# AP Exam Guide 2027: Dates, Schedule, Scores and Key Rules > See the 2027 AP Exam dates, schedule, score scale, registration deadlines, digital testing rules, fees, and exam-day requirements in one clear guide. - Page: https://testbuddy.ai/en/blog/ap-exam-guide-2027-dates-schedule-scores-and-key-rules - Last updated: 2026-08-13 --- AP Exams can feel complicated because dates, digital formats, registration rules, score releases, and college credit all work differently. Here we cover what students actually need to know: **when the 2027 AP Exams take place, how the schedule works, what AP scores mean, when scores come out, how registration works, and what to expect on exam day**. ## What are AP Exams? AP Exams assess the knowledge and skills taught in Advanced Placement courses. Most exams: - Take about **2 to 3 hours** - Include multiple-choice questions - Include free-response questions or another assessed component - Are taken near the end of the school year Some subjects also use: - Portfolios - Performance tasks - Digital submissions - Recorded responses AP scores can be used by colleges for **credit or advanced placement**, depending on each college's individual policy. ## 2027 AP Exam dates The regular 2027 AP Exam administration runs across **2 weeks**: - **Week 1:** May 3 to May 7, 2027 - **Week 2:** May 10 to May 14, 2027 Late testing takes place from **May 17 to May 21, 2027**. ### 2027 AP Exam schedule | Date | Session 1 | Session 2 | |---|---|---| | **May 3** | Human Geography; Physics C: Mechanics | Biology; Italian Language and Culture | | **May 4** | Business with Personal Finance; United States Government and Politics | European History; Microeconomics | | **May 5** | Cybersecurity; English Literature and Composition | Physics 1: Algebra-Based; Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | | **May 6** | French Language and Culture; Physics 2: Algebra-Based; World History: Modern | African American Studies; Chemistry | | **May 7** | German Language and Culture; United States History | Macroeconomics; Networking for eligible pilot schools | | **May 10** | Calculus AB; Calculus BC | Music Theory; Seminar | | **May 11** | Japanese Language and Culture; Precalculus | Statistics | | **May 12** | English Language and Composition | Art History; Computer Science A | | **May 13** | Spanish Language and Culture | Chinese Language and Culture; Environmental Science | | **May 14** | Comparative Government and Politics; Computer Science Principles; Spanish Literature and Culture | Latin; Psychology | Students should always confirm their **exact reporting time and testing location with their AP coordinator**. ## What time do AP Exams start in 2027? For 2027, College Board describes exam periods as **Session 1** and **Session 2**. For most schools in the lower 48 U.S. states, Hawaii, and Washington, D.C.: - **Session 1:** 8:00 a.m. local time - **Session 2:** 12:00 p.m. local time Start times may differ in other locations because the schedule now considers the school's time zone. Students outside these areas should not assume that their exam starts at 8:00 a.m. or 12:00 p.m. The AP coordinator provides the correct local time. ## When is late testing in 2027? The official late-testing period is: **May 17 to May 21, 2027** Late testing may be available when a student cannot attend the regular exam for an approved reason, including certain scheduling conflicts. Students cannot simply choose the late-testing date themselves. They need to speak with their **AP coordinator**. Different exam versions are used during late testing. ## Important 2027 submission deadlines Some AP subjects require work to be submitted before the main exam period. Key deadlines include: - **April 30, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. ET:** AP Computer Science Principles, AP Seminar, and AP Research final submissions - **April 30, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. ET:** required Personalized Project Reference submissions for applicable AP World Language and Culture students - **May 7, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. ET:** AP Art and Design portfolio submission Missing a submission deadline can affect the student's assessment, so these dates should be treated as part of the exam schedule. ## What were the 2026 AP Exam dates? The 2026 AP Exam administration has already ended. Regular exams took place: - **May 4 to May 8, 2026** - **May 11 to May 15, 2026** Late testing took place: - **May 18 to May 22, 2026** In 2026, morning exams generally started at **8:00 a.m. local time**, while afternoon exams generally started at **12:00 p.m. local time**. Students preparing now should use the **2027 schedule**, not the 2026 dates. ## How do students register for an AP Exam? AP Exam registration is normally handled through the student's school. Students generally need to: - Join their class or exam-only section in **My AP** - Confirm that they want to take the exam when required - Follow their school's registration instructions - Pay any applicable exam fee through the school The school's **AP coordinator places the exam order**. Schools may set their own student deadlines before College Board's final ordering deadline, so students should follow the date provided by their school. For the 2026-27 school year: - **Preferred ordering deadline:** October 2, 2026 - **Final ordering deadline:** November 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET A late-order fee may apply after the final deadline when late ordering is permitted. ## How much does an AP Exam cost in 2027? For on-time orders, the standard College Board fee is: - **$99 per exam** in the U.S., U.S. territories, Canada, and DoDEA schools - **$129 per exam** at schools outside these areas Some international test centers may charge different amounts. Other possible costs include: - **$40 late-order fee** for eligible exams ordered after the regular deadline - Reduced fees for students who qualify for financial assistance College Board provides a **$37 fee reduction** for eligible students, while additional state or local support may lower the final amount further. ## Are AP Exams digital in 2027? AP testing is now largely digital. Depending on the subject, an exam may be: - **Fully digital** - **Hybrid digital** - Based on a digital portfolio or performance submission ### Fully digital exams Students complete both multiple-choice and free-response sections in **Bluebook**. ### Hybrid digital exams Students use Bluebook for the digital portion of the exam, but handwritten answer booklets are still used for some free-response work. For 2027, several exams move further toward fully digital testing. Important changes include: - AP Statistics becomes **fully digital** - AP Music Theory becomes **hybrid digital** - AP Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish Language and Culture become fully digital - AP Spanish Literature and Culture becomes fully digital - Speaking responses for applicable language exams are recorded in Bluebook Students taking a Bluebook exam should test their device and login credentials before exam day. ## What should students bring on AP Exam day? Requirements depend on the exam, but students may need: - A fully charged approved device for digital exams - The device charger - Their **College Board account credentials** - Pens or pencils where required - Up to **2 approved calculators** when the exam permits calculators - A school-issued or government-issued photo ID when required Students should check the instructions for their individual AP subject before exam day. ### Items that are generally prohibited Students should not bring unauthorized materials into the testing room, including: - Phones - Smartwatches - Unauthorized electronic devices - Notes - Books - Personal scratch paper - Mechanical pencils where prohibited Food and drinks are generally not allowed in the exam room unless permitted through an approved accommodation. ## AP calculator rules Calculator rules depend on the subject. Where calculators are permitted: - Students may normally bring up to **2 approved calculators** - Calculators cannot be shared - Some Bluebook exams include a built-in **Desmos calculator** A calculator being allowed on one AP Exam does not mean it is allowed on every exam. Students should check the policy for their specific subject before testing. ## AP accommodations Students who need testing accommodations must receive approval in advance. The process is normally handled with the school's **Services for Students with Disabilities coordinator**. For the 2027 AP administration, accommodation requests and required documentation must be submitted by: **January 22, 2027** Students should begin the process early because using an accommodation that has not been approved can create problems with the exam or score. ## How are AP Exams scored? AP Exam scores range from **1 to 5**. | AP score | Meaning | |---|---| | **5** | Extremely well qualified | | **4** | Very well qualified | | **3** | Qualified | | **2** | Possibly qualified | | **1** | No recommendation | For most AP Exams, College Board combines performance across the different exam sections into a composite score and converts it to the **1 to 5 scale**. Multiple-choice responses are computer-scored. Free-response answers and applicable performance tasks are evaluated by experienced AP teachers and college faculty. ## Is a 3 a passing AP score? There is no universal college-credit rule that makes a score of 3 automatically "pass" everywhere. Many U.S. colleges may award **credit or advanced placement for a score of 3 or higher**, but every institution sets its own policy. A college may: - Accept a 3 - Require a 4 - Require a 5 - Give placement without credit - Give different credit depending on the AP subject Students should therefore check the AP credit policy of each college they are considering. ## When do 2027 AP scores come out? College Board currently states that **2027 AP scores will be released in July 2027**. A specific student score-release date has not yet been announced. For reference, 2026 AP scores became available on **July 6, 2026**, but students should not assume that the same date will apply in 2027. Some scores may also appear later because of late testing or processing delays. ## How do students check their AP scores? Students access their scores through their **College Board account**. They should use the same account connected to My AP. Creating a second account can make it harder to access the correct score history. ## How do AP scores get sent to colleges? Students taking AP Exams receive **1 free score send per year**. For the 2027 administration, the deadline to select or change the institution receiving that free score report is: **June 20, 2027** Additional online score reports currently cost **$15 each**. A normal score report includes the student's AP score history unless individual scores have been withheld or canceled. ## Can an AP score be canceled or withheld? Yes, but the 2 options work differently. **Score cancellation:** - Permanently removes the score - Cannot be reversed - Can prevent the score from being sent to colleges **Score withholding:** - Does not delete the score - Prevents a specific score from being sent to a selected institution - Can involve an additional fee To stop a score from being included in that year's free score send through cancellation, College Board must receive the request by **June 15 of the exam year**. ## How should students prepare for an AP Exam? Preparation should stay focused on the structure of the student's actual AP subject. Useful priorities are: - Review the official course topics - Practise both multiple-choice and free-response questions - Use released free-response questions - Review scoring guidelines - Become familiar with Bluebook before a digital exam - Practise under realistic time limits - Track weak topics instead of repeatedly studying only comfortable ones For any supported exam, **TestBuddy's approach is built around the same principle: practise regularly, identify weak areas, and measure progress instead of relying on guesswork**. Preparation becomes much easier to manage when improvement is visible and structured. ## Official information and useful links - The complete dates and subject schedule come from the official [2027 AP Exam Dates](https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/exam-dates) page. - Details on regional Session 1 and Session 2 timing are explained in the official [AP Exam start-time guidance](https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/exam-administration-ordering-scores/exam-dates/start-times). - Late-testing dates and rules are available in the official [2027 late-testing schedule](https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/exam-administration-ordering-scores/exam-dates/late-testing-dates). - Registration requirements are explained in the official [AP Exam registration guidance](https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/register-for-ap-exams). - Current fees are listed in the official [AP Exam fee information](https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/exam-administration-ordering-scores/ordering-fees/exam-fees). - Digital and hybrid formats are detailed in the official [AP Exam modes guidance](https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/exam-administration-ordering-scores/administering-exams/digital-ap-exams/exam-modes). - Exam-day materials and restrictions are listed in the official [what to bring on AP Exam day](https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/exam-policies-guidelines/what-to-bring-on-exam-day) guidance. - Score meanings come from the official [AP score scale](https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/about-ap-scores/ap-score-scale-table). - Score access and release information is available through the official [AP score portal guidance](https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/view-scores). - College credit policies can be checked through the official [AP credit and placement search](https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/getting-credit-placement). - The historical dates come from the official [2026 AP Exam schedule](https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/ap-exams-what-to-know/past-exam-dates/2026). - The supplied TestBuddy internal pages currently point specifically to the CPA Exam rather than AP preparation: [practise the CPA Exam with TestBuddy](https://testbuddy.ai/practise/cpa-exam) and view the [TestBuddy CPA Exam page](https://testbuddy.ai/tests/cpa-exam). **Title (H1):** AP Exam Guide 2027: Dates, Schedule, Scores and Key Rules **Meta title:** AP Exam 2027: Dates, Schedule and Scores | TestBuddy **Meta description:** See the 2027 AP Exam dates, schedule, score scale, registration deadlines, digital testing rules, fees, and exam-day requirements in one clear guide. --- Source: TestBuddy — AI-powered study platform for university admission tests. 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