2025 AP Test Changes: What You Need to Know

The AP Exams are continuing to go through some major changes for the 2025 year! Hint about the biggest change: The AP Exam format has now entered the digital age! Keep reading below to learn what is different and how to prepare for the new digital AP Exams! 

Digital change

Starting in May of 2025, standard paper testing for 28 AP Exams will be completely discontinued. These 28 exams will be moved to the Bluebook digital testing application system or be offered in a hybrid format. 

The College Board believes that digital exams are a more secure method of administering tests rather than shipping paper exams in boxes across the country. 

Digital AP Exams will be proctored and administered in school following the same schedule as paper exams. The digital AP Exam will be administered by the Bluebook testing app which is compatible with many devices such as Chromebooks, Windows and Mac laptops and iPads. Students are able to choose whatever device they want to take the exam. Bluebook allows students to highlight text, make annotations, move back and forth between questions within the same section and you can set up any special accommodations such as extra time or breaks directly through the app. 

Related: Ultimate guide to self-studying AP Exams

Fully digital exams for 2025

There will be NO paper testing option available (unless you have an approved exemption from the College Board) for the following exams: 

• AP African American Studies
• AP Art History
• AP Comparative Government and Politics
• AP Computer Science A 
• AP Computer Science Principles
• AP English Language and Composition
• AP English Literature and Composition
• AP Environmental Science
• AP European History 
• AP Human Geography
• AP Latin
• AP Psychology
• AP Seminar
• AP United States Government and Politics
• AP United States History 
• AP World History: Modern

Hybrid exams for 2025

The hybrid format for the 2025 AP Exams will have students complete multiple-choice questions in Bluebook and handwrite free-response answers in paper exam booklets. 

• AP Biology
• AP Calculus AB 
• AP Calculus BC 
• AP Chemistry
• AP Macroeconomics
• AP Microeconomics
• AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based
• AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based
• AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
• AP Physics C: Mechanics
• AP Precalculus
• AP Statistics 

Also see: Why you should take advanced placement exams 

Key digital AP exam information

• Exams can be taken on Mac and Windows devices, iPads and school-managed Chromebooks 
• Students only need the internet to begin the exam and to submit their exam at the end! (This means you can take your exam uninterrupted even if the internet goes out during it.)
• Bluebook controls the exam timing and the exam is submitted automatically when that time is up 
• Accommodations can be found directly in the Bluebook app such as extended time
• The College Board provides students opportunities to familiarize themselves with the digital AP exams such as test previews and practice assessments that mimic the feel of Bluebook exams 

Pros and cons of AP digital exams 

Related: How many AP classes should you take in high school? 

Exam pricing change

The base exam fee for AP tests is increasing by $1 for the 2025 AP Exam year. The following are the prices for the 2025 AP exams: 

• $99 per exam – for schools in the U.S., U.S. territories, Canada and all DoDEA schools
• $129 per exam – for schools outside of the U.S., U.S. territories and Canada with the exception of DoDEA schools 
• $147 per exam – for AP Capstone (AP Seminar or AP research) 

The College Board fee reduction amount is increasing to $37 per exam for eligible students (it was previously $36 in 2024). 

The late-order and late-testing fee will remain the same at $40 per exam in addition to the base exam fee. 

Check out: How do you pay for AP Exams? 

Expected to transition to digital soon 

Currently, these AP Exam subjects will remain unchanged. However, The College Board are expecting that these exams will become digitized in the near future: 

• AP Chinese Language and Culture
• AP French Language and Culture
• AP German Language and Culture
• AP Italian Language and Culture
• AP Japanese Language and Culture
• AP Spanish Language and Culture
• AP Spanish Literature and Culture
• AP Music Theory

It is important to note that this list is subject to change and you should visit the College Board’s official website for any official announcements regarding the status of these exam formats. 

Related: Which AP classes are the hardest? 

What is NOT changing? 

The basics of AP Exams are not changing for the 2025 year! This means that the number of sections, number and type of questions and the timing will remain unchanged! On the Bluebook testing application, students will be able to go back within a section to review or complete previous questions (similar to if they had a physical exam.) Similarly, students will be able to highlight, annotate, mark questions and eliminate answer choices. Additionally, all AP calculator policies will remain the same. 

Exam Dates 

AP Exams will be administered in schools during the first two weeks of May. A late-testing window is available May 19-23 if students cannot test during the first two weeks of May. 

Week 1: May 5-9

Week 2: May 12-16

Also see: Understanding your AP scores

Key Takeaways

• The 2025 AP Exams will be administered in a digital or hybrid format only! (for 28 AP Exams) 
• Digital AP Exams will have the same format and rules as their previous paper exams 
• Bluebook is the testing app used by the College Board to administer the digital AP Exams 
• There is a $1 price increase for AP Exams 
• In 2025, 28 AP Exams will be fully digital meaning there will be no paper version offered to students 

Frequently asked questions about the AP test changes