each exam. A rubric is developed for each question. The score cutoffs of each rubric take into account a number of factors, including: previous years’ scoring percentiles, the difficulty level of the multiple-choice questions and other free-response questions, the overall quality of answers in the entire pool of test-takers, and how college students fare on the exam.  AP scores are released in July.

AP Exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest score possible. The College Board defines the scores as follows:

AP Exam Score Recommendation College Course Grade Equivalent
5 Extremely well qualified A+ or A
4 Very well qualified A-, B+, or B
3 Qualified B-, C+, or C
2 Possibly qualified —-
1 No recommendation —-

 

AP Exam scores are released in July.

Colleges and universities often use high scores for course credit, and/or as a method of placement in order to exempt students from lower-level prerequisites. Additionally, AP scores play a significant role in the college admissions process.

Score Curves

The score curves vary from test to test. See the table below for more detailed scoring information.

AP Exam Score Curves – May 2022

Subject % of 5 % of 4 % of 3 % of 2 % of 1 Number of Students
Art and Design: Drawing 14.7 38.3 35.5 10.2 1.3
Art and Design: 2-D 10.9 35.5 40.3 12.8 0.5
Art and Design: 3-D 6.5 28.6 38.5 23.8 2.6
Art History 14.1 20.5 26.7 27.1 11.6
Biology 14.8 23.1 29.9 21.7 10.5
Calculus AB 20.2 16.1 19.1 22.7 22.0
Calculus BC 40.9 15.5 20.5 16.6 6.5
Chemistry 11.4 16.5 24.8 24.2 23.1
Chinese Language 45.3 19.7 19.4 6.2 9.4
Comparative Government & Politics 15.0 23.8 30.6 17.1 12.8
Computer Science A 26.5 20.3 20.0 10.4 22.8
Computer Science Principles 12.1 23.1 33.5 19.7 11.7
English Language 10.2 21.0 24.3 30.0 14.5
English Literature 16.6 27.2 34.0 14.3 7.9
Environmental Science 9.0 27.4 17.5 25.9 20.2
European History 13.3 20.9 24.4 29.9 11.5
French Language 12.2 23.6 35.2 22.9 6.1
German Language 17.6 18.2 27.5 24.4 12.3
Human Geography 14.7 18.7 19.7 15.1 31.9
Italian Language 19.9 19.7 28.8 19.8 11.8
Japanese Language 45.8 10.1 16.8 8.1 19.2
Latin 11.1 16.0 29.8 24.5 18.6
Macroeconomics 15.3 19.7 15.6 15.5 34.0
Microeconomics 16.0 22.1 18.9 17.6 25.3
Music Theory 18.6 17.6 25.6 24.0 14.2
Physics 1 7.4 16.8 18.1 27.5 30.2
Physics 2 15.1 17.8 35.8 24.7 6.6
Physics C: E&M 30.0 24.5 14.3 18.3 12.9
Physics C: Mechanics 25.3 26.8 21.5 15.8 10.6
Psychology 16.9 22.3 19.2 13.1 28.5
Research 12.6 25.8 44.2 13.4 4.0
Seminar 12.3 20.6 55.4 10.8 0.9
Spanish Language 23.5 28.6 29.9 14.9 3.1
Spanish Literature 7.4 22.0 33.8 24.5 12.3
Statistics 14.3 22.1 23.5 16.7 23.4
U.S. Government & Politics 12.1 10.9 25.9 25.7 25.4
U.S. History 10.7 15.6 21.9 23.0 28.7
World History 12.9 21.7 27.2 23.8 14.4

AP Exam Score Curves – May 2021

Subject % of 5 % of 4 % of 3 % of 2 % of 1 Number of Students
Art and Design: Drawing 14.2 37.7 34.3 12.4 1.4 18,096
Art and Design: 2-D 10.2 34.7 42.3 12.5 0.4 34,509
Art and Design: 3-D 6.5 28.6 36.3 24.9 3.7 4,573
Art History 12.0 19.6 23.8 30.1 14.6 20,633
Biology 7.4 19.4 32.4 30.0 10.8 230,527
Calculus AB 17.6 14.1 19.3 25.3 23.7 251,639
Calculus BC 38.3 16.5 20.4 18.2 6.6 124,599
Chemistry 11.2 16.4 23.7 24.7 23.9 135,997
Chinese Language 57.2 15.5 15.5 4.6 7.1 13,122
Comparative Government & Politics 16.6 24.5 30.7 14.9 13.3 19,292
Computer Science A 23.9 21.9 19.3 12.1 22.8 74,676
Computer Science Principles 12.4 21.7 32.5 19.9 13.6 116,466
English Language 9.1 22.9 25.8 29.3 12.9 518,548
English Literature 4.9 12.0 26.9 37.3 18.8 321,029
Environmental Science 7.0 24.9 18.5 27.6 22.1 160,771
European History 10.6 19.4 24.7 32.5 12.9 84,237
French Language 12.6 23.3 35.4 22.2 6.5 18,408
German Language 18.0 19.5 27.6 23.5 11.4 4,315
Human Geography 14.4 19.7 18.3 15.1 32.4 211,735
Italian Language 20.6 22.6 29.2 18.6 9.0 2,102
Japanese Language 47.5 9.2 17.6 7.9 17.7 2,204
Latin 10.0 16.9 29.9 25.3 17.9 4,889
Macroeconomics 18.0 19.6 13.7 15.7 32.9 124,436
Microeconomics 18.5 24.0 16.6 17.0 23.9 80,199
Music Theory 19.9 18.1 23.2 23.2 15.6 16,271
Physics 1 6.9 16.3 18.9 26.4 31.4 137,229
Physics 2 15.4 17.9 32.0 27.0 7.6 18,736
Physics C: E&M 32.6 23.1 13.8 18.0 12.5 20,471
Physics C: Mechanics 23.5 28.6 21.3 14.9 11.6 48,803
Psychology 14.1 21.2 18.0 15.2 31.5 288,511
Research 13.7 25.4 42.4 14.2 4.3 24,021
Seminar 11.1 19.5 54.5 10.7 4.3 53,076
Spanish Language 17.3 29.7 33.0 16.5 3.5 148,486
Spanish Literature 7.8 20.8 36.3 25.5 9.6 21,796
Statistics 16.2 19.9 21.8 17.2 24.9 184,111
U.S. Government & Politics 12.0 11.6 26.9 25.8 23.8 283,353
U.S. History 10.1 15.9 21.2 21.6 31.2 454,204
World History 9.7 18.5 24.0 28.9 19.0 302,232

AP Exam Score Curves – May 2020

Subject % of 5 % of 4 % of 3 % of 2 % of 1 Number of Students
Art and Design: Drawing 15.5 40.3 33.2 9.8 1.2 20,486
Art and Design: 2-D 12.1 36.1 41.3 9.8 0.6 36,901
Art and Design: 3-D 7.2 31.9 36.5 20.9 3.5 5,281
Art History 15.8 24.9 28 21.3 10 23,567
Biology 9.5 22.7 36.9 24.1 6.9 233,444
Calculus AB 19.5 20.9 21 24.1 14.5 266,430
Calculus BC 44.6 17.6 19.4 14.1 4.3 127,864
Chemistry 10.6 18.6 26.9 24 19.9 145,540
Chinese Language 55.4 15.5 17.9 5.1 6.1 14,663
Comparative Government & Politics 24.4 27.4 18.4 17.3 12.5 22,051
Computer Science A 25.6 21.7 23.2 12.8 16.8 70,580
Computer Science Principles 10.9 23.6 37.1 19.8 8.6 116,751
English Language 12.6 20.4 29.1 26.2 11.8 535,478
English Literature 9.3 17.3 33.5 27.8 12.2 333,980
Environmental Science 11.9 28.5 13 25.5 21 162,469
European History 13.7 20.1 25.5 29.2 11.5 94,312
French Language 23.3 31.7 28.3 12.3 4.4 21,701
German Language 23.9 33.9 16 19.5 6.7 4,928
Human Geography 11.8 22.4 24.8 10.9 30.1 218,333
Italian Language 18.5 16.8 40.1 19.5 5.1 2,518
Japanese Language 53.7 9.6 20.3 7.7 8.8 2,581
Latin 16.5 20.4 32.3 17.9 12.9 5,850
Macroeconomics 19.7 25 18.5 16.2 20.5 122,639
Microeconomics 23.3 29 16.6 14.2 16.9 82,415
Music Theory 24.2 19.3 25.7 22 8.8 16,550
Physics 1 8.8 17.9 24.8 26.5 21.9 149,488
Physics 2 14 24.3 35 21.3 5.4 21,835
Physics C: E&M 40.4 22.4 11.6 16.2 9.5 23,655
Physics C: Mechanics 41.6 26.4 16.3 9.2 6.5 51,718
Psychology 22.4 25.4 23.5 9.6 19.1 295,621
Research 8.8 32.1 31.5 25 2.5 20,055
Seminar 6.4 14.5 59.8 17 2.2 52,562
Spanish Language 30.5 36.4 23.1 8.8 1.2 168,998
Spanish Literature 17.6 18.6 38.8 20.7 4.3 24,137
Statistics 16.2 20.7 23.1 21.7 18.3 187,741
U.S. Government & Politics 15.5 16.5 25.5 22 20.5 293,196
U.S. History 13 19.2 26.6 20.4 21 472,697
World History 9.2 22.8 28.2 26.1 13.7 302,942

AP Exam Score Curves – May 2019

Subject % of 5 % of 4 % of 3 % of 2 % of 1 Number of Students
Art History 11.9 24.6 26.6 24.7 12.2 24,476
Biology 7.2 22.2 35.3 26.6 8.8 260,816
Calculus AB 19.1 18.7 20.6 23.3 18.3 300,659
Calculus BC 43.0 18.5 19.5 13.9 5.2 139,195
Chemistry 11.5 16.6 27.5 23.0 21.4 158,847
Chinese Language 60.1 14.9 14.8 4.0 6.2 13,853
Comparative Government & Politics 22.4 24.4 19.2 18.7 15.3 23,522
Computer Science A 26.7 21.9 21.0 11.9 18.4 69,685
Computer Science Principles 13.8 21.0 37.1 18.8 9.3 96,105
English Language 9.9 18.2 26.2 31.2 14.5 573,171
English Literature 6.2 15.7 27.8 34.3 16.0 380,136
Environmental Science 9.4 25.7 14.1 25.4 25.4 172,456
European History 11.7 20.5 25.9 29.4 12.5 100,655
French Language 16.1 25.3 35.7 18.2 4.7 23,249
German Language 21.0 24.2 27.2 19.5 8.2 5,160
Human Geography 10.8 18.2 20.1 16.7 34.1 225,235
Italian Language 13.6 18.1 34.4 24.6 9.3 2,658
Japanese Language 45.3 12.4 21.6 7.7 13.0 2,479
Latin 13.0 19.3 30.5 24.1 13.0 6,083
Macroeconomics 19.1 23.0 16.9 14.9 26.2 146,091
Microeconomics 24.3 28.1 17.2 12.0 18.4 91,551
Music Theory 21.2 17.9 24.5 23.5 12.8 18,864
Physics 1 6.7 18.2 20.5 28.7 25.9 161,071
Physics 2 14.2 21.0 30.2 26.2 8.4 23,802
Physics C: E&M 37.6 22.6 12.7 16.6 10.4 25,342
Physics C: Mechanics 37.7 26.7 17.4 10.0 8.2 57,131
Psychology 20.5 25.3 18.7 13.5 22.0 311,215
Research 10.7 22.2 43.0 19.5 4.6 15,724
Seminar 7.1 15.1 58.9 16.6 2.3 43,441
Spanish Language 25.2 34.2 29.4 9.5 1.8 187,133
Spanish Literature 9.5 25.0 37.7 21.4 6.3 29,345
Statistics 14.7 18.4 26.6 19.3 21.0 219,392
Studio Art: Drawing 20.8 33.3 37.0 7.8 1.1 21,769
Studio Art: 2-D Design 21.0 31.5 34.0 10.8 2.8 37,749
Studio Art: 3-D Design 10.0 22.4 37.5 25.7 4.3 6,040
U.S. Government & Politics 12.9 12.4 29.8 24.8 20.1 314,825
U.S. History 11.8 18.4 23.4 22.0 24.3 496,573
World History 8.6 18.8 28.0 28.8 15.8 313,317

Test Registration

The College Board’s deadline to register for AP Exams is November 15. However, the College Board allows students to register between November 16 – March 15 as long as they pay an additional $40 late fee.

Students register for the AP Exams through their school. If students have any questions, they should contact their school’s AP coordinator.

If students are not taking the AP Exams through their school, they can still register!  This might be the case if: 

  • A student would like to take an AP Exam that is not offered at the student’s school
  • A student’s school does not offer AP courses
  • A student is home-schooled
  • A student is taking an AP Exam without having taken the corresponding course

Here’s what these students need to do:

  1. Search the AP Course Ledger to find a school where students might be able to take specific AP Exams. After finding schools close by that offer the test, call them directly, ask to speak with the AP coordinator, and find out whether the school is planning to allow outside students to test there this year.
  2. The AP coordinator will take care of ordering exam materials, communicating test-day information, and collecting exam fees.

Please note that schools often have their own deadlines and policies for receiving requests from outside students. It’s best to contact them as soon as possible!

For more information, please click here to visit the College Board website.

 

Accommodations

Students who have been approved for College Board accommodations for the PSAT and SAT will receive the same accommodations for AP Exams.

Students who receive accommodations in school will most likely be approved for similar accommodations on the AP Exams. Students should contact their school directly to confirm that they have been approved for accommodations on the AP Exams. For more information, click here.

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