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AP® Exam Schedule and Dates — 2026

Q: Is it possible to take an AP exam at a later date if you don’t feel ready?

No , simply feeling unprepared or lacking preparation is not a valid reason for taking the AP exam at a later date. The College Board allows late testing only under specific, pre-approved circumstances. These include: School-related conflicts (e.g., two exams scheduled at the same time, academic competitions, or national/international athletic events) Personal or family emergencies (e.g., serious illness, injury, death in the family, or natural disasters) Other valid circumstances (e.g., religious holidays, military obligations, or graduation conflicts) If you do meet an approved condition, your school’s AP Coordinator must request late testing on your behalf. Documentation may be required.

Keeping track of all your high school exams and Advanced Placement® (AP) exam schedules simultaneously can be challenging.

Home » AP Course Exam » AP® Exam Schedule and Dates — 2026

Look no further! We have made it super easy for you to access your 2026 AP® exam dates and calendar.

When Are AP Exams Scheduled?

AP exam dates are typically administered over a 2-week period in early May each year. If you wish to take the exam in 2026, you need to register before November 14, 2025, to avoid late fees.

If you are a homeschooled student or an independent learner who is not enrolled in an AP-participating school, you may still be searching for a school willing to administer the exam for you. In such cases, your search can continue after November 14. Some schools may add you to their exam order even after the deadline and may request a waiver for the late order fee at their discretion.

What Are the 2026 AP Exam Dates?

In 2026, 28 AP exams¹ will be administered through the Bluebook^TM digital testing platform and knowing your official AP exam dates early is key to planning your prep. Of these, 16 are fully digital, while 12 are hybrid. Students will complete multiple-choice questions digitally and write free-response answers by hand.

These AP exam dates are crucial for planning your prep strategy, especially for hybrid exams requiring digital and written skills.

WEEK 1 (May 4–8)

Date	8 a.m. (local time)	Noon (local time)
May 4, 2026 (Monday)	Biology Latin	European History Microeconomics
May 5, 2026 (Tuesday)	Chemistry Human Geography	United States Government and Politics
May 6, 2026 (Wednesday)	English Literature and Composition	Comparative Government and Politics Physics 1: Algebra-Based
May 7, 2026 (Thursday)	Physics 2: Algebra-Based World History: Modern	African American Studies Statistics
May 8, 2026 (Friday)	Italian Language and Culture United States History	Chinese Language and Culture Macroeconomics

Date	8 a.m. (local time)	Noon (local time)
May 11, 2026 (Monday)	Calculus AB Calculus BC	Music Theory Seminar
May 12, 2026 (Tuesday)	French Language and Culture Precalculus	Japanese Language and Culture Psychology
May 13, 2026 (Wednesday)	English Language and Composition German Language and Culture	Physics C: Mechanics Spanish Literature and Culture
May 14, 2026 (Thursday)	Art History Spanish Language and Culture	Computer Science Principles Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
May 15, 2026 (Friday)	Environmental Science	Computer Science A

Note:

AP coordinators order late-testing exams at the same time for students who qualify. Be sure to contact them in a timely manner if you encounter an unavoidable emergency on exam day.
Schools must start morning exams between 8 and 9 a.m. local time and afternoon exams between Noon and 1 p.m. local time.
For schools in Alaska, morning exams must begin between 8 and 9 a.m. local time and afternoon exams between Noon and 1 p.m. local time. Unlike in previous years, schools in Alaska no longer start exams 1 hour earlier than other states.
Note: AP African American Studies exams can only be ordered and administered by U.S. schools.
By April 30, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET), the following deadlines apply:

AP Seminar and AP Research students must submit their performance tasks as final.
AP Computer Science Principles students must submit their Create performance task as final.

2026 AP Late Testing Dates

In certain situations, students may need to take their AP exams later. To ensure the security of the exams, alternative versions are provided for late testing. Students who require late testing at a school must complete these alternate exams on the designated late-testing dates² and times.

Note that the AP scores for both standard and late testing dates are released simultaneously. Below is the AP exam schedule for late testing.

Late Testing Dates	8 a.m. (local time)	Noon (local time)
May 18, 2026 (Monday)	Comparative Government and Politics European History World History: Modern	AP English Literature and Composition Human Geography  Latin
May 19, 2026 (Tuesday)	Japanese Language and Culture United States Government and Politics	African American Studies United States History
May 20, 2026 (Wednesday)	Microeconomics Seminar Statistics	Biology Chemistry French Language and Culture Macroeconomics
May 21, 2026 (Thursday)	Chinese Language and Culture Computer Science Principles English Language and Composition Music Theory Precalculus	Art History Calculus AB Calculus BC Italian Literature and Culture Physics C: Mechanics Physics 2: Algebra-Based
May 22, 2026 (Friday)	Environmental Science Physics 1: Algebra-Based Spanish Language and Culture Spanish Literature and Culture	Computer Science A German Language and Culture Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Psychology

AP Portfolio Deadlines

There are separate deadlines for AP exams that are scored based on digital portfolio submissions. The following are the dates for AP Art and Design, AP Research, AP Seminar, and AP Computer Science Principles.

AP Art and Design, 2-D Art and Design, and Drawing:

Teachers or AP coordinators will set their own deadlines for submitting your portfolio. Once submitted, your teacher will forward it to the AP coordinator, who will then send it to the AP Program by the first week of May. The final submission deadline for 2026 is 8 p.m. Friday, May 8.

AP Seminar, AP Research, and AP Computer Science Principles:

The deadline to submit performance tasks and presentations for AP Seminar and AP Research, as well as the Create performance task for AP Computer Science Principles, is 11:59 p.m. ET April 30, 2026.

2026 AP Testing Centers

Selecting your AP testing center is crucial. Unless you are taking the test at your high school, choose one close to your home. This will be a buffer if you encounter transportation issues on test day.

If you are taking the test in the United States or similar territories, your high school most likely administers the exam. If you are homeschooled, you can contact AP Services at 888-225-5427 or email using an online form to connect with your AP coordinator and choose your AP testing center.

TIP: Try to reach your testing center at least 30 minutes before the start of your exam to avoid last-minute struggles. Reaching the testing center early will also help the test administrators at your test center arrange and finalize your AP exam accommodations, if applicable. There are specific rules and regulations set up by College Board® to ensure a smooth testing experience for all students. You can find detailed info on our AP exam policies and accommodations page if you need to request special accommodations or want to learn more about the dos and don’ts at your AP test center.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When and how often are AP exams offered?

AP exams are offered once a year, over a 2-week period in early May. Specific AP exam dates vary each year and are announced well in advance.

Can you change your AP exam date?

Students can’t request a new exam date on their own. Schools may assist qualifying students with setting up a late exam on the official alternate exam date set by the College Board. Check with your AP coordinator if your school assists with date changes.

What happens if you miss the AP exam?

If you fail to take the AP exam on the scheduled date, you can talk to your AP coordinator about taking it at a later date.

What happens if you cannot take your AP exam on the late testing day?

To ensure each student gets a fair chance to take the exam, College Board provides a late testing date for students who have an unavoidable emergency on test day. If you cannot take your AP exam on the late testing day, there may be a fee for the unused exam kit.

Is it possible to take an AP exam at a later date if you don’t feel ready?

No, simply feeling unprepared or lacking preparation is not a valid reason for taking the AP exam at a later date. The College Board allows late testing only under specific, pre-approved circumstances. These include:

School-related conflicts (e.g., two exams scheduled at the same time, academic competitions, or national/international athletic events)
Personal or family emergencies (e.g., serious illness, injury, death in the family, or natural disasters)
Other valid circumstances (e.g., religious holidays, military obligations, or graduation conflicts)

If you do meet an approved condition, your school’s AP Coordinator must request late testing on your behalf. Documentation may be required.

What if you have 2 AP exams simultaneously?

If you have 2 AP exams on the same scheduled date and time slot, you can take 1 of the exams on a late testing date offered by the College Board. Contact your AP coordinator, who will order a late testing exam on your behalf. This accommodation is provided free of additional cost.

References

¹ AP Exam Dates – AP Central. (2025). College Board. https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/exam-administration-ordering-scores/exam-dates

² 2025 AP Exam Late-Testing Dates. (2026). AP Central. https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/exam-administration-ordering-scores/exam-dates/late-testing-dates