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2024 AP Test Changes: What You Need to Know
By
Cece Gilmore
Cece Gilmore is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cece earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University. While at ASU, she was the education editor as well as a published staff reporter at Downtown Devil. Cece was also the co-host of her own radio show on Blaze Radio ASU.
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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
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The AP Exams are going through some major changes for the 2024 year! Hint about the biggest change: The AP Exam format has now entered the computer age! Keep reading below to learn what is different and how to prepare for the new AP Exams!
Digital change
The biggest change happening to the 2024 AP Tests is that now school districts have the ability to choose if they will administer their AP Exams in the traditional way like (paper exam) or if they will administer the exams digitally. The digital option is available to schools in the 48 contiguous states and Washington D.C.
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 within the app.
It is important to remember that the digital exam format is completely optional for this year. Therefore, schools make decisions and choose themselves whether to offer digital, paper or a combination of paper and digital.Â
Related: Ultimate guide to self-studying AP Exams
Paper vs Digital AP Exams
- Digital exams, like paper exams, will be proctored and administered in a school environment
- Digital exams will include the same number of sections, type of questions, question choice and timing as the paper exams
- Students can go back in a section or complete previous questions
- Digital exams require the same number of proctors as paper exams and have the same seating requirements
Also see: Why you should take advanced placement exams
Pros and cons of AP digital exams
| Pros of AP digital exams | Cons of AP digital exams |
| Writing essays can be completed more efficiently and making changes is easier than crossing things out or erasing things | Technical difficulties can occur such as poor connection or device issues |
| Avoids paper waste | Extended screen time can have negative effects such as eye strain or headaches |
| Increases inclusivity and accessibility | Greater risk of temptation of cheating |
Related: How many AP classes should you take in high school?
DBQ change
There has been a major rubric change in the AP history test document-based question (DBQ) portion of the exam. In previous years for the DBQ section of the AP exam, students would need to use 6 documents, explain the audience, purpose, context or point of view (APCP) of a document 3 times and connect the topic to another historical event in order to receive all 7 points available. With the new change, now it is required to use 4 documents instead of 6 and 2 APCPs instead of 3 with alternative pathways to obtain a complexity point including writing a historical connection, explaining 4 APCPs or using all 7 documents.
These differences are broken down in the chart below:
| Old DBQ Rubric | New DBQ Rubric |
| – 6 documents – APCP of a document 3 times – Complexity point = connect the topic to another historical event | – 4 documents – APCP of a document 2 times – Complexity point = writing a historical connection, explaining 4 ACPCs or using all 7 documents |
Also see: Easiest AP classes you can take
Exam pricing change
The base exam fee for AP tests is increasing by $1 for the 2024 AP Exam year. The following are the prices for the 2024 AP tests:
- $98 per exam – for schools in the U.S., U.S. territories, Canada and all DoDEA schools
- $128 per exam – for schools outside of the U.S., U.S. territories and Canada with the exception of DoDEA schools
- $146 per exam – for AP Capstone (AP Seminar or AP research)
The College Board fee reduction amount is increasing to $36 per exam for eligible students (it was previously $35).
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?
Upcoming changes for 2025
In 2025, 9 AP Exams will go fully digital, meaning there will be no paper version of these exams unless students have approved accommodations requiring paper testing.
Here is a list of the digital AP Exams for 2025:
- AP African American Studies
- AP Computer Science Principles
- AP English Language and Composition
- AP English Literature and Composition
- AP European History
- AP Psychology
- AP United States History
- AP World History: Modern
Also see: How to study for AP Exams
Expected changes for 2026
The College Board will announce each year which exams will go digital but they are expecting the following exams to be all digital in 2026:
- AP Art History
- AP Comparative Government and Politics
- AP Computer Science A
- AP Human Geography
- AP Latin
- AP United States Government and Politics
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 May 2026 digital AP Exams.
Related: Which AP classes are the hardest?
Exam Dates
AP Exams will be administered in schools during the first two weeks of May. A late-testing window is available May 17-19 if students cannot test during the first two weeks of May.
| Date | Morning Session (8 a.m.) | Afternoon Session (12 p.m.) |
| May 6, 2024 | United States Government and Politics | Art History Chemistry |
| May 7, 2024 | Human Geography Microeconomics | Seminar Statistics |
| May 8, 2024 | English Literature and Composition | Comparative Government and Politics Computer Science A |
| May 9, 2024 | Chinese Language and Culture Environmental Science | Psychology |
| May 10, 2024 | European History United States History | Macroeconomics Spanish Literature and Culture |
| May 13, 2024 | Calculus AB Calculus BC | Italian Language and Culture Precalculus |
| May 14, 2024 | English Language and Composition | African American Studies Physics C: Mechanics Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism (2 p.m.) |
| May 15, 2024 | French Language and Culture World History: Modern | Computer Science Principles Music Theory |
| May 16, 2024 | Spanish Language and Culture | Biology Japanese Language and Culture |
| May 17, 2024 | German Language and Culture Physics 1: Algebra-Based | Latin Physics 2: Algebra-Based |
Also see: Understanding your AP scores
Key Takeaways
Frequently asked questions about the AP test changes
Will the digital AP Exams have the same format as the paper exams?
Will students be able to go back in the multiple-choice and free-response sections?
Will there be a limitation on how long a student’s free-response or short-answer question responses can be in the digital AP Exam?
What devices can students take the digital AP Exam on?
Can some students take the digital version while others take the paper version of an AP Exam?
Will the digital AP Exams start automatically or will schools manage the start time?
How do proctors administer digital AP Exams?
Do students need headphones, mics, or webcams for the digital AP Exam?
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