AP Exam Schedule 2026: Dates, Length and Formats

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Your Comprehensive Guide to AP Exam 2026

With the AP Exam 2026 approaching, it’s essential to understand each exam’s length, format, and rules. Proper planning and a clear understanding of exam structures can help reduce test-day stress and significantly improve your performance.

This guide provides a detailed breakdown of AP exam dates, exam durations, and formats by subject. Whether you’re preparing for AP Calculus, AP U.S. History, or AP Biology, this resource will help you plan your preparation efficiently and focus on what matters most.

Let’s dive into the specifics of each AP subject and make sure you’re fully prepared for exam day!

Tips for Preparing for the AP Exam 2026

Success on the AP Exam 2026 requires not only a strong understanding of the content, but also a well-structured preparation strategy. Below are essential tips to help you stay on track and achieve your target scores.

Understand the AP Exam Format & Scoring

Before diving into preparation, make sure you fully understand the format and scoring structure of your AP exams. Knowing how each section is weighted—and what types of questions to expect—will help you prioritize your study time and approach the exam with confidence.

Create a Realistic Study Schedule

Break your preparation into manageable weekly goals and set clear milestones. Focus on strengthening weak areas while scheduling regular review sessions to reinforce familiar topics and prevent knowledge gaps.

Take Practice Exams Under Timed Conditions

Simulate real test-day conditions by completing full-length practice exams. This will help you build stamina, improve time management, and become comfortable with the pacing required on exam day.

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Stay Healthy & Manage Stress

Don’t underestimate the power of sleep, nutrition, and exercise during your preparation. Mental and physical well-being are crucial for maintaining focus and achieving your best performance.

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Explore AP Exams Schedule 2026 by Subject

Get all the details about AP exams, including dates, formats, and tips for excelling in each subject. Be well-prepared and confident on exam day!

Arts

AP Art History

Exam Date: Thu, May 14, 2026
Exam Duration: 3 hours

Exam Format:

  • Section I: Multiple-Choice (80 Questions)

    • 60 minutes, 50% of exam score

  • Section II: Free-Response (6 Questions)

    • 120 minutes, 50% of exam score

Important Notes:

  • The free-response section includes a combination of short-answer and long-essay questions that assess students’ ability to analyze visual materials and apply historical context.

  • Students are expected to demonstrate familiarity with major works of art across different cultures, time periods, and artistic traditions, as outlined in the official AP Art History course framework.

Exam Date: Monday, May 11, 2026
Exam Duration: ~2 hours 40 minutes

Exam Format:

    • Section I: Multiple-Choice (75 Questions)

      • ~80 minutes

      • ~45% of exam score

      • Includes both listening-based and notation-based multiple-choice questions.

    • Section II: Free-Response

      • IIA: Written Free-Response (7 Questions)

        • ~70 minutes

        • ~45% of exam score

        • Includes melodic and harmonic dictation, part-writing, and composition tasks.

      • IIB: Sight-Singing (2 Questions)

        • ~10 minutes

        • ~10% of exam score

        • Students sing and record brief diatonic melodies.

Important Notes:

  • The exam assesses music theory skills including notation, dictation, harmonic analysis, part writing, and sight singing, as outlined in the official course framework.

  • For the 2026 exam, students complete written sections on paper and record sight-singing responses on a device provided at the testing center.

English

AP English Language and Composition

Exam Date: Wed, May 13, 2026
Exam Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes

Exam Format:

  • Section I: Multiple-Choice

    • 45 questions

    • 60 minutes

    • ~45 % of total exam score

  • Section II: Free-Response

    • 3 free-response essays

    • 2 hours 15 minutes

    • ~55 % of total exam score

Important Notes:

  • The free-response section includes three essay types:

    • Synthesis Essay: integrate multiple sources to support an argument

    • Rhetorical Analysis Essay: analyze how an author’s choices shape meaning and purpose

    • Argument Essay: present and defend your own position with evidence and reasoning

  • This exam assesses critical reading, rhetorical analysis, and academic writing skills aligned with college-level expectations.

Exam Date: Wed, May 6, 2026
Exam Duration: 3 hours

Exam Format:

  • Section I: Multiple-Choice

    • ~55 questions

    • 60 minutes

    • ~45 % of total exam score

  • Section II: Free-Response

    • 3 essay questions

    • 2 hours 15 minutes

    • ~55 % of total exam score

Important Notes:

  • The free-response section includes:

    • Literary Analysis of a Poem – analyze structure, form, and language

    • Literary Analysis of a Prose Passage – interpret meaning, technique, and style

    • Open-Ended Essay – respond to a novel, play, or literary work of choice

  • The exam assesses skills in close reading, literary analysis, and effective academic writing aligned with college-level English literature expectations.

History and Social Sciences

AP African American Studies

Exam Date: Thu, May 7, 2026

Exam Duration: 2 hours 45 minutes (total across all sections)

Exam Format

The AP African American Studies Exam includes multiple-choice questions, a validation question tied to the student project, short-answer questions, a document-based question, and an individual student project component.

📌 Section I: Multiple-Choice

  • 60 questions

  • 1 hour 10 minutes

  • ~60 % of exam score

  • Questions are grouped in sets that each include stimulus material (text, images, etc.) related to the course framework.

📌 Section IB: Individual Student Project — Exam Day Validation Question

  • 1 question

  • ~10 minutes

  • ~1.5 % of exam score

  • Students respond in writing to one of their course project oral defense questions, reflecting on source analysis and evaluation.

📌 Section II: Free Response

  • Short-Answer Questions

    • 3 questions

    • ~40 minutes

    • ~18 % of exam score

    • Each question is based on text, visual material, or a broad thematic concept and includes multiple parts.

  • Document-Based Question (DBQ)

    • 1 question

    • ~45 minutes

    • ~12 % of exam score

    • Students analyze a set of documents and write an evidence-based essay with a clear thesis and support from sources.

Important Notes

  • The exam is fully digital and completed using the College Board’s Bluebook testing app, with all responses submitted electronically.

  • The individual student project and its exam day validation question reflect the independent work students completed during the course.

  • Multiple-choice questions draw on required course materials as well as related content.

Exam Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 12 PM Local
Exam Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Exam Format

The AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam consists of two main sections: multiple-choice and free-response.

Section I: Multiple-Choice

  • 55 questions

  • 1 hour

  • ~50% of total exam score

  • Includes individual questions and question sets requiring quantitative or text-based analysis.

Section II: Free-Response

  • 4 questions

  • 1 hour 30 minutes

  • ~50% of total exam score

  • Questions include:

    • Concept Application: Define or describe a political concept and/or explain/compare political systems, principles, institutions, processes, policies, or behaviors.

    • Quantitative Analysis: Analyze quantitative data and explain its relation to political systems or processes.

    • Comparative Analysis: Compare political concepts, systems, or institutions across countries.

    • Argument Essay: Develop an evidence-based argument in essay form.

Important Notes

  • The exam is digital and completed using the College Board’s Bluebook testing app, with all responses submitted electronically.

  • The exam assesses students’ ability to understand and compare political systems across the six core countries studied in the course.

Exam Date: Mon, May 4, 2026

Exam Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes

Exam Format

The AP European History Exam is designed to assess students’ understanding of key developments and practices in European history from approximately 1450 to the present.

Section I: Multiple-Choice & Short Answer

  • Multiple-Choice Questions
    • 55 questions
    • 55 minutes
    • ~40 % of exam score
  • Short-Answer Questions
    • 3 questions
    • 40 minutes
    • ~20 % of exam score

These parts test students’ ability to analyze historical sources, interpret evidence, and apply historical reasoning.

Section II: Free-Response

  • Document-Based Question (DBQ)
    • 1 question
    • 60 minutes
    • Students analyze a set of primary and secondary source documents and write an evidence-based essay.
  • Long Essay Question (LEQ)
    • 1 question
    • 40 minutes
    • Students choose from provided prompts and construct a thesis-driven essay.

The free-response section assesses historical thinking skills including contextualization, evidence-based argumentation, and synthesis.

Important Notes

  • The exam emphasizes historical reasoning skills, source analysis, and written communication aligned with college-level expectations.
  • Both the DBQ and LEQ require clear thesis development and support with relevant historical evidence.

Exam Date: Tue, May 5, 2026
Exam Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes

Exam Format

The AP Human Geography Exam is divided into two main sections: multiple-choice and free-response. (apcentral.collegeboard.org)

Section I: Multiple-Choice

  • 60 questions

  • 1 hour 15 minutes

  • ~50% of total exam score

  • Questions assess students’ ability to interpret maps, data, and models, and apply geographic concepts.

Section II: Free-Response

  • 3 questions

  • 1 hour

  • ~50% of total exam score

  • Free-response questions require students to address geographic problems with written explanations, data application, and concept synthesis.

Important Notes

  • The exam evaluates students’ understanding of how humans interact with environments, spatial patterns, and processes shaping human societies.

  • Questions draw on geographic models, data analysis, and real-world case studies to assess analytical and reasoning skills.

Exam Date: Fri, May 8, 2026
Exam Duration: 2 hours 10 minutes

Exam Format:

  • Section I: Multiple-Choice (60 Questions)

    • 1 hour 10 minutes, 66.7% of exam score

  • Section II: Free-Response (3 Questions)

    • 1 hour (includes a 10-minute reading period), 33.3% of exam score

Important Notes:

  • A four-function calculator is allowed for both sections of the exam.

  • Focus on understanding macroeconomic principles such as economic indicators, fiscal and monetary policy, and international trade.

Exam Date: Mon, May 4, 2026
Exam Duration: 2 hours 10 minutes

Exam Format

The AP Microeconomics Exam consists of two main sections: multiple-choice and free-response. (apcentral.collegeboard.org)

Section I: Multiple-Choice

  • 60 questions

  • 1 hour 10 minutes

  • ~66.7% of exam score

  • Questions assess students’ understanding of basic economic concepts such as supply and demand, consumer and producer behavior, market structures, and factor markets.

Section II: Free-Response

  • 3 questions

  • 1 hour (includes a 10-minute reading period)

  • ~33.3% of exam score

  • Free-response questions require students to apply microeconomic theory to real-world economic situations and data.

Important Notes

  • A four-function calculator is allowed for both sections of the exam.

  • The exam emphasizes analytical reasoning and graphical interpretation of economic models.

Exam Date: Tue, May 12, 2026
Exam Duration: 2 hours 40 minutes

Exam Format:

  • Section I: Multiple-Choice (75 Questions)

    • 1 hour 30 minutes, 66.7% of exam score

  • Section II: Free-Response (2 Questions)

    • 1 hour 10 minutes, 33.3% of exam score

    • Free-Response Question 1: Article Analysis Question (AAQ)

    • Free-Response Question 2: Evidence-Based Question (EBQ)

Important Notes:

  • This is a fully digital exam completed in the Bluebook testing app.

Exam Date: Tue, May 5, 2026
Exam Duration: 3 hours

Exam Format

The AP United States Government and Politics Exam is a fully digital exam completed in the College Board’s Bluebook testing app.

Section I: Multiple-Choice

  • 55 questions

  • 1 hour 20 minutes, 50% of exam score

Section II: Free Response

  • 4 questions

  • 1 hour 40 minutes, 50% of exam score

    • Concept Application: Respond to a political scenario and explain effects of institutions or processes.

    • Quantitative Analysis: Analyze data or visuals and relate them to political principles.

    • SCOTUS Comparison: Compare a nonrequired Supreme Court case with a required one.

    • Argument Essay: Develop an evidence-based argument using required foundational documents and course concepts.

Important Notes

  • The exam assesses understanding of U.S. political systems, public policy, civil liberties, political participation, and institutional interactions.

  • All exam responses are submitted digitally through the Bluebook app.

Exam Date: Fri, May 8, 2026
Exam Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes

Exam Format

The AP United States History Exam is designed to assess students’ understanding of key developments and historical reasoning skills across U.S. history from approximately 1491 to the present.

Section I: Part A — Multiple-Choice

  • 55 questions

  • 55 minutes

  • ~40% of total exam score

  • Students analyze primary and secondary sources, images, data, and texts.

Section I: Part B — Short-Answer Questions

  • 3 questions

  • 40 minutes

  • ~20% of total exam score

  • Short-answer questions require concise responses to prompts based on historical sources or evidence.

Section II: Part A — Document-Based Question (DBQ)

  • 1 question

  • 60 minutes

  • ~25% of total exam score

  • Students are given documents and must write an evidence-based historical argument.

Section II: Part B — Long Essay Question (LEQ)

  • 1 question

  • 40 minutes

  • ~15% of total exam score

  • Students choose one prompt and construct a thesis-driven essay using historical evidence.

Important Notes

  • The exam is fully digital and delivered through the College Board’s Bluebook testing app.

  • Questions emphasize historical thinking skills including sourcing, contextualization, causation, continuity and change, and argumentation with evidence.

Exam Date: Thu, May 7, 2026
Exam Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes

Exam Format

The AP World History: Modern Exam is a fully digital exam that assesses students’ analytical skills and understanding of world historical developments.

Section I: Part A – Multiple-Choice

  • 55 questions

  • 55 minutes

  • ~40% of total exam score

  • Includes questions based on historical texts, interpretations, and evidence.

Section I: Part B – Short-Answer

  • 3 questions

  • 40 minutes

  • ~20% of total exam score

  • Students analyze sources and historical propositions across world history time periods.

Section II: Free-Response

  • 2 questions total

  • 1 hour 40 minutes

  • ~40% of total exam score

    • Document-Based Question (DBQ)

      • Recommended 1 hour (includes recommended reading period)

      • ~25% of total exam score

      • Students analyze and synthesize historical documents to construct an evidence-based essay.

    • Long Essay Question (LEQ)

      • 40 minutes

      • ~15% of total exam score

      • Students choose one prompt and develop a thesis-driven essay supported by historical evidence.

Important Notes

  • The exam focuses on historical thinking skills including sourcing, contextualization, comparison, causation, and argumentation with evidence.

  • The DBQ presents students with a set of documents reflecting various historical perspectives; students must use the documents and their own knowledge to support a coherent historical argument.

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Math and Computer Science

AP Calculus AB

Exam Date: Mon, May 11, 2026
Exam Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes

Exam Format

The AP Calculus AB Exam has two main sections: multiple-choice and free-response.

Section I: Multiple-Choice

  • 45 questions

  • 1 hour 45 minutes

  • ~50% of total exam score

  • Includes a mix of procedural, conceptual, and real-world application questions covering differential and integral calculus.

Section II: Free-Response

  • 6 questions

  • 1 hour 30 minutes

  • ~50% of total exam score

  • Free-response questions require students to construct written solutions showing reasoning and justification.

Important Notes

  • The exam is administered in a hybrid digital format, with multiple-choice completed in the Bluebook testing app and free-response answers handwritten in a paper booklet.

  • Calculators are permitted on designated parts of the exam as allowed under the College Board calculator policy.

Exam Date: Mon, May 11, 2026
Exam Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes

Exam Format

The AP Calculus BC Exam is a hybrid digital exam where students complete multiple-choice questions and view free-response questions in the Bluebook testing app, then handwrite free-response answers in paper booklets returned for scoring.

Section I: Multiple-Choice

  • 45 questions

  • 1 hour 45 minutes

  • ~50% of total exam score

  • • Part A: 30 questions, 1 hour (graphing calculator not permitted)

  • • Part B: 15 questions, 45 minutes (graphing calculator required)

Section II: Free-Response

  • 6 questions

  • 1 hour 30 minutes

  • ~50% of total exam score

  • • Part A: 2 questions, 30 minutes (graphing calculator required)

  • • Part B: 4 questions, 1 hour (calculator not permitted)

Important Notes

  • The exam covers advanced calculus concepts including limits, derivatives, integrals, sequences and series, and applications of calculus.

  • Graphing calculator policies vary by section; make sure your model is College Board-approved where required.

Exam Date: Fri, May 15, 2026
Exam Duration: 3 hours

Exam Format

The AP Computer Science A Exam is a fully digital exam administered through the College Board’s Bluebook testing app.

Section I: Multiple-Choice

  • 42 questions

  • 1 hour 30 minutes, 55% of total exam score

  • Computational thinking practices are assessed through individual and occasional question sets.

Section II: Free-Response

  • 4 questions

  • 1 hour 30 minutes, 45% of total exam score

  • All free-response questions assess code development skills including methods and control structures, class design, data analysis with ArrayList, and 2D array manipulation.

Important Notes

  • The exam is fully digital with all responses submitted electronically in Bluebook.

  • A Java Quick Reference is provided in Bluebook for use during the exam.

Exam Date: Thu, Apr 30, 2026 + Thu, May 14, 2026
Exam Duration: 2 hours (End-of-Course Exam) + Create Performance Task

Exam Format

The AP Computer Science Principles exam has two key components: the Create performance task (completed in class prior to exam day) and an end-of-course exam taken on exam day in the College Board’s digital Bluebook testing app.

Section I: End-of-Course Multiple-Choice Exam

  • 70 questions

  • 2 hours

  • ~70% of total exam score

  • Includes a mix of:

    • Single-select multiple choice

    • Single-select with a computing innovation reading passage

    • Multiple-select (select 2 answers per question)

Section II: Written Response (on Exam Day)

  • 2 written-response questions (4 total prompts)

  • 1 hour (included in end-of-course exam duration)

  • ~30% of total exam score

  • Students respond to prompts about the Create performance task they developed earlier in the year.

Create Performance Task (Through-Course)

  • Completed before the end-of-course digital exam

  • Involves developing a program, recording a running video, and creating a Personalized Project Reference.

Important Notes

  • The Create performance task must be submitted to the AP Digital Portfolio by the College Board deadline for a valid score.

  • All responses on exam day are submitted digitally in the Bluebook testing app.

  • The format and weighting are consistent year-to-year.

Exam Date: Tue, May 12, 2026
Exam Duration: 3 hours

Exam Format

The AP Precalculus Exam is a hybrid digital exam. Students complete the multiple-choice section on a computer using the Bluebook testing app, and they handwrite free-response answers in paper booklets that are returned for scoring.

Section I: Multiple-Choice

  • 40 questions

  • 2 hours

  • ~62.5% of total exam score

  • Part A: 28 questions, 1 hour 20 minutes (calculator not permitted)

  • Part B: 12 questions, 40 minutes (graphing calculator required)

Section II: Free-Response

  • 4 questions

  • 1 hour

  • ~37.5% of total exam score

  • Part A: 2 questions, 30 minutes (graphing calculator required)

  • Part B: 2 questions, 30 minutes (calculator not permitted)

Important Notes

  • The hybrid digital format means that the multiple-choice section is taken on computer while free-response answers are handwritten and scanned.

  • The AP Precalculus Exam assesses key precalculus skills including algebraic manipulation, function interpretation, modeling, and trigonometric reasoning.

Exam Date: Thu, May 7, 2026
Exam Duration: 3 hours

Exam Format

The AP Statistics Exam consists of two sections: multiple-choice and free-response. (apcentral.collegeboard.org)

Section I: Multiple-Choice

  • 40 questions

  • 90 minutes

  • ~50% of total exam score

  • Questions assess students’ understanding of statistical concepts and interpretation of data.

Section II: Free-Response

  • 6 questions

  • 90 minutes

  • ~50% of total exam score

  • Free-response questions require students to apply statistical reasoning to real‐world scenarios.

Important Notes

  • The exam emphasizes interpreting data, designing studies, and drawing conclusions from samples and populations.

  • Students should be familiar with probability models, inference procedures, and data analysis methods aligned with the course framework.

Sciences

AP Biology

Exam Date: Mon, May 4, 2026

Exam Duration: 3 hours

Exam Format

The AP Biology Exam is a hybrid digital exam where students complete multiple-choice questions on the Bluebook testing app and handwrite free-response answers in a paper booklet that is returned for scoring.

Section I: Multiple-Choice

  • 60 questions

  • 1 hour 30 minutes

  • ~50% of total exam score

  • Includes discrete multiple-choice questions and question sets tied to shared stimuli (e.g., data tables, graphs).

Section II: Free-Response

  • 6 questions

  • 1 hour 30 minutes

  • ~50% of total exam score

  • The free-response section includes:

    • 2 long questions: interpret and evaluate experimental results (with and without graphing)

    • 4 short questions: assess scientific investigation, conceptual analysis, model/visual analysis, and data analysis.

Important Notes

  • The exam assesses your ability to interpret experimental results, analyze biological data, and explain scientific concepts and procedures.

  • Calculators are permitted; review the College Board’s calculator policy for allowed models.

  • Reference materials (e.g., equations and formulas) are available for use in the exam and provided by the school or in Bluebook.

Exam Date: Tue, May 5, 2026
Exam Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes

Exam Format

The AP Chemistry Exam is a hybrid digital exam where students complete multiple-choice questions in the College Board’s Bluebook testing app and handwrite free-response answers in a paper booklet that is returned to College Board for scoring. 

Section I: Multiple-Choice

  • 60 questions

  • 1 hour 30 minutes

  • ~50% of total exam score

  • Includes discrete multiple-choice and question sets based on common stimuli (data tables, graphs, experimental scenarios). 

Section II: Free-Response

  • 7 questions

  • 1 hour 45 minutes

  • ~50% of total exam score

  • The free-response section includes:

    • 2 long questions (requiring explanation of phenomena, justification, or calculations)

    • 3 short questions (conceptual, graphical, or data analysis)

    • 2 multiple-part questions (combined skills)
      (Exact sub-distribution as shown on the official exam page.) 

Important Notes

  • The hybrid digital format means students view the free-response questions in Bluebook but write responses by hand in paper booklets that are later submitted for scoring. 

  • Calculators are permitted on designated parts of the exam as allowed under College Board policies.

  • The exam evaluates students’ understanding of chemical structure, reactions, thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibrium, and laboratory-based problem solving.

Exam Date: Fri, May 15, 2026
Exam Duration: 2 hours 40 minutes

Exam Format

AP Environmental Science is a fully digital exam completed in the College Board Bluebook testing app.

Section I: Multiple-Choice

  • 80 questions

  • 1 hour 30 minutes

  • ~60% of total exam score

  • Assess understanding of environmental concepts, systems, and data interpretation.

Section II: Free-Response

  • 3 questions

  • 1 hour 10 minutes

  • ~40% of total exam score

  • Free-response questions include data analysis, experimental design, and solutions to environmental problems.

Important Notes

  • A four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator is allowed.

  • The exam emphasizes quantitative analysis, interpretation of ecological data, and application of scientific principles to real-world environmental issues.

Exam Date: Wed, May 6, 2026
Exam Duration: 3 hours

Exam Format

The AP Physics 1 exam is a hybrid digital exam. Students complete multiple-choice questions and view free-response questions in the College Board’s Bluebook testing app and then handwrite their free-response answers in paper booklets that are returned for scoring.

Section I: Multiple-Choice

  • 40 questions

  • 1 hour 20 minutes

  • 50% of total exam score

  • Questions are either discrete or grouped in sets with stimuli (data, scenarios, etc.).

Section II: Free-Response

  • 4 questions

  • 1 hour 40 minutes

  • 50% of total exam score

  • Includes the following question types:

    • Mathematical routines

    • Translation between representations

    • Experimental design and analysis

    • Qualitative/quantitative translation

Important Notes

  • Calculators are permitted for this exam; check the College Board’s calculator policy for approved models.

  • Reference materials (equation tables or formula sheets) are available and provided for AP Physics 1.

Exam Date: Thu, May 7, 2026
Exam Duration: 3 hours

Exam Format

The AP Physics 2 exam is a hybrid digital exam administered in the College Board’s Bluebook testing app. Students complete the multiple-choice section and view free-response questions on a computer, then handwrite free-response answers in paper booklets that are returned for scoring. 

Section I: Multiple-Choice

  • 50 questions

  • 1 hour 30 minutes

  • 50% of total exam score

  • Questions assess understanding of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, optics, atomic and nuclear physics. 

Section II: Free-Response

  • 5 questions

  • 1 hour 30 minutes

  • 50% of total exam score

  • Free-response questions require students to explain and apply physics principles in real-world and experimental contexts. 

Important Notes

  • Calculators are permitted for this exam; refer to the College Board’s calculator policy for allowed models. 

  • Reference materials such as equation tables are provided during the exam and are available for use. 

Exam Date: Thu, May 14, 2026
Exam Duration: 3 hours

Exam Format

Section I: Multiple Choice

  • Number of Questions: 40
  • Time Allotted: 80 minutes
  • Weight: 50% of total exam score

Question Types:

  • Discrete multiple-choice questions
  • Question sets based on a shared stimulus or data set, followed by related questions

Section II: Free Response

  • Number of Questions: 4
  • Time Allotted: 100 minutes
  • Weight: 50% of total exam score

Question Categories:

  • Mathematical routines
  • Translation between representations
  • Experimental design and analysis
  • Qualitative and quantitative translation

Important Notes

  • Calculators are allowed on both sections of the exam.
  • Students should clearly show all work in free-response questions to receive full credit.
  • The exam assesses both conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills in electricity and magnetism.

Exam Date: Wed, May 13, 2026
Exam Duration: 3 hours

Exam Format

Section I: Multiple Choice

  • Number of Questions: 40

  • Time Allotted: 80 minutes

  • Weight: 50% of total exam score

Question Types:

  • Discrete multiple-choice questions

  • Question sets based on a shared stimulus or data set, followed by related questions

Section II: Free Response

  • Number of Questions: 4

  • Time Allotted: 100 minutes

  • Weight: 50% of total exam score

Important Notes

  • This exam strongly emphasizes mechanics modeling and derivation skills. Students must be able to apply Newton’s laws, conservation of energy and momentum, and rotational dynamics to construct correct physical models in complex scenarios, rather than relying on formula substitution alone.

  • The Free-Response section rewards clear reasoning and structured problem-solving. Even if the final numerical answer is incorrect, students can earn substantial partial credit by presenting accurate force diagrams, equations, and logical derivations with proper notation.

World Languages and Cultures

AP Chinese Language and Culture

Exam Date: Fri, May 8, 2026
Exam Duration: Approximately 3 hours

Exam Format

The AP Chinese Language and Culture Exam uses consistent question types, weighting, and scoring guidelines each year, allowing students to prepare with clear expectations for exam day.

Section IA: Multiple Choice — Listening

  • Number of Questions: 25–35
  • Time Allotted: 20 minutes
  • Weight: 25% of total exam score

Content & Skills Assessed:

  • Identify the appropriate continuation of a conversation
  • Answer questions based on various listening stimuli, including transportation announcements, voice messages, school conversations, radio reports, instructions, and uncontextualized dialogues
  • Identify main ideas and supporting details
  • Determine vocabulary meaning and infer the meaning of unfamiliar words
  • Interpret meaning using cultural and interdisciplinary context
  • Infer implied meaning through context

Section IB: Multiple Choice — Reading

  • Number of Questions: 30–40
  • Time Allotted: 60 minutes
  • Weight: 25% of total exam score

Content & Skills Assessed:

  • Analyze print materials such as notes, emails, pen pal letters, poster announcements, and short stories
  • Identify main ideas and supporting details
  • Determine vocabulary meaning and infer unfamiliar words
  • Interpret meaning using cultural and interdisciplinary context
  • Infer implied meaning through context

Section IIA: Free Response — Written

  • Number of Tasks: 2
  • Time Allotted: 30 minutes
  • Weight: 25% of total exam score

Tasks:

  • Presentational Writing: Narrate a story based on a sequence of pictures (15 minutes)
  • Interpersonal Writing: Read and respond to an email message (15 minutes)

Section IIB: Free Response — Spoken

  • Number of Tasks: 2
  • Time Allotted: 10 minutes
  • Weight: 25% of total exam score

Tasks:

  • Interpersonal Speaking: Respond to thematically linked questions in a simulated conversation (4 minutes)
  • Presentational Speaking: Deliver a presentation on a given aspect of Chinese culture by describing a cultural practice or product and explaining its significance
    • Preparation time: 4 minutes
    • Response time: 2 minutes

Important Notes

  • This exam evaluates functional language use in real-world and cultural contexts. Students are assessed on their ability to comprehend, interpret, and communicate meaning accurately and appropriately, rather than on isolated grammar memorization.
  • Cultural understanding directly impacts scoring, especially in presentational and interpersonal tasks. Responses should reflect awareness of Chinese social norms, practices, and perspectives to achieve higher performance levels.

Exam Date: Thu, May 14, 2026
Exam Duration: Just over 3 hours

Exam Format

The AP Spanish Language and Culture Exam uses consistent question types, weighting, and scoring guidelines each year, allowing students to prepare with clear expectations for exam day.

Section IA: Multiple Choice — Interpretive Communication (Print Texts)

  • Number of Questions: 30
  • Time Allotted: 40 minutes
  • Weight: 23% of total exam score

Content & Skills Assessed:

  • Analyze authentic print materials, including journalistic and literary texts, announcements, advertisements, letters, charts, maps, and tables
  • Identify main ideas and supporting details
  • Determine vocabulary meaning in context
  • Identify the author’s point of view or intended audience
  • Demonstrate understanding of cultural or interdisciplinary information

Section IB: Multiple Choice — Interpretive Communication (Audio & Print)

  • Number of Questions: 35
  • Time Allotted: 55 minutes
  • Weight: 27% of total exam score

Subsections & Skills Assessed:

  • Print and Audio Texts (Combined):
    • Two sets of paired audio and print sources on the same topic (e.g., article with audio report; chart with conversation)
  • Audio Texts:
    • Three sets of audio sources (e.g., interviews, instructions, presentations)

Students will respond to questions assessing main ideas, supporting details, and cultural or interdisciplinary understanding.
Students will be given time to preview each selection and skim questions before listening. All audio materials are played twice.

Section IIA: Free Response — Written

  • Number of Questions: 2
  • Time Allotted: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Weight: 25% of total exam score

Tasks:

  • Interpersonal Writing: Read and reply to an email message (15 minutes)
  • Presentational Writing: Write an argumentative essay based on three sources presenting different perspectives, including:
    • One print article
    • One visual source (table, graph, chart, or infographic)
    • One related audio source (played twice)
    • Approx. 15 minutes to review materials and 40 minutes to write
    • Students may access print sources and notes taken on the audio throughout the writing period

Section IIB: Free Response — Spoken

  • Number of Questions: 2
  • Time Allotted: 18 minutes
  • Weight: 25% of total exam score

Tasks:

  • Interpersonal Speaking: Participate in five exchanges in a simulated conversation (20 seconds per response), with a preview outlining each exchange
  • Presentational Speaking: Deliver a 2-minute presentation comparing a cultural feature of a Spanish-speaking community with the student’s own or another community

Important Notes

  • This exam emphasizes real-world communication and cultural relevance. Successful responses demonstrate accurate language use, clear organization, and appropriate register while integrating cultural understanding rather than focusing solely on grammatical perfection.
  • Time management and source integration are critical. In writing and speaking tasks, students must efficiently analyze prompts, incorporate provided sources, and deliver coherent, well-supported responses within strict time limits.

Exam Date:Wed, May 13, 2026

Exam Duration:Approximately 3 hours

Exam Format

The AP Spanish Literature and Culture Exam follows consistent question types, weighting, and scoring guidelines, allowing students to prepare with clear expectations for exam day.

Section IA: Multiple Choice — Audio Texts

  • Number of Questions: 15

  • Time Allotted: 20 minutes

  • Weight: 10% of total exam score

Content & Structure:

  • Three sets of questions based on authentic audio texts, including:

    • An excerpt from an interview with an author

    • A recited poem not included on the required reading list

    • A presentation on a literary topic related to course content

Students may preview questions before listening.
The interview and presentation are played once, while the recited poem is played twice.

Section IB: Multiple Choice — Reading

  • Number of Questions: 50

  • Time Allotted: 1 hour

  • Weight: 40% of total exam score

Content & Structure:

  • Six sets of 7–10 questions based on literary texts from various genres, historical periods, and regions of the Spanish-speaking world

  • Readings include:

    • Works from the required reading list

    • Works outside the required reading list

    • One passage of literary criticism related to a work or author from the list

One set includes two thematically related passages, one from the required list and one from a non-required text.

Section II: Free Response

  • Number of Questions: 4

  • Time Allotted: 1 hour 40 minutes

  • Weight: 50% of total exam score

Part A: Short-Answer Questions

  • Number of Questions: 2

  • Suggested Time: 15 minutes each (~30 minutes)

Question Types:

  • Text Explanation: Identify the author and period of an excerpt from the required reading list and explain the development of a specific theme within the work as a whole

  • Text and Art Comparison: Compare how a shared theme is represented in a literary excerpt and a related work of art, and connect the theme to the genre, period, or movement of the text

Part B: Essay Questions

  • Number of Questions: 2

  • Suggested Time: 35 minutes each (~70 minutes)

Question Types:

  • Analysis of a Single Text: Analyze how an excerpt from the required reading list reflects the characteristics of a genre and a historical, cultural, or social context

  • Text Comparison: Compare two thematically related excerpts—one from the required list and one from a non-required text—by analyzing the authors’ use of literary devices to develop a given theme

Important Notes

  • This exam prioritizes close reading and literary analysis over plot summary. High-scoring responses demonstrate precise textual evidence, accurate identification of genre and period, and clear analysis of how literary devices develop theme and meaning.

  • Familiarity with the required reading list is essential. Students are expected to recognize authors, movements, and historical contexts and to make thematic and stylistic connections across texts and artistic representations.

Exam Date:Tue, May 12, 2026

Exam Duration:Approximately 3 hours

Exam Format

The AP French Language and Culture Exam follows consistent question types, weighting, and scoring guidelines each year, allowing students to prepare with clear expectations for exam day.

Section IA: Multiple Choice — Interpretive Communication (Print Texts)

  • Number of Questions: 30

  • Time Allotted: 40 minutes

  • Weight: 23% of total exam score

Content & Skills Assessed:

  • Analyze authentic print materials, including journalistic and literary texts, announcements, advertisements, letters, charts, maps, and tables

  • Identify main ideas and supporting details

  • Determine vocabulary meaning in context

  • Identify the author’s point of view or intended audience

  • Demonstrate understanding of cultural or interdisciplinary information

Section IB: Multiple Choice — Interpretive Communication (Audio & Print)

  • Number of Questions: 35

  • Time Allotted: 55 minutes

  • Weight: 27% of total exam score

Subsections & Skills Assessed:

  • Print and Audio Texts (Combined):

    • Two sets of paired audio and print sources on the same topic (articles with audio reports; charts with conversations)

  • Audio Texts:

    • Three sets of audio sources (interviews, instructions, presentations)

Students will respond to questions assessing main ideas, supporting details, and cultural or interdisciplinary understanding.
Students will be given time to preview each selection and skim questions before listening. All audio materials are played twice.

Section IIA: Free Response — Written

  • Number of Questions: 2

  • Time Allotted: 1 hour 10 minutes

  • Weight: 25% of total exam score

Tasks:

  • Interpersonal Writing: Read and reply to an email message (15 minutes)

  • Presentational Writing: Write an argumentative essay based on three sources presenting different perspectives, including:

    • One print article

    • One visual source (table, graph, chart, or infographic)

    • One related audio source (played twice)

    • Approximately 15 minutes to review materials and 40 minutes to write

    • Students may access print sources and notes taken on the audio throughout the writing period

Section IIB: Free Response — Spoken

  • Number of Questions: 2

  • Time Allotted: 18 minutes

  • Weight: 25% of total exam score

Tasks:

  • Interpersonal Speaking: Participate in five exchanges in a simulated conversation (20 seconds per response), with a preview outlining each exchange

  • Presentational Speaking: Deliver a 2-minute presentation comparing a cultural feature of a French-speaking community with the student’s own or another community

Important Notes

  • This exam emphasizes functional communication in authentic cultural contexts. Strong responses prioritize clarity, appropriate register, and cultural relevance rather than isolated grammatical accuracy.

  • Effective time management and source integration are essential. Students must quickly analyze prompts, synthesize information from multiple sources, and deliver coherent written and spoken responses within strict time limits.

Exam Date:Wed, May 13, 2026

Exam Duration:Approximately 3 hours

Exam Format

The AP German Language and Culture Exam follows consistent question types, weighting, and scoring guidelines each year, allowing students to prepare with clear expectations for exam day.

Section IA: Multiple Choice — Interpretive Communication (Print Texts)

  • Number of Questions: 30

  • Time Allotted: 40 minutes

  • Weight: 23% of total exam score

Content & Skills Assessed:

  • Analyze authentic print materials, including journalistic and literary texts, announcements, advertisements, letters, charts, maps, and tables

  • Identify main ideas and supporting details

  • Determine vocabulary meaning in context

  • Identify the author’s point of view or intended audience

  • Demonstrate understanding of cultural or interdisciplinary information

Section IB: Multiple Choice — Interpretive Communication (Audio & Print)

  • Number of Questions: 35

  • Time Allotted: 55 minutes

  • Weight: 27% of total exam score

Subsections & Skills Assessed:

  • Print and Audio Texts (Combined):

    • Two sets of paired audio and print sources on the same topic (articles with audio reports; charts with conversations)

  • Audio Texts:

    • Three sets of audio sources (interviews, instructions, presentations)

Students will respond to questions assessing main ideas, supporting details, and cultural or interdisciplinary understanding.
Students will be given time to preview each selection and skim questions before listening. All audio materials are played twice.

Section IIA: Free Response — Written

  • Number of Questions: 2

  • Time Allotted: 1 hour 10 minutes

  • Weight: 25% of total exam score

Tasks:

  • Interpersonal Writing: Read and reply to an email message (15 minutes)

  • Presentational Writing: Write an argumentative essay based on three sources presenting different perspectives, including:

    • One print article

    • One visual source (table, graph, chart, or infographic)

    • One related audio source (played twice)

    • Approximately 15 minutes to review materials and 40 minutes to write

    • Students may access print sources and notes taken on the audio throughout the writing period

Section IIB: Free Response — Spoken

  • Number of Questions: 2

  • Time Allotted: 18 minutes

  • Weight: 25% of total exam score

Tasks:

  • Interpersonal Speaking: Participate in five exchanges in a simulated conversation (20 seconds per response), with a preview outlining each exchange

  • Presentational Speaking: Deliver a 2-minute presentation comparing a cultural feature of a German-speaking community with the student’s own or another community

Important Notes

  • This exam emphasizes real-world communication and cultural competence. High-scoring responses demonstrate accurate language use, appropriate register, and cultural awareness rather than isolated grammar memorization.

  • Speaking and writing sections reward organization and clarity under time constraints. Students should practice structuring responses quickly while integrating cultural references and supporting details effectively.

Exam Date:Fri, May 8, 2026

Exam Duration:Approximately 3 hours

Exam Format

The AP Italian Language and Culture Exam features stable question types and scoring weights from year to year, allowing students to prepare with clear expectations for exam day.

 

Section IA: Multiple Choice — Interpretive Communication (Print Texts)

  • Time Allotted: 40 minutes

  • Weight: 23% of total exam score

Content & Skills Assessed:

  • Analyze authentic print materials such as journalistic and literary texts, announcements, advertisements, letters, charts, maps, and tables

  • Identify main ideas and supporting details

  • Determine vocabulary meaning in context

  • Identify the author’s point of view or intended audience

  • Demonstrate understanding of cultural or interdisciplinary information

Section IB: Multiple Choice — Interpretive Communication (Audio & Print)

  • Time Allotted: 55 minutes

  • Weight: 27% of total exam score

Subsections & Skills Assessed:

  • Print and Audio Texts (Combined):

    • Two sets of paired audio and print sources on the same topic (articles with audio reports; charts with conversations)

  • Audio Texts:

    • Three sets of audio sources (interviews, instructions, presentations)

Students respond to questions on main ideas, supporting details, and cultural or interdisciplinary understanding.
Students may preview questions before listening. All audio materials are played twice.

Section IIA: Free Response — Written

  • Time Allotted: 1 hour 10 minutes

  • Weight: 25% of total exam score

Tasks:

  • Interpersonal Writing: Read and reply to an email message (15 minutes)

  • Presentational Writing: Write an argumentative essay based on three sources presenting different viewpoints, including:

    • One print article

    • One visual source (table, graph, chart, or infographic)

    • One related audio source (played twice)

    • Approximately 15 minutes to review materials and 40 minutes to write

    • Students may access print sources and notes taken on the audio throughout the writing period

Section IIB: Free Response — Spoken

  • Time Allotted: 18 minutes

  • Weight: 25% of total exam score

Tasks:

  • Interpersonal Speaking: Participate in five exchanges in a simulated conversation (20 seconds per response), with a preview outlining each exchange

  • Presentational Speaking: Deliver a 2-minute presentation comparing a cultural feature of an Italian-speaking community with the student’s own or another community

Important Notes

  • This exam assesses real-world language use and cultural understanding. High-scoring responses communicate ideas clearly and appropriately while demonstrating awareness of Italian cultural practices and perspectives.

  • Strong performance depends on organization under time pressure. Students should practice synthesizing sources efficiently and delivering coherent spoken and written responses within strict time limits.

Exam Date:Tue, May 12, 2026

Exam Duration:Approximately 3 hours

Exam Format
The AP Japanese Language and Culture Exam follows consistent question types, weighting, and scoring guidelines each year, allowing students to prepare with clear expectations for exam day.

 

Section IA: Multiple Choice — Listening

Number of Questions: 30–35
Time Allotted: 20 minutes
Weight: 25% of total exam score

This section includes a variety of authentic audio materials such as public announcements, voice messages, instructions, cultural presentations, radio broadcasts, uncontextualized dialogues, and school debates. Students are asked to identify main ideas and supporting details, determine vocabulary meaning and infer unfamiliar words, interpret meaning using cultural or interdisciplinary information, and infer implied meaning through context.

 

Section IB: Multiple Choice — Reading

Number of Questions: 30–40
Time Allotted: 60 minutes
Weight: 25% of total exam score

This section consists of authentic print materials including journalistic articles, short stories, email inboxes, letters, step-by-step instructions, and travel brochures. Students are assessed on their ability to identify main ideas and supporting details, determine vocabulary meaning and infer unfamiliar words, interpret meaning using cultural or interdisciplinary information, and infer implied meaning through context.

 

Section IIA: Free Response — Written

Number of Tasks: 2
Time Allotted: 30 minutes
Weight: 25% of total exam score

Students complete two writing tasks: an interpersonal writing task responding to text-chat messages (6 prompts, 10 minutes), and a presentational writing task requiring a compare-and-contrast article of 300–400 characters or longer (1 prompt, 20 minutes).

 

Section IIB: Free Response — Spoken

Number of Tasks: 2
Time Allotted: 10 minutes
Weight: 25% of total exam score

This section includes a simulated interpersonal conversation (4 prompts, 3 minutes) and a presentational speaking task in which students deliver a presentation expressing their own perspective on a Japanese cultural practice or product (preparation time: 4 minutes; response time: 2 minutes).

Important Notes

  • This exam emphasizes functional communication and cultural interpretation. Strong responses demonstrate accurate comprehension and appropriate language use within authentic Japanese contexts.

  • Clear organization and efficient time management are critical, especially in writing and speaking tasks with strict character and time limits.

Exam Date: Mon, May 4, 2026

Exam Duration: Approximately 3 hours

Exam Format
The AP Latin Exam uses stable question types and scoring guidelines, allowing students to prepare with clear expectations for exam day.

Section I: Multiple Choice

Number of Questions: 52
Time Allotted: 1 hour 5 minutes
Weight: 50% of total exam score

This section includes a combination of discrete questions and question sets based on sight and syllabus passages in both prose and poetry. Question types include sight prose and poetry questions, short sets, and long sets drawn from required syllabus texts.

Students are assessed on their ability to define Latin words and phrases, determine meaning in context, identify grammatical forms and syntactical structures using precise terminology, and demonstrate mastery of Latin syntax to comprehend extended passages. This section also evaluates students’ ability to scan dactylic hexameter, recognize stylistic features of Latin prose and poetry, and apply knowledge of Roman culture, mythology, and historical context.

Section II: Free Response

Number of Questions: 5
Time Allotted: 1 hour 55 minutes
Weight: 50% of total exam score

This section includes five free-response questions: a short-answer question with multiple subparts, a full translation question, a short essay with two subquestions, a project prose passage essay, and a project poetry passage essay. These tasks require close reading, accurate translation, literary analysis, and contextual interpretation of Latin texts.

Course Project — In-Class Checkpoints

Weight: 2% of total exam score

As part of the required course project, students examine four designated Latin passages and complete two in-class checkpoint tasks. Teachers submit checkpoint scores through the Digital Portfolio.

Checkpoint 1 requires students to produce a written draft summary of one project passage.
Checkpoint 2 requires students to create a product presenting an interpretation of one project passage, supported by textual evidence and relevant contextual knowledge.

Important Notes

  • This exam emphasizes deep reading and precise interpretation of original Latin texts. High-scoring students demonstrate strong command of grammar, syntax, and literary analysis rather than relying on memorized translations.

  • Consistent practice with syllabus passages is essential. Students are expected to recognize themes, stylistic devices, and cultural context across both prose and poetry and apply this knowledge in translation and essay responses.

Get Ready for AP Exam 2026

Success on the AP Exam 2026 is within your reach! Stay focused, follow your study plan, and trust in your hard work. Remember, you’re not alone on this journey—IvyMax is here to support you every step of the way with personalized guidance and top-tier resources.

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