What should I expect on AP Exam day?

Timing of Exams

All students are expected to be at their designated room on time: 8:00am for morning exams and 12:00pm for afternoon exams. Officially, morning exams need to start by 9:00am and afternoon exams need to start by 1:00pm. This means that our room administrators need to begin reading the instructions before that time. Once the room administrators begin reading the instructions, they have “officially” started the exam. 

Morning exams typically end between 1:00-2:00pm, and afternoon exams typically end between 4:30-5:30pm. These are estimated dismissal times for students who test with standard time. Students who test with an extended time accommodation can expect to be dismissed later.

Students should be aware that when they show up at 8:00 (or 12:00pm), there are still administrative tasks (checking attendance, finding seats, reading instructions, etc.) that need to be done before the timed portion of the exams begin, and students should not feel anxious that the exam has started late. Many testing rooms are larger than others. It is expected that large testing rooms will take more time to complete the required administrative tasks. 

College Board has a very lengthy script that our room administrators are expected to read before they can pass out the exams and allow students to start working. This is considered to be part of the exam, so as soon as all students are seated and the room administrator starts reading the script, the exam has officially begun.

AP Exam schedules with room numbers will be added to students' myETHS accounts prior to the start of a student's first AP Exam. Students should arrive to the exam room listed in their myETHS account 10 minutes before their AP Exam is scheduled to begin. Student check-in, distribution of exam material, collection of exam material, and completion of College Board required seating charts may add an additional 30-45 minutes to the overall testing time.

Late Arrivals

Students who arrive after the exam books have been distributed will not be allowed to enter the room. Late arrivals will need to see Anya Pierce in N110 to schedule make-up.

There are no refunds for students who are enrolled in their AP course all year and do not take the corresponding exam. That information has been included in all of the AP billing statements throughout the year, and is posted on our website.

No Cell Phones or Wearable Technology

Students will need to put all bags and backpacks under their desk. No cell phones or wearable technology are allowed in the exam room. If a student has a cell phone we are required to invalidate their exam and ask the student to leave the room. If a cell phone is in a backpack and it goes off that could put the whole testing room at risk of having their scores invalidated. Students are not allowed to access their electronic devices during breaks.

Testing with Accommodations

We have many students who test with accommodations, in particular with extended time accommodations. College Board requires students to sit for the entire time provided for each section of the exam. If students want to waive their accommodations we need parent consent at least one week in advance. As a reminder, students who test with an extended time accommodation can expect to be dismissed later than the larger, standard time rooms.

Students with Conflicting Exams

If a student is scheduled to take two exams at the same time please direct that student to Anya Pierce in N110 as soon as possible so that we can reschedule one of the exams. 

Students testing with extended time accommodations with a morning and afternoon exam on the same day should contact Anya Pierce to reschedule one of the exams during the make-up window. 

Students are not charged a make-up fee when they have a conflict between two exams.

Any student who needs to make-up an exam should contact Anya Pierce as soon as possible to schedule a make-up. 

What should I bring to the exam rooms?

Students are not allowed to access their backpack during breaks. Snacks and drinks must be removed from their backpacks or bags and kept under their desk, only to be accessed during breaks and away from test materials.

If a student forgets their calculator we have 4 function calculators available. We do not have graphing calculators.

Students do not need to bring a photo id.

• Pencils
• Black or dark blue pens
• Approved calculators with the necessary capabilities for designated AP Exams in Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, or Statistics. Visit http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/ap/test-day/calculators to find the AP Exam calculator policy for each subject. For a list of approved graphing calculators, visit collegeboard.org/ap/calculators.
• A ruler or straight edge for the AP Physics exam
• If applicable, your Student Accommodation letter, which verifies that you have been approved for a testing accommodation

What should I NOT bring to the exam rooms?

Cell phones are not allowed in AP Exam testing rooms. College Board rules state that any student observed to have a cell phone will be dismissed from the exam room and their test will be invalidated.

In addition, students are not permitted to bring mobile devices such as laptops, Chromebooks, tablet computers, portable listening or recording devices, cameras or other photographic equipment, watches that beep or have an alarm or watches that are connected to smart phones, devices that can access the Internet, and any other electronic or communication devices.

What periods will I be excused for AP Testing?

If students take AP exams on Tuesday-Friday at 8:00am, the students will be excused periods 6-9, the day before the exam and the periods they tested plus an additional period for lunch depending upon student dismissal time. Students testing on Monday at 8:00am will only be excused the periods they tested plus an additional period for lunch depending upon dismissal time.

If students take a 12:00pm exam, they will be excused the entire day of the exam.

Students should allow for a two to three day turn-around for absences due to AP testing to be cleared by the Attendance Office.

Policy for Excused Absences

Students taking AP exams on Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 am will be excused from the last two periods the day before the exam to study. Students will also be excused for the periods they tested, plus an additional period for lunch depending on student dismissal time. 

Students taking an AP exam on Monday at 8:00 am will only be excused from the periods they tested, plus an additional period for lunch depending on dismissal time.

Students taking an AP exam at 12:00 pm will be excused the entire day of that exam.

What extra resources are available to help me prepare?

Visit the Testing Resources web page for a list of extra resources.

When are my AP exam scores available?

AP Exam scores are available online in early July at apscore.collegeboard.org/scores. Students must sign up for a College Board account in order to access their scores.

For additional information regarding AP testing, please refer to the AP Bulletin for Students and Parents by visiting https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/takingtheexam/about-exams.