Taking an advanced placement (AP®) exam at the end of the school year can be a huge decision for high school students. Doing well on these exams can help you amass college credits at a much more affordable price than college courses and validate your grades in an age when grade inflation is a growing concern. As wonderful as the benefits sound, without a proper study plan, your chances of earning a high enough score to qualify for college credits can be quite low.
Before we dig deeper into how to create an AP exam prep plan, let’s first look at some commonly asked questions about these exams.
How Often Are AP Exams Offered?
AP exams are typically offered every year during the first two weeks of May. Each exam is usually offered on a specific date, and – unless you have a valid reason for needing to test late – this will be the only time you can take it that year. While the once-a-year exam structure may seem restrictive at first, AP classes are more intensive than regular high school classes. Having the exam only once a year gives you more time to prepare for the exam during the school year.
2025 AP Exam Dates
The College Board often releases the AP exam schedule months in advance, so you can plan ahead, minimize potential scheduling conflicts, and stay on top of your studies leading up to test day.
| Week One Dates | Morning Exam – 8 a.m. Local Time | Afternoon Exam – 12 p.m. Local Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, May 5, 2025 | Biology | European History |
| Latin | Microeconomics | |
| Tuesday, May 6, 2025 | Chemistry | United States Government and Politics |
| Human Geography | ||
| Wednesday, May 7, 2025 | English Literature and Composition | Comparative Government and Politics |
| Computer Science A | ||
| Thursday, May 8, 2025 | African American Studies* | Japanese Language and Culture |
| Statistics | World History: Modern | |
| Friday, May 9, 2025 | Italian Language and Culture | Chinese Language and Culture |
| United States History | Macroeconomics |
If you want to earn credit for AP Art and Design, you’ll need to submit and finalize all three parts of your portfolio by Friday, May 9, 2025 no later than 8 p.m. eastern time.
* As of 2025, the African American Studies exam can only be administered by schools in the U.S.
| Week Two Dates | Morning Exam – 8 a.m. Local Time | Afternoon Exam – 12 p.m. Local Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, May 12, 2025 | Calculus AB | Music Theory |
| Calculus BC | Seminar** | |
| Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | French Language and Culture | Environmental Science |
| Precalculus | Physics 2: Algebra-Based | |
| Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | English Language and Composition | Physics C: Mechanics |
| German Language and Culture | ||
| Thursday, May 15, 2025 | Art History | Computer Science Principles*** |
| Spanish Language and Culture | Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | |
| Friday, May 16, 2025 | Physics 1: Algebra-Based | Psychology |
| Spanish Literature and Culture |
If you want to take the AP Art and Design final, you’ll need to submit and finalize all three parts of your portfolio by Friday, May 9, 2025 no later than 8 p.m. eastern time (ET).
** AP Seminar students must submit and finalize their performance tasks by 11:59 p.m. ET on Apr. 30, 2025.
*** AP Computer Science Principles students also have until 11:59 p.m. ET on Apr. 30, 2025 to submit and finalize their Create performance task.
Many students often wonder if late-testing is allowed for AP exams. It is allowed, but only if you’re unable to participate on the regular test dates due to circumstances beyond your control. If you need to take an exam at a later date, reach out to your school or AP coordinator as soon as you can. They can answer any questions you have, and explain any necessary next steps.
The late-testing dates are as follows:
| Date | Morning Exam – 8 a.m. Local Time | Afternoon Exam – 12 p.m. Local Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, May 19, 2025 | Comparative Government and Politics | English Literature and Composition |
| European History | Human Geography | |
| World History: Modern | Latin | |
| Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | Japanese Language and Culture | African American Studies * |
| United States Government and Politics | United States History | |
| Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | Computer Science A | Biology |
| Microeconomics | Chemistry | |
| Statistics | French Language and Culture | |
| Macroeconomics | ||
| Thursday, May 22, 2025 | Chinese Language and Culture | Art History |
| English Language and Composition | Calculus AB | |
| Music Theory | Calculus BC | |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | Spanish Literature and Culture | |
| Precalculus | Physics C: Mechanics | |
| Friday, May 23, 2025 | Environmental Science | Computer Science Principles |
| Italian Language and Culture | German Language and Culture | |
| Physics 1: Algebra-Based | Physics 2: Algebra-Based | |
| Seminar | Psychology | |
| Spanish Language and Culture |
Can Anyone Take AP Exams?
AP exams are usually reserved for high school students – homeschooled and in public or private school – taking the corresponding AP course. They’re not mandatory to pass the class, but they’re a great way to earn college credits and save money on tuition well before your high school graduation. That said, each high school has its own policy regarding when students can begin taking AP classes.
If you’re unsure of your school’s policy, contact your guidance counselor or AP exam coordinator for more specifics.
How Many Times Can You Take an AP Exam?
You can only take an AP exam once a year, so it’s important to make sure you’re well prepared before test day. If you don’t earn your desired grade, the good news is this score won’t bring down your GPA. You can always request for the College Board to withhold your score if you don’t want it sent to any colleges when you begin applying.
Is It OK If You Fail an AP Exam?
Though it might feel like the end of the world, failing an AP exam isn’t as bad as you think. Earning a less than ideal AP exam score doesn’t mean you automatically fail your class. In fact, this grade won’t impact your GPA at all. If you do well on this exam, you could submit those scores as part of your application package to skip the corresponding classes. This could help you skip material you already know, and have those credits count toward the total credits needed for graduation.
If you don’t do well, you can always ask to have your score withheld.
Can You Take an AP Exam the Next Year?
This would depend entirely on when you took the AP exam the first time. Let’s say you took an AP exam in the spring of your sophomore year. You could retake that same exam the next year if you want to try for a higher score. Now, let’s say you took an AP exam in the spring of your senior year. Since AP exams are usually for high school students, you wouldn’t be eligible to retake the exam the following year.
But is it even worth retaking an AP exam?
Retaking an AP exam is only worth it if you’re confident you have the extra time to prepare for this exam alongside your new coursework. Remember, just because you don’t do well on an AP exam doesn’t mean you’ve failed that class. If you passed the class but not the exam, you’ll have to prepare for that exam independent of that class. You’ll have to create your own study materials, make time to review previous chapters, create your own practice tests, and much more.
This can take a huge toll on you, especially if you’re juggling extracurriculars, ACT® or SAT® prep, and your regular courseload at the same time. At C2 Education, we generally don’t recommend retaking an AP exam since we can help you earn your target score the first time around.
Is Two Weeks Enough To Study for AP Exams?
Two weeks is nowhere near enough time to properly prepare for AP exams since they cover a full year’s worth of material. AP exams cover complex concepts and require you to dig deeper into the material than a more traditional high school exam. Waiting until the last minute to begin studying so much material can lead to burnout, extra stress, lack of motivation, and a general disinterest in the material.
Three Tips To Get a Head Start on AP Prep
Preparing for an AP exam is a marathon, not a sprint. Studying and reviewing material a little bit each day can help you stay on track without feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of content you’re covering.
Start Early
We generally recommend starting no later than two months before the exam. However, the earlier you start, the more time you have to familiarize yourself with the testing process, content, and format of the exam. You’ll also have more time to identify and work on knowledge gaps, and enhance your strengths. You can develop active learning techniques during this time to relate the content to topics that interest you. This personalizes normally complex material, making it easier for you to recall at a later date.
Work with a Tutor (and Practice, Practice, Practice)
Tutors can bring consistency and structure to your AP prep plans. They can help you establish a study schedule and stick to it, making sure you cover all the necessary topics in a timely manner. A tutor can also provide personalized instruction, identifying your strengths and weaknesses and adapting their teaching methods to best suit your learning style.
More importantly, they can administer practice tests in conditions similar to those you’ll encounter on test day. This not only allows you to gauge how you may perform on the real exam, it also creates a low-stress environment for you to practice new test taking techniques.
At C2 Education, our subject matter experts have extensive experience helping students just like you prepare for AP exams. They can guide you through the material, make sure you fully understand each topic, and provide valuable resources to aid in your studying. Our tutors can also help keep you motivated and on track towards your goals, especially if you’re preparing for more than one exam.
Don’t Overextend Yourself
It’s tempting to take as many AP exams as you can to earn as many credits as you can. Make sure to take a realistic look at your school schedule and extracurricular commitments before signing up for multiple exams. Taking on too much can lead to burnout and ultimately hurt your performance on all the exams you take. Instead, focus on a few subjects that are relevant to your future academic or career goals.
Another strategy is to stagger your exam preparation by studying for one exam at a time. This allows you to fully concentrate on each subject and avoid feeling overwhelmed. Remember, quality over quantity when it comes to AP exams.
AP exams can be challenging, but with the right preparation, they’re an excellent opportunity to earn college credit and demonstrate your academic abilities. By starting early, creating a solid study plan, and utilizing available resources, you can approach these exams with confidence. Whether you’re taking your first AP exam or considering a retake, remember that preparation and perseverance are the keys to success.
Ready to get started? Have a parent or guardian reach out to C2 today to schedule an appointment!
