In many parts of the U.S., the first two weeks of May usher in some of the most enjoyable weather of the year. However, for over one-third of high school students, it means only one thing – AP exams.
Continue reading below to map out your 2023 AP exam schedule, develop a plan of attack to become an AP Scholar (with Distinction!), and increase your odds of admission at your target colleges.
AP Exam Schedule
The 2023 AP Exams will be given over a two-week period covering May 1-5 and May 8-12.
Monday, May 1 | United States Government and Politics . | Chemistry Spanish Literature and Culture | |
Tuesday, May 2 | Chinese Language and Culture Environmental Science | Psychology . | |
Wednesday, May 3 | English Literature and Composition . | Comparative Government and Politics Computer Science A | |
Thursday, May 4 | Human Geography Macroeconomics | Seminar Statistics | |
Friday, May 5 | European History United States History | Art History Microeconomics | |
Monday, May 8 | Calculus AB Calculus BC | Computer Science Principles Italian Language and Culture | |
Tuesday, May 9 | English Language and Composition Japanese Language and Culture | Physics C: Mechanics . | Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism . |
Wednesday, May 10 | Spanish Language and Culture | Biology | |
Thursday, May 11 | French Language and Culture World History: Modern | Physics 1: Algebra-Based . | |
Friday, May 12 | German Language and Culture Music Theory | Latin Physics 2: Algebra-Based |
AP Exam Administration Details
- Most 2023 AP Exams will be given via paper-and-pencil, with the usual exception of AP Chinese and AP Japanese exams.
- Schools have up to one hour after the official start time to begin administering the exams.
- For the morning session, this would be between 8AM and 9AM local time.
- For the afternoon session, this would be between 12PM and 1PM local time.
- No early testing is permitted!
- The only exception is Alaska, where morning exams must start between 7AM and 8AM with afternoon exams delivered between 11AM and 12PM local time.
AP Art and Design Digital Portfolio Due Date
Teachers must forward all completed AP Art and Design digital portfolios to coordinators prior to 8PM ET, Friday, May 5th, 2023. As a student, what does this mean for you?
Specifically, you’ll need to have your portfolios ready to go well before the 8PM Friday deadline. While there may be some kind and forgiving teachers who will be happy to submit digital AP Art and Design portfolios at the very last minute (on a Friday night), this shouldn’t be expected.
We recommend that students plan out a preferred portfolio delivery time with their teachers several days in advance of the submission deadline.
Additional AP Exam Schedule Due Dates
- AP Seminar and AP Research: All performance tasks and presentations must be submitted to AP Seminar and AP Research teachers prior to 11:59PM ET on May 1, 2023.
- AP Computer Science Principles: All students must submit their final Create performance task by 11:59 PM ET on May 1, 2023.
Digital AP Exams
The College Board recently announced the option for digital AP exams starting in May 2023. Specifically, digital AP exam options will be available for the following subjects:
- Computer Science Principles
- English Literature
- English Language
- European History
- AP Seminar
- World History
- U.S. History
Digital AP exams are the same length as the standard pencil-and-paper exams and must be administered in a proctored environment. Unfortunately, the digital exams are not available in foreign countries, Hawaii, or Alaska at this time. Schools have the choice on whether they wish to administer the digital exam options.
2023 AP Late Exam Schedule
If you’re a student who has two tests scheduled for the same day at the same time, please see the AP Late Testing schedule below. Note that the College Board uses alternate exams for late testing in order to preserve the integrity of the grading process.
Wednesday, May 17 | Chemistry Computer Science A Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Psychology Statistics United States History | Computer Science Principles English Language and Composition Environmental Science Japanese Language and Culture Macroeconomics Spanish Literature and Culture |
Thursday, May 18 | Chinese Language and Culture English Language and Composition German Language and Culture Human Geography Physics 1: Algebra-Based . | Art History Biology Comparative Government and Politics French Language and Culture Italian Language and Culture Latin |
Friday, May 19 | Calculus AB Calculus BC Microeconomics Physics 2: Algebra-Based Spanish Language and Culture . | European History Music Theory Physics C: Mechanics Seminar United States Government and Politics World History: Modern |
Do AP Exams Help My College Admissions Chances?
If you’re wondering whether AP exams can help your college admissions chances, please understand that the answer will depend on a variety of factors including where you wish to apply. For example, some schools such as Princeton require that you self report all AP test scores (no exceptions).
Generally speaking, if you scored a 4 or 5 on every AP exam you took through junior year, it’s an easy decision to self report your scores. Additionally, qualifying for an AP Scholar Award can be a great additional distinction to add to your college applications.
However, there are instances where it can be difficult to decide whether to self-report all of your scores. If you hope to gain admission to some of the most prestigious colleges, you may wonder if you should self-report any AP exam scores below a 4.
While most schools won’t require you to report your scores, they will have access to your academic transcript and can see what AP classes you have taken. For those who may need help strategizing in this area, we recommend reaching out to a leading college admissions consultant to help you convey your full potential.
AP Exam Week Tips
In this section, I’m going to lean on the many past mistakes I made during my AP exam weeks. For example, I was taking AP practice tests right up until the day before the respective exams! That is not how someone should be spending their time leading up to the test dates. Instead, I should have been lightly reviewing my most common problem areas identified from practice exams taken in the weeks (not days) leading up to the AP testing dates.
Additionally, I tried to cram in new concepts and problem areas the same day as the exams. That was a horrible idea and only created added stress and potential confusion (i.e. second-guessing) while completing the exams.
So, what should you be doing during AP exam weeks? Here’s my recommendation:
- In frequent but short bursts throughout the day, lightly read through subject-specific review sheets that you’ve collected or prepared ahead of time. Although these can be reference sheets provided by the College Board, or “cheat sheets” from test prep companies, the best ones are those you create yourself. These should be based on topics you’ve struggled with conceptually or had trouble memorizing. Another nice option is reviewing digital flashcards from an adaptive learning app on your phone such as Anki.
- Complete only a handful of very short sets of practice questions in the days leading up to the exam (but never on the date of the exam) to keep the material fresh in your mind.
- With nerves already potentially high, it’s important to not mix up your routine too much. Try to stick with your normal extracurricular activities to at least some small extent to maintain balance and give yourself a break from thinking about AP exams.
- Plan at least one fun and relaxing activity during the weekend in between the two AP exam weeks. This will give you something to look forward to and help shake off some of the stress.
- This last one may seem too obvious, but it needs saying: remember to breathe! While scoring high on your AP exams can be a great signal to your target schools, they’re not the be-all and end-all of college admissions. Take a step back and consider all of your other positive attributes and accomplishments! If you’re still struggling with mild test anxiety, consider checking out apps such as Calm or Headspace for guided breathing exercises to help you feel relaxed and focused come exam day.
Future AP Exam Dates
Already thinking about the 2024 AP Exam Schedule? While we can’t say for certain since the dates haven’t been released yet, our best estimate is that the 2024 AP Exam Schedule will cover the weeks of May 6-10 and May 13-17. We’ll be sure to update our page as soon as the College Board has officially released the schedule.
Remember that doing your best on these exams is more like a marathon than a sprint. Slow and consistent review over long periods of time is the best way to master AP material.
Frequently Asked Questions: AP Exam Schedule
How many times a year are AP Exams?
AP exams are only offered once a year typically during the first two weeks of May. The majority of AP exams are taken by high school students during their junior and senior years.
What times are AP Exams?
The official start times for the morning and afternoon AP exam sessions are 8AM and 12PM local time (or 2PM for Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism). The College Board states that start times may begin up to 60 minutes after the official start time but no sooner than.
Are AP Exams online 2023?
Starting in May 2023, 7 AP subject exams will be available in digital format. Please note that it is up to your school whether or not they wish to make this option available to you. For more information, please read our full section on Digital AP Exams.
Can you take 2 AP exams on the same day?
Yes, students may take 2 AP exams on the same day if the exams are scheduled during different sessions (e.g. morning and afternoon). However, if you happen to be scheduled for two exams during the same day and time, you’ll want to follow the AP Late Testing schedule to make up one of the exams.
