AP Exam Dates 2026: Official Schedule & Calendar
Planning your 2025–26 school year? This page gives you the complete, official 2026 AP Exam dates (May 4–8 and May 11–15), local start times, digital vs. hybrid formats in Bluebook, key portfolio deadlines, late-testing window, and score release timing.
Quick summary:
The 2026 AP Exams are administered worldwide over two weeks: Week 1 – May 4–8 and Week 2 – May 11–15. Morning exams must start between 8–9 a.m. local time, and afternoon exams between 12–1 p.m. local time. Early testing isn't allowed, but approved students can move to the late-testing window in mid‑May.
Digital first: Many AP Exams are fully digital in Bluebook, while math & science are hybrid (digital questions + handwritten FRQs).
Deadlines: Portfolios and performance tasks are due April 30 and May 8, 2026.
2026 AP Exam Schedule by Week (Official Dates)
Exams are given at your school or AP test center. Morning exams start between 8–9 a.m. local time, and afternoon exams between 12–1 p.m. local time. Use this calendar to see which days are heavier and whether you'll have two AP Exams on the same date.
| Date | Morning session (8 a.m. local) | Afternoon session (12 p.m. local) |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, May 4 |
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| Tue, May 5 |
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| Wed, May 6 |
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| Thu, May 7 |
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| Fri, May 8 |
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| Date | Morning session (8 a.m. local) | Afternoon session (12 p.m. local) |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, May 11 |
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| Tue, May 12 |
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| Wed, May 13 |
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| Thu, May 14 |
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| Fri, May 15 |
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These dates follow the official AP Exam schedule published by the College Board. Always confirm details such as room location and check‑in time with your school's AP coordinator.
Late & Makeup AP Testing – AP late exam dates and AP exam makeup dates
If you miss your regular test day for an approved reason, the College Board offers limited ap exam makeup dates and ap late exam dates. These ap exam late testing dates are different from the main ap exam test dates, and schools must request them in advance. For 2026, students should confirm the official ap exam late testing dates 2026 and ap makeup exam dates 2026 with their AP coordinator, as not all schools offer every late-testing option.
AP Exam Dates Checker 2026 by Subject (A–Z)
Use AP test schedule finder when you have a specific course in mind—for example, "AP Chemistry exam date 2026" or "When is the AP Psych exam?". Search by subject name and filter by exam format (fully digital, hybrid, portfolio/other).
AP African American Studies
Entire exam in Bluebook; no handwritten sections.
AP Art & Design (2-D, 3-D, Drawing)
No sit-down exam; full digital portfolio submission.
AP Art History
MCQs and FRQs typed in Bluebook.
AP Biology
MCQs digital; FRQs handwritten.
AP Calculus AB
Calculator required; handwritten FRQs.
AP Calculus BC
Same hybrid format as AB with calculator use.
AP Chemistry
Digital MCQs; handwritten FRQs; calculator allowed.
AP Chinese Language & Culture
Computer-based test with digital speaking tasks.
AP Computer Science A
Typed MCQs and FRQs in Bluebook.
AP Computer Science Principles
Bluebook exam; Create Task due Apr 30.
AP English Language & Composition
All essays typed in Bluebook.
AP English Literature & Composition
MCQs + FRQs typed; no paper booklet.
AP Environmental Science
Digital exam with calculator use permitted.
AP European History
DBQ + FRQs typed only.
AP French Language & Culture
Includes listening and recorded speaking tasks.
AP German Language & Culture
Paper test with audio and spoken responses.
AP Human Geography
MCQs + FRQs typed in Bluebook.
AP Italian Language & Culture
Paper exam with recorded listening and speaking tasks.
AP Japanese Language & Culture
Computer-based exam with headset speaking section.
AP Latin
Translations & essays typed only.
AP Macroeconomics
Digital MCQs; handwritten FRQs.
AP Microeconomics
MCQs in Bluebook; FRQs handwritten.
AP Music Theory
Sight-singing and listening tasks included.
AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based
Hybrid format; calculator allowed.
AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based
MCQs digital; FRQs handwritten.
AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism
Same hybrid format as Mechanics.
AP Physics C: Mechanics
Calculator permitted; handwritten FRQs.
AP Precalculus
Digital MCQs; handwritten FRQs; calculator required.
AP Psychology
FRQs typed; no handwritten booklet.
AP Seminar
Digital exam; performance tasks due Apr 30.
AP Spanish Language & Culture
Listening + speaking recordings included.
AP Spanish Literature & Culture
Handwritten literary analysis responses.
AP Statistics
Calculator required; handwritten FRQs.
AP United States History
SAQs, DBQ, and LEQ typed in Bluebook.
AP U.S. Government & Politics
Entire exam completed in Bluebook.
AP World History: Modern
DBQ + FRQs typed; no paper sections.
AP Portfolio Deadlines 2026
Some AP courses do not require a traditional paper exam. Instead, students must submit digital portfolios via the AP Digital Portfolio platform.
AP Courses with Portfolio Requirements
- AP Art & Design (Drawing, 2D, 3D)
- AP Seminar
- AP Research
- AP Computer Science Principles (performance task)
AP Portfolio Due 2026
- April 30, 2026 – 11:59 p.m. ET
AP Seminar · AP Research · AP Computer Science Principles (Create Task) - May 8, 2026 – 8 p.m. ET
AP Art & Design: 2-D, 3-D, Drawing portfolios due
AP Prep Timeline for 2026
Follow this clear, month-by-month AP prep timeline for 2026 to stay on pace, boost your scores, and build a study plan that carries you from January all the way to the July score release.
Confirm exams & set baselines
- Confirm which AP Exams you're registered for with your AP coordinator.
- Take a diagnostic or released exam for each subject.
- Block out exam dates, sports, and big events in your calendar.
Content first, then practice
- Finish learning any remaining units in class.
- Review Units 1–5 deeply and start targeted FRQ practice.
- Use flashcards for vocab-heavy courses (Psych, Bio, Gov, Human Geo).
Full-length simulations
- Take at least 2 full, timed practice exams for each high‑priority AP.
- Review every mistake: content gap vs. rushing vs. misreading.
- Refine calculator strategies for math/science APs.
Exam weeks: May 4–15
- Shift to light review, sleep, and exam‑day routines.
- Double‑check your room locations and arrival times.
- Use low‑stress "night before" checklists instead of cramming.
Score release & next steps
- Expect AP scores in early July 2026 via your College Board account.
- Decide which scores to send to colleges and update your application list.
- Use your results to plan next‑year coursework and prep (SAT/ACT, college essays, etc.).
AP Exam Dates 2026 by State, City & Country
One of the most common questions is: "Are AP exam dates the same in my state or country?" The short answer is yes—the calendar is global, but the clock time is local.
United States (states & cities)
- Students in California (Los Angeles, San Diego, Bay Area), New York (NYC, Long Island), Texas (Houston, Dallas, Austin), Florida (Miami, Orlando, Tampa), and every other state follow the same 2026 AP Exam dates—only the time zone changes.
- Your school chooses the exact start time within the official windows: morning exams begin between 8–9 a.m. local, afternoon between 12–1 p.m. local.
International schools
- Students in Canada, the UK & Europe, China & East Asia (including Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea), India, Middle East (including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar), and other regions use the same May 4–15, 2026 AP exam calendar.
- For international schools, exams still run on local time; check with your AP coordinator for any site‑specific reporting instructions or security rules.
Late testing window
- If you have two exams at the same time, religious observances, or approved conflicts, your AP coordinator may move you to the late‑testing window in mid‑May 2026 using alternate exam forms.
- Late‑testing dates are also global and still run by local time zone, but seats are limited and require school approval—this is not something you can choose on your own.
Digital, Hybrid & Paper AP Exams in 2026
For 2026, most AP Exams move into the Bluebook digital testing app. Some subjects are fully digital, some are hybrid (digital questions + handwritten FRQs), and a few—especially world languages and Art & Design—rely on portfolios or paper/audio.
Fully digital (Bluebook)
- AP English Language & Composition
- AP English Literature & Composition
- AP U.S. History, AP World History: Modern, AP European History
- AP Psychology, AP African American Studies
- AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles
- AP Seminar exam, AP Environmental Science, AP Human Geography, and more
Hybrid digital exams
- Math & science exams like AP Calculus AB & BC, AP Statistics, AP Physics 1 & 2, AP Physics C, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Precalculus.
- You see questions in Bluebook but handwrite free‑response answers in paper booklets that are returned for scoring.
Language, portfolio & other formats
- World languages such as Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Spanishcombine multiple‑choice, audio, and spoken responses using paper or a separate digital language app.
- AP Art & Design is a portfolio‑only exam, with no sit‑down test.
AP Exam Fees & Key Deadlines for 2026
Exact fees are set by the College Board and your school, but most students in the U.S. can expect to pay around $99 per AP Exam, with higher prices for international testing and additional school or state subsidies and fee reductions for qualifying students.
Ordering & payment
- Many schools set a fall ordering deadline (October–November 2025).
- Some schools allow "spring add/drop" changes with additional fees.
- Ask your AP coordinator how and when to pay (school portal, counselor's office, etc.).
Digital portfolio deadlines
- April 30, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET) – AP Seminar, AP Research, and AP Computer Science Principles performance tasks due.
- May 8, 2026 (8 p.m. ET) – AP Art & Design portfolios due (2‑D, 3‑D, Drawing).
Score release
- Scores usually release in early July by region via your College Board account.
- Make sure your College Board profile is up to date with the colleges that should receive your scores.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About AP Exam Dates 2026