As the school year starts to wind down, you may be wondering: when are AP exams, anyways? In this article, I’ll break down everything you need to know about the AP exam schedule: when they usually happen, the specific schedule for this year, what to do if you find yourself in an AP schedule mishap, and how you can leverage the schedule to best plan your studying.
When Are AP Tests Usually?
This is a question with a pretty simple answer. AP exams normally take place the first two weeks of May. Each day of the two-week testing period is divided into two four-hour testing slots; they begin at 8 AM and 12 PM.
Any make-up tests that need to be offered are normally held Wednesday-Friday the week after all regular testing is completed (so, the third week of May).
When Are AP Tests This Year?
Like in other years, AP exams this year will take place during the first two weeks of May, from Monday, May 2-Friday, May 13. Make-up testing will take place May 18-20.
Complete Schedule of Tests
2016 AP Calendar
|
Date |
Morning Tests (8 am) |
Afternoon Tests (12 pm) |
|
Monday, May 2 |
AP Chemistry AP Environmental Science |
AP Psychology |
|
Tuesday, May 3 |
AP Computer Science A AP Spanish Language and Culture |
AP Art History AP Physics 1: Algebra-based |
|
Wednesday, May 4 |
AP English Literature and Composition |
AP Japanese Language and Culture AP Physics 2: Algebra-based |
|
Thursday, May 5 |
AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC |
AP Chinese Language and Culture AP Seminar |
|
Friday, May 6 |
AP German Language and Culture AP US History |
AP European History (also last day for schools to arrange grading of Studio art portfolios) |
|
Monday, May 9 |
AP Biology AP Music Theory |
AP Physics C: Mechanics (at 12 PM) AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism (at 2PM) |
|
Tuesday, May 10 |
AP US Government and Politics |
AP French Language and Culture AP Spanish Literature and Culture |
|
Wednesday, May 11 |
AP English Language and Composition |
AP Italian Language and Culture AP Macroeconomics |
|
Thursday, May 12 |
AP Comparative Government and Politics AP World History |
AP Statistics |
|
Friday, May 13 |
AP Human Geography AP Microeconomics |
AP Latin |
So many subjects, so little time.
What If I Have Two AP Exams at the Same Time?
You probably noticed on the above schedule that there are sometimes two different exams scheduled for the same time slot. If you have two AP exams scheduled for the same time, you’ll need to take one of the exams during the late testing period from May 18-20.
To make arrangements, you’ll need to talk to your school’s AP exam coordinator--probably a guidance counselor, but you should be able to find out who to talk to at your school’s main office. They’ll make the arrangements. You should talk to them as soon as you realize that there’s a conflict, so they have time to order the late test.
You’ll get to pick which test to take late. Note that when you do test late, you’re given an alternate form of the test. Some people think that the late forms are more difficult. It’s unclear whether there’s any truth to this claim, but if it’s something you’re worried about, you might take the test you’re more confident in on the late date.
What Do I Do If I Have Two AP Exams on the Same Day at Different Times?
If you have two exams on the same day at different times--one in the morning, one in the afternoon--you have fewer options. In fact, your only option, if you want to take both tests, is to sit through a whole day of testing. Unfortunately, you can’t request late testing just because you have two tests on the same day.
My advice would be to bring water and lots of protein-rich snacks for the breaks to keep you going! And try to stretch your hands whenever you have an opportunity to help mitigate cramping and soreness.
Juggling exams is tough, but not as tough as juggling planets.
How Can I Use the AP Schedule to Plan My Studying?
The schedule’s main utility in studying is to help you know when you need to be done studying by! As early May approaches, the exam schedule will help you prioritize those exams that come earliest when you do final reviews of the material since you’ll have a few extra days to polish up your knowledge for tests during the second week.
Key Takeaways
AP exams generally take place the first two weeks of May. See above for the complete schedule for 2016. If you have two exams scheduled at the same time, you are eligible for late testing for one of the exams. Just talk to your school’s AP exam coordinator!
Unfortunately, if you have two exams on the same day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, you aren’t eligible for late testing and you’ll have to do a full day of testing if you want to take both tests.
In terms of using the schedule to plan your studying, you should plan your final reviews of the material for a given exam so that you are reviewing material for your earlier tests sooner since you’ll have a little extra time to review for your later tests. And don’t forget to schedule a little relaxation after you finish all of your APs!
Time to go home and take a cat nap.
What's Next?
Still need to study for your AP exams? See my 5-step AP prep plan. Or, if you're looking for practice tests, see my guide to finding the best AP practice tests.
Wondering if you should be aiming for an AP test perfect score? We've got you covered.
If you've got a scheduling issue or an emergency, see my guide to getting a make-up exam.
Ellen has extensive education mentorship experience and is deeply committed to helping students succeed in all areas of life. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University.
Holly R.
