It’s finally spring, which for many high schoolers means it’s time to take a look at the 2021 AP Exam dates and schedule. Due to coronavirus precautions, this spring’s AP Exams are a bit different than in years past. In 2021, there are three AP Exam administrations. Each administration provides different options for taking AP Exams online and in the traditional pencil-and-paper format.
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We’ve provided a full list of 2021 AP Exam dates and the full 2021 AP Exam schedule below for your convenience. It’s up to your school, though, as to which AP Exam administrations are given at your school. The AP coordinators at your school and your AP class teachers will let you know what testing options are available to you.
2021 AP Exam Dates
There are three sets of AP Exam dates in 2021. Each of the three test administrations provides different opportunities for online and pencil-and-paper testing. Your school will communicate with you about your AP testing options.
Administration 1: May 3–7, 10–12, 14, and 17
In School
Traditional, full-length paper and pencil exams, administered in school, for all subjects.
Administration 2: May 18–21, 24–28
In School and At Home
Half of the subjects are paper and pencil, administered in school, and half are full-length digital exams, administered in school or taken at home due to coronavirus precautions.
Administration 3: June 1–4, 7–11
In School and At Home
Most subjects are full-length digital exams only, administered in school or taken at home due to coronavirus precautions.
Information via the College Board
AP coordinators can choose a mix of at-home and in-person exams and mix 2021 AP Exam dates, so your school may pick more than one of the testing windows or modes. However, students cannot independently choose to stay home for digital AP testing.
2021 AP Exam Schedule
Below is the full 2021 AP Exam schedule for 2021. Administration 1 begins on May 3, and Administration 3 ends on June 11. Read through the list of 2021 AP Exam dates below to get an idea of when you may be taking your AP Exams this spring.
Administration 1
WEEK 1: Paper, In School
| 8:00 a.m. Local Time | 12:00 p.m. Local Time | 2:00 p.m. Local Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, May 3, 2021 | United States Government and Politics | Physics C: Mechanics | Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism |
| Tuesday, May 4, 2021 | Calculus AB Calculus BC | German Language and Culture Human Geography | |
| Wednesday, May 5, 2021 | English Literature and Composition | Japanese Language and Culture (computer based) Physics 1: Algebra-Based | |
| Thursday, May 6, 2021 | United States History | Art History Computer Science A | |
| Friday, May 7, 2021 | Chemistry Spanish Literature and Culture | European History Physics 2: Algebra-Based |
Administration 1
WEEK 2: Paper, In School
| 8:00 a.m. Local Time | 12:00 p.m. Local Time | |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, May 10, 2021 | French Language and Culture World History: Modern | Macroeconomics |
| Tuesday, May 11, 2021 | Seminar Spanish Language and Culture | Latin Psychology |
| Wednesday, May 12, 2021 | English Language and Composition | Microeconomics Music Theory |
| Thursday, May 13, 2021* | NO EXAMS SCHEDULED | NO EXAMS SCHEDULED |
| Friday, May 14, 2021 | Biology Italian Language and Culture | Chinese Language and Culture (computer based) Environmental Science |
| Monday, May 17, 2021* | Comparative Government and Politics Computer Science Principles | Statistics |
Administration 2
WEEK 1: Digital, In School and At Home
| 11:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) (time varies by time zone) | 3:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) (time varies by time zone) | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, May 18, 2021 | English Literature and Composition | Computer Science A |
| Wednesday, May 19, 2021 | European History United States History | Art History Macroeconomics |
| Thursday, May 20, 2021 | United States Government and Politics World History: Modern | Psychology |
Administration 2
WEEK 1: Paper, In School
| 8:00 a.m. Local Time | 12:00 p.m. Local Time | |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, May 21, 2021 | Italian Language and Culture Japanese Language and Culture (computer based) Latin Spanish Language and Culture | Chinese Language and Culture (computer based) French Language and Culture German Language and Culture Music Theory Spanish Literature and Culture |
Administration 2
WEEK 2: Paper, In School
| 8:00 a.m. Local Time | 12:00 p.m. Local Time | |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, May 24, 2021 | Calculus AB Calculus BC | Physics 1: Algebra-Based Physics C: Mechanics |
| Tuesday, May 25, 2021 | Chemistry Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | Physics 2: Algebra-Based Statistics |
Administration 2
WEEK 2: Digital, In School and At Home
| 11:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) (time varies by time zone) | 3:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) (time varies by time zone) | |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, May 26, 2021 | English Language and Composition | Computer Science Principles Seminar |
| Thursday, May 27, 2021 | Biology | Environmental Science |
| Friday, May 28, 2021 | Comparative Government and Politics Human Geography | Microeconomics |
Administration 3
WEEK 1: Digital, In School and At Home
| 11:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) | 3:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, June 1, 2021 | English Literature and Composition | Computer Science A |
| Wednesday, June 2, 2021 | European History United States History | Art History Macroeconomics |
| Thursday, June 3, 2021 | United States Government and Politics World History: Modern | Psychology |
Administration 3
WEEK 1: Paper, In School
| 8:00 a.m. Local Time | 12:00 p.m. Local Time | |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, June 4, 2021 | Italian Language and Culture Japanese Language and Culture (computer based) Latin Spanish Language and Culture | Chinese Language and Culture (computer based) French Language and Culture German Language and Culture Music Theory Spanish Literature and Culture |
Administration 3
WEEK 2: Digital, In School and At Home
| 11:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) | 3:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) | |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, June 7, 2021 | English Language and Composition | Computer Science Principles Seminar |
| Tuesday, June 8, 2021 | Comparative Government and Politics Human Geography | Microeconomics |
| Wednesday, June 9, 2021 | Calculus AB Calculus BC | Physics 1: Algebra-Based Physics C: Mechanics |
| Thursday, June 10, 2021 | Chemistry Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | Physics 2: Algebra-Based Statistics |
| Friday, June 11, 2021 | Biology | Environmental Science |
How to Prepare for the 2021 AP Exams
Much like preparing for the SAT or ACT test, preparing well for an AP Exam requires effective study habits. This means allowing yourself enough time to study the material, working to own difficult concepts, and practicing your timing and pacing.
#1 Allow enough time to study
The material you learn closest to the time of the test will be fresh in your mind, but you need time to review concepts you learned earlier in the school year. And because you want to avoid cramming (it’s stressful and not super effective), allow enough time to review older concepts.
It’s likely your teacher will help you create a study schedule well before exam day to help you review these older concepts. But, If you need to create a schedule on your own, remember to mix up what units you study so you’re studying both new and old material each week.
#2 Work to own difficult concepts
It’s tempting to focus on concepts you understand. But it’s vital that you tackle tricky concepts and work to own them. If you know you’ve learned even the tricky stuff, come test day you’ll be confident in your abilities and very likely do great on the AP Exam.
#3 Practice timing and pacing
AP Exams are timed, so don’t forget to practice the material in a timed setting. This can be as simple as setting a timer while you do a practice exam. If you find yourself needing more time than is allowed, examine your pacing; where can you skip questions or work more quickly in order to finish the test?
#4 Attend an AP review session
The College Board is hosting live review sessions for many AP Exams April 19-29, 2021. You can watch these sessions on YouTube or in your online AP Classroom!
FAQ’s
Can my school offer both online and pencil-and-paper exams?
Yes! Schools can choose exam administrations that work best for them, provided the school meets all requirements for each option. But remember, the school is making decisions about exam administrations, not individual students.
Can students pick which 2021 AP Exam administration to take?
No. Schools decide which AP Exam administrations to offer their students. Students cannot independently opt to stay home for at-home digital AP testing.
Are online AP Exams shorter?
Nope – online AP Exams are the same length as traditional paper and pencil AP Exams and include both multiple-choice and free-response questions.
How are online AP Exams different from pencil-and-paper AP Exams?
Online, digital AP Exams are designed to be as similar as possible to paper AP exams and assess the same course content. However, there will be some differences between the two types of tests due to limits on digital testing (for example, drawing a graph. On a digital test, a student would be asked to answer a question about a graph instead). Restrictions on going back to previous questions and synchronous start times across time zones are also key differences from paper and pencil exams.