1. 2026 AP Exams Schedule
Students will take AP exams in school as traditional paper-and-pencil tests spanning over two weeks in May.
- Week 1 of the AP Examinations runs from Monday, May 4, through Friday, May 8.
- Week 2 runs from Monday, May 11, through Friday, May 15.
- All AP examinations begin at 8 a.m. for the morning session and 12 p.m. (noon) for the afternoon session. However, for examinations that require digital portfolios, submission deadlines will vary.
AP Art and Design: The deadline for AP Art and Design students to submit their three portfolio components as final in the AP Digital Portfolio is Friday, May 8, 2026 (8 p.m. ET).
2026 AP Exam Schedule – Week 1
| 8 AM Local Time | 12 PM (noon) Local Time |
Monday, May 4 | Biology, Latin | European History, Microeconomics |
Tuesday, May 5 | Chemistry, Human Geography | United States Government and Politics |
Wednesday, May 6 | English Literature and Composition | Comparative Government and Politics, Physics 1: Algebra-Based |
Thursday, May 7 | Physics 2: Algebra-Based, World History: Modern | African American Studies, Statistics |
Friday, May 8 | Italian Language and Culture, United States History | Chinese Language and Culture, Macroeconomics |
2026 AP Exam Schedule – Week 2
| 8 AM Local Time | 12 PM Local Time |
Monday, May 11 | Calculus AB, Calculus BC | Music Theory, Seminar |
Tuesday, May 12 | French Language and Culture, Precalculus | Japanese Language and Culture, Psychology |
Wednesday, May 13 | English Language and Composition, German Language and Culture | Physics C: Mechanics, Spanish Literature and Culture |
Thursday, May 14 | Art History, Spanish Language and Culture | Computer Science Principles, Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism |
Friday, May 15 | Environmental Science | Computer Science A |
Important Deadlines:
April 30, 2026 (11:59 PM, ET) is the deadline for:
- AP Seminar and AP Research students to submit their performance tasks and presentations as their final, which will be scored by their AP Seminar or AP Research teachers.
- AP Computer Science Principles students are to submit their Performance task as their final.
May 8, 2026 (8 PM, ET) is the deadline for AP Art and Design students to submit three portfolio components as their final in the AP Digital Portfolio.
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2. 2026 AP Exam Structure
Each of the 38 examinations has unique requirements, but all take about 2-3 hours to complete. The first part of the exam consists of multiple-choice questions, and the second part generally includes free-response questions. Most exams are administered in the traditional paper-and-pencil format in school settings.
The structure may vary if students are granted special accommodations for the AP testing exam. Take note that students with the following needs can apply for accommodations:
- Braille exam format
- Assistive technology–compatible (ATC) exam format
- Large-print exam format
- Extended time
- Extra breaks
- Large-block answer sheets
- Permission to use a computer for typing essays
- Permission to use a magnification device (electronic or non-electronic)
- A human reader to dictate questions
- A writer/scribe to record responses
- A written copy of oral instructions
3. Tips to Prepare for the 2026 AP Exams
In the article 4 Steps to Study for the AP Test, we have outlined four important steps that every student should take:
- Understand the 2026 AP Test Schedule to plan ahead
- Take a practice AP test to evaluate your knowledge level and discover areas for improvement
- Make a study plan
- Practice with AP Practice Questions and Review
4. Take AP Classes in Aralia’s Test Preparation Bootcamp
With Aralia’s Test Preparation Bootcamp, students can excel in standardized tests with our comprehensive approach. At Aralia, we prioritize maximizing study efficiency and accelerating score improvement through a combination of practice examinations, expert strategies, and personalized guidance. Our bootcamp offers students the opportunity to achieve significant score improvements within a condensed timeframe by learning strategic approaches tailored to their individual needs. Through our high-quality service, students undergo expert teaching and gain valuable insights into exam techniques from instructors with backgrounds as AP Readers. Furthermore, our program equips students with versatile skills and strategies that can be applied to a range of standardized tests, ensuring their preparedness to adapt and excel in various types of exams they may encounter.
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