28 AP Exams to Go Fully Digital Starting May 2025

The College Board has announced that starting in May 2025, 28 AP exams will be fully administered digitally through the Bluebook system. Standard paper-based exams will no longer be offered (except in rare cases with approved accommodations). This change applies to all schools and test centers globally, including those in China, and also applies to late testing.

Two Exam Formats:

1. Fully Digital Exams (16 subjects) : Students will complete both multiple-choice and free-response questions in Bluebook. The system will automatically save and submit responses. Subjects include:

   • AP English Language

   • AP English Literature

   • AP U.S. History

   • AP World History

   • AP Psychology

   • AP Computer Science A

   • AP Art History

   • And others

2. Hybrid Format Exams (12 subjects): Multiple-choice questions are completed in Bluebook, while free-response questions are handwritten in paper booklets, which are collected and scored manually. Subjects include:

   • AP Calculus AB/BC

   • AP Biology

   • AP Chemistry

   • AP Macroeconomics

   • AP Physics (all series)

   • AP Statistics

   • And others

   
   

Key Notes on Digital Exams:

• Device Requirements: Exams can be taken on Windows, Mac, iPad, or school-managed Chromebooks. The College Board will provide backup devices and internet support if needed.

• Internet Connection: Internet is required at the beginning and end of the exam. A connection loss during the test will not affect progress.

• Testing Features: Students can highlight, annotate, eliminate answer choices, and flag questions for review.

• Reference Materials: Built-in tools include a Desmos graphing calculator (except for AP Statistics), commonly used formula sheets, Java references, and more, directly accessible in Bluebook.

• Exam Structure: The format, number of questions, and time limits remain the same as the paper version. Students may go back and revise within a question section, but once they move to the next section, they cannot return.

• Paper Booklets: Only used for the free-response portion of hybrid-format exams. These are distributed and collected by proctors.

How Students Can Prepare for the New System:

• Bluebook exam preview available starting January 2025

• Practice resources in AP Classroom

• Official video tutorials and online info sessions

Subjects Not Affected: Language, Arts, and Research AP courses will continue with their current exam or portfolio submission methods. These include:

• AP Chinese

• AP French

• AP Music Theory

• AP Drawing

• AP Research

• And similar subjects

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