2021 AP Exam Dates - The Olive Book Blog (2023)

It’s finally spring, which for many high schoolers means it’s time to take a look at the 2021 AP Exam dates and schedule. Due to coronavirus precautions, this spring’s AP Exams are a bit different than in years past. In 2021, there are three AP Exam administrations. Each administration provides different options for taking AP Exams online and in the traditional pencil-and-paper format.

10 Official SAT Practice Tests

We’ve provided a full list of 2021 AP Exam dates and the full 2021 AP Exam schedule below for your convenience. It’s up to your school, though, as to which AP Exam administrations are given at your school. The AP coordinators at your school and your AP class teachers will let you know what testing options are available to you.

2021 AP Exam Dates

There are three sets of AP Exam dates in 2021. Each of the three test administrations provides different opportunities for online and pencil-and-paper testing. Your school will communicate with you about your AP testing options.

Administration 1: May 3–7, 10–12, 14, and 17

In School

Traditional, full-length paper and pencil exams, administered in school, for all subjects.

Administration 2: May 18–21, 24–28

In School and At Home

Half of the subjects are paper and pencil, administered in school, and half are full-length digital exams, administered in school or taken at home due to coronavirus precautions.

Administration 3: June 1–4, 7–11

In School and At Home

Most subjects are full-length digital exams only, administered in school or taken at home due to coronavirus precautions.

Information via the College Board

AP coordinators can choose a mix of at-home and in-person exams and mix 2021 AP Exam dates, so your school may pick more than one of the testing windows or modes. However, students cannot independently choose to stay home for digital AP testing.

2021 AP Exam Schedule

Below is the full 2021 AP Exam schedule for 2021. Administration 1 begins on May 3, and Administration 3 ends on June 11. Read through the list of 2021 AP Exam dates below to get an idea of when you may be taking your AP Exams this spring.

Administration 1

WEEK 1: Paper, In School

8:00 a.m. Local Time12:00p.m. Local Time2:00 p.m. Local Time
Monday,
May 3, 2021
United States Government and PoliticsPhysics C: MechanicsPhysics C: Electricity and Magnetism
Tuesday,
May 4, 2021
Calculus AB

Calculus BC

German Language and Culture

Human Geography

Wednesday,
May 5, 2021
English Literature and CompositionJapanese Language and Culture (computer based)

Physics 1: Algebra-Based

Thursday,
May 6, 2021
United States HistoryArt History

Computer Science A

Friday,
May 7, 2021
Chemistry

Spanish Literature and Culture

European History

Physics 2: Algebra-Based

Administration 1

WEEK 2: Paper, In School

8:00 a.m. Local Time12:00 p.m. Local Time
Monday,
May 10, 2021
French Language and Culture

World History: Modern

Macroeconomics
Tuesday,
May 11, 2021
Seminar

Spanish Language and Culture

Latin
Psychology
Wednesday,
May 12, 2021
English Language and CompositionMicroeconomics

Music Theory

Thursday,
May 13, 2021*
NO EXAMS SCHEDULEDNO EXAMS SCHEDULED
Friday,
May 14, 2021
Biology

Italian Language and Culture

Chinese Language and Culture (computer based)

Environmental Science

Monday,
May 17, 2021*
Comparative Government and Politics

Computer Science Principles

Statistics

Administration 2

WEEK 1: Digital, In School and At Home

11:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) (time varies by time zone)3:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) (time varies by time zone)
Tuesday,
May 18, 2021
English Literature and CompositionComputer Science A
Wednesday,
May 19, 2021
European History

United States History

Art History

Macroeconomics

Thursday,
May 20, 2021
United States Government and Politics

World History: Modern

Psychology

Administration 2

WEEK 1: Paper, In School


8:00 a.m. Local Time12:00 p.m. Local Time
Friday,
May 21, 2021
Italian Language and Culture

Japanese Language and Culture (computer based)

Latin

Spanish Language and Culture

Chinese Language and Culture (computer based)

French Language and Culture

German Language and Culture

Music Theory

Spanish Literature and Culture

Administration 2

WEEK 2: Paper, In School


8:00 a.m. Local Time12:00 p.m. Local Time
Monday,
May 24, 2021
Calculus AB

Calculus BC

Physics 1: Algebra-Based

Physics C: Mechanics

Tuesday,
May 25, 2021
Chemistry

Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism

Physics 2: Algebra-Based

Statistics

Administration 2

WEEK 2: Digital, In School and At Home


11:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) (time varies by time zone)3:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) (time varies by time zone)
Wednesday,
May 26, 2021
English Language and CompositionComputer Science Principles

Seminar

Thursday,
May 27, 2021
BiologyEnvironmental Science
Friday,
May 28, 2021
Comparative Government and Politics

Human Geography

Microeconomics

Administration 3

WEEK 1: Digital, In School and At Home

11:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT)3:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Tuesday,
June 1, 2021
English Literature and CompositionComputer Science A
Wednesday,
June 2, 2021
European History

United States History

Art History

Macroeconomics

Thursday,
June 3, 2021
United States Government and Politics

World History: Modern

Psychology

Administration 3

WEEK 1: Paper, In School

8:00 a.m. Local Time12:00 p.m. Local Time
Friday,
June 4, 2021
Italian Language and Culture

Japanese Language and Culture (computer based)

Latin

Spanish Language and Culture

Chinese Language and Culture (computer based)

French Language and Culture

German Language and Culture

Music Theory

Spanish Literature and Culture

Administration 3

WEEK 2: Digital, In School and At Home

11:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT)3:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Monday,
June 7, 2021
English Language and CompositionComputer Science Principles

Seminar

Tuesday,
June 8, 2021
Comparative Government and Politics

Human Geography

Microeconomics
Wednesday,
June 9, 2021
Calculus AB

Calculus BC

Physics 1: Algebra-Based

Physics C: Mechanics

Thursday,
June 10, 2021
Chemistry

Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism

Physics 2: Algebra-Based

Statistics

Friday,
June 11, 2021
BiologyEnvironmental Science

Via AP Central

How to Prepare for the 2021 AP Exams

Much like preparing for the SAT or ACT test, preparing well for an AP Exam requires effective study habits. This means allowing yourself enough time to study the material, working to own difficult concepts, and practicing your timing and pacing.

#1 Allow enough time to study

The material you learn closest to the time of the test will be fresh in your mind, but you need time to review concepts you learned earlier in the school year. And because you want to avoid cramming (it’s stressful and not super effective), allow enough time to review older concepts.

It’s likely your teacher will help you create a study schedule well before exam day to help you review these older concepts. But, If you need to create a schedule on your own, remember to mix up what units you study so you’re studying both new and old material each week.

#2 Work to own difficult concepts

It’s tempting to focus on concepts you understand. But it’s vital that you tackle tricky concepts and work to own them. If you know you’ve learned even the tricky stuff, come test day you’ll be confident in your abilities and very likely do great on the AP Exam.

#3 Practice timing and pacing

AP Exams are timed, so don’t forget to practice the material in a timed setting. This can be as simple as setting a timer while you do a practice exam. If you find yourself needing more time than is allowed, examine your pacing; where can you skip questions or work more quickly in order to finish the test?

#4 Attend an AP review session

The College Board is hosting live review sessions for many AP Exams April 19-29, 2021. You can watch these sessions on YouTube or in your online AP Classroom!

Get a New Practice Question Each Week

Enter your email below to get a new ACT/SAT practice question delivered to your inbox each Wednesday.

FAQ’s

Can my school offer both online and pencil-and-paper exams?

Yes! Schools can choose exam administrations that work best for them, provided the school meets all requirements for each option. But remember, the school is making decisions about exam administrations, not individual students.

Can students pick which 2021 AP Exam administration to take?

No. Schools decide which AP Exam administrations to offer their students. Students cannot independently opt to stay home for at-home digital AP testing.

Are online AP Exams shorter?

Nope – online AP Exams are the same length as traditional paper and pencil AP Exams and include both multiple-choice and free-response questions.

How are online AP Exams different from pencil-and-paper AP Exams?

Online, digital AP Exams are designed to be as similar as possible to paper AP exams and assess the same course content. However, there will be some differences between the two types of tests due to limits on digital testing (for example, drawing a graph. On a digital test, a student would be asked to answer a question about a graph instead). Restrictions on going back to previous questions and synchronous start times across time zones are also key differences from paper and pencil exams.

Get a better score. Get into a better school.

Olive Book’s free online ACT and SAT courses are all you need to boost your score. Check them out:

LEARN MORE

Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Courses

FAQs

When did AP tests happen 2021? ›

Things have changed after the coronavirus pandemic. For 2021, AP exams will occur from May 3rd to June 11th, a much more extended testing period than regular.

Do AP exams have makeup dates? ›

There is also a 2 pm time slot in the first week of testing; this is reserved for the Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism test only. Any make-up tests that need to be offered are normally held Tuesday/Wednesday through Friday the week after all regular testing is completed (so, the third week of May).

Are AP exams online 2023? ›

In 2023, the College Board is launching a selection of digital AP exams. The digital exams will be available for seven subjects, and both schools and students will have the opportunity to opt in or out.

Will AP exams be online 2021? ›

Formats for the 2022 AP Exams

In 2020 and 2021, the College Board significantly modified its AP testing procedures by offering digital versions of exams. However, this year, most exams will once again assume the traditional pen-and-paper format.

Should I report an AP score of 2? ›

Sending your AP exam score to colleges is optional.

If your exam score is eligible for credit, self-report it on the college application and send the official report through the CollegeBoard. Never report or send an exam score of a 1 or 2. They are not considered “passing” scores.

What happens if you have two AP tests at the same time? ›

What do I do if 2 of my Exams are scheduled for the same time? Students who are taking 2 Exams scheduled for the same time will take one of the exams on a make-up day (scheduled by AP). College Board determines the exam schedule and exams can only be taken on the dates determined by College Board.

Are AP exams curved? ›

Yes, there's a curve on AP exams, especially in relation to the AP Physics C tests. They have a heavy curve, as can be seen by the scoring distributions. A large majority of the test takers pass the exam, and 50 percent score a 5.

Will all AP exams be digital in 2024? ›

As the era of paper testing ends, the board is currently looking to shift to a fully digital testing platform, according to national trends from the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Along with AP exams, College Board will also offer the SAT digitally for the 2024 testing year, according to AP news.

Can you take an AP Exam twice in one year? ›

AP Exams are only given once a year, but you may repeat an exam in a subsequent year. If you do, both scores will be reported unless you request that one be withheld or canceled.

Why are AP tests so early? ›

The AP test schedule is meant to allow students to plan their studying, and prioritize tests that come earliest when you are doing your final reviews.

Will the AP Exam be open book? ›

Like many college take-home exams, 2020 AP exams will be open book/open note. Students may access class notes and class resources to reference concepts covered during their course.

Does everyone get the same AP test? ›

The AP Program designs different exam versions to be of similar difficulty and equivalent in the content and skills they cover. However, some exam versions may be slightly more difficult than others. Despite these minor variations in difficulty, student scores will not be affected.

What if I am sick on the day of the AP Exam? ›

What happens if I am unable to take my regularly scheduled AP exam? If you are ill on exam day or choose not to take your AP exam between May 11 and 22, do not log into your account on exam day. The College Board will automatically send your new credentials a day or two prior to the makeup date.

Can you go to the bathroom during an AP Exam? ›

Visit the restroom prior to the test; students may use the restroom during the test (one at a time), but will not receive any extra time. Dress in layers; testing rooms may get cold.

How early should you show up to an AP Exam? ›

Check into your AP Exam 30 minutes before start time. Make sure you know when the exam will begin in your time zone.

What if I get a 1 on an AP Exam? ›

In fact, on the AP® rubric, a 1 is described as “no recommendation”. Because of that, no college in the United States of overseas will accept an AP® score of 1 and give you college credit.

What is a good AP score for Ivy League? ›

An AP Score of 3 or 4 will likely not get you any college credit or respect at a top school like Stanford/Ivies/MIT. A score of 5 may not either — top colleges like to think that their courses are more rigorous than APs and thus should not be passed out of, and earning a 5 is simply expected for top admits.

Is getting a 3 on an AP Exam bad? ›

In most cases, a 3 or higher is considered a solid AP score. But you can get an even better idea of how good your AP score is by comparing it to the average score for that test that year. For example, the average score for AP Biology was 2.83 in 2021. Anything higher would be considered above average for that test.

Should I cancel my AP score if I got a 2? ›

If you earned a 2 or a 1, consider withholding your score.

These grades indicate that you did not perform at the college level for the subject.

How many AP Exams is too many? ›

Your AP course load should be dictated by the answers to these questions: -If your school over 20+ APs , then taking 1/2 of them is not too much. If your school only offers 6, then take 6. -If the best students at your school typically take 10-12, then you are in the right zone.

Is it worth retaking an AP Exam? ›

It is definitely not recommended to retake an AP exam but there are a few occasions when it is a good idea to retake an AP exam. It is important to understand that AP scores have minimal impact on potential admission to college unless the student is applying to the most selective colleges.

What month do AP exams start? ›

Beginning in May, the College Board, which administers the AP program, offers AP exams in 37 different subject areas at schools and testing centers in the U.S. and abroad. Exams are given at 8 a.m. and at noon the first two weeks of the month.

When did AP tests start? ›

The pilot program for AP exams was launched in 1952 and tested high schoolers in 11 subjects. In 1954, around 530 high school students took AP exams. They paid $10 to take the test and received scores on a scale of 1-5. A year later, the College Board took over testing and launched the AP program as we know it today.

What date do AP exams come out? ›

You may be wondering when to expect your AP scores this year. Depending on your exam testing date and the type of test you take, you may expect your scores to be delivered to you digitally or via mail. Depending on your test type, your AP scores may be delivered between April 2023 for digital scores – July 2023.

What day do AP exams start? ›

What Is the AP Exam Schedule? AP exams take place every May. In 2022, AP exams begin Monday, May 2, and end Friday, May 13.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Arline Emard IV

Last Updated: 11/16/2023

Views: 5443

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (52 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Arline Emard IV

Birthday: 1996-07-10

Address: 8912 Hintz Shore, West Louie, AZ 69363-0747

Phone: +13454700762376

Job: Administration Technician

Hobby: Paintball, Horseback riding, Cycling, Running, Macrame, Playing musical instruments, Soapmaking

Introduction: My name is Arline Emard IV, I am a cheerful, gorgeous, colorful, joyous, excited, super, inquisitive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.