AP Exam Dates 2026: Register on Time

By James L., Test Prep Specialist

The direct answer: the 2026 AP® Exams are administered over two main weeks, May 4 to 8 and May 11 to 15, with late testing from May 18 to 22. Scores are released starting July 6, 2026. I plan study calendars for dozens of students each spring, and the ones who avoid panic are the ones who locked the May dates before winter break. This guide lists the key dates and how to register.

2026 AP Dates at a Glance

College Board publishes the full schedule at AP Students exam dates, which is the source for every date below.

The Main Exam Schedule

The College Board administers AP Exams at schools over the two main weeks in May. Morning exams start between 8 and 9 a.m. local time, and afternoon exams start between 12 and 1 p.m. local time. Your school chooses the exact start time within those windows, so confirm the time with your AP coordinator.

A few subject dates are useful to lock into your calendar if you are preparing this year.

• AP Biology: Monday, May 4, 2026 (morning)
• AP Chemistry: Tuesday, May 5, 2026 (morning)
• AP English Literature and Composition: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 (morning)
• AP United States History: Friday, May 8, 2026 (morning)
• AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC: Monday, May 11, 2026 (morning)
• AP English Language and Composition: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 (morning)

This list is not complete. The full schedule covers more than thirty exams across the two weeks, and some subjects share a date in morning and afternoon slots. AP Psychology, for example, sits in the late testing Friday slot on May 22 in the published late testing calendar, while the regular administration places it in week 2. A few more dates worth noting if you are testing this year:

• AP World History: Modern: Thursday, May 7, 2026 (morning)
• AP United States Government and Politics: Monday, May 11, 2026 (afternoon)
• AP Biology: Monday, May 4, 2026 (morning)
• AP Physics 1: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 (afternoon)
• AP Statistics: Thursday, May 14, 2026 (morning)

If two of your exams fall on the same day, tell your coordinator early so they can place one in the late testing window. Do not assume you can simply take both in the same session, because the schedule does not allow it.

Late Testing

If you have a conflict, illness, or approved reason, your school may move you to the late testing window of May 18 to 22, 2026. Late testing follows a separate schedule set by the College Board. Schools must order late testing exams by specific deadlines, so tell your coordinator early rather than hoping for a fix later. College Board notes that late testing uses alternate exam versions to protect security, and exams cannot be self selected.

How to Register

Registration is handled through your school, not by signing up alone on a public site. Talk to your AP teacher or AP coordinator about which exams your school offers and the local deadline to order them. The November ordering deadline is the main one for full year courses, with a spring deadline for courses that start later.

If you are homeschooled or your school does not offer a specific exam, ask your coordinator about testing at a nearby school that does. Policies for outside students vary, so start this conversation well before the spring. Some states run a consortium of host schools, and the coordinator who handles outside students is the person to find early, because their seats are limited and the ordering deadlines are the same as for enrolled students.

A useful planning move is to build your personal calendar backward from the May date. Mark the exam day, then the late testing window as a fallback, then the free score send deadline of June 20, then your school's order deadline. Students who write these four dates in one place in September rarely miss a step, while students who wait for a reminder from the school often discover the order closed during spring break.

Score Release

AP scores for 2026 are released starting July 6, 2026. The exact day you see yours depends on your location and when the College Board posts results. You view scores through your College Board account.

If you want a college to receive your scores for credit or placement, send an official score report. A free score send is available until June 20, 2026. After that date, sending scores online carries a fee. Some colleges set their own deadline for receiving scores, and a few will not accept them after you arrive on campus, so plan the send early.

Where a Practice Score Lands

If you are tracking progress during the year, the AP score calculator turns practice results into a 1 to 5 estimate, which can help you set a target before the real exam. Treat it as a planning tool, because the actual cut points are set each year by College Board's standard setting process.

Common Misconceptions

• "I can register alone online." Registration goes through your school coordinator.
• "All schools start at the same time." Local start times vary within the morning and afternoon windows.
• "Late testing is my choice." It requires an approved reason from your coordinator.
• "The free score send deadline is flexible." It is June 20, 2026, and a fee follows.
• "May is far away." The order deadlines pass in the fall and spring, before the exams.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are the 2026 AP Exams?

The main administration runs May 4 to 8 and May 11 to 15, 2026, with late testing from May 18 to 22, 2026.

When are AP scores released in 2026?

Scores begin releasing on July 6, 2026, through the College Board account system.

How do I register for an AP Exam?

Registration goes through your school's AP coordinator. Ask your teacher or coordinator about the exams offered and the local order deadline.

What if two AP Exams are on the same day?

Your school may place you in the late testing window if there is a conflict. Raise it with your coordinator as early as possible.

Is there a fee to send scores?

A free score send is available until June 20, 2026. After that, sending scores online carries a fee.

Can homeschooled students take AP Exams?

Yes, in many cases, by arranging testing through a nearby school that offers the exam. Policies vary, so contact a local AP coordinator early.

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