How Long Are AP Exams and Can You Retake Them?

Every year thousands of students are vying for admission to the top universities, and students often grapple with the issue of not knowing if they should submit test scores with their application. 

Usually this dilemma relates to SAT and ACT exams, but it can even extend to another sector of important exams: Advanced Placement (AP) exams. AP exams provide students with a set of additional metrics that are an additional measure of their performance in a particular subject.

Today, we will help you navigate some of the logistical questions surrounding the exams, “How long is each AP exam, and what if I need to retake it?” 

Knowing the answers to these questions will put you one step closer to performing your best on exam day, and give you a sense of relief if you need to retake the exam at a later time. This blog will go over the timing of every AP exam offered and go over the options to retake the exams.

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AP Exam Lengths by Subject

AP exams are offered through the College Board and provide students the opportunity to showcase their performance in over 30 courses. Since these exams are only available once every calendar year, it is critical to be prepared for exam day.

Each AP exam contains some combination of multiple-choice questions, free-response questions, and an essay writing section. Additional exams related to the arts often include an additional portfolio section.

In the table below, each AP exam length is outlined which should give you a look at how much time you should spend in each section while you are taking the exams.

Can you retake AP exams? 

After you have taken the exam and received your score, it is possible that you did not achieve the score that you were hoping for. In that case, it is good to remind yourself that many other students are also not satisfied with their scores and plan to retake their exam.

Retaking the exams is possible, but you must be aware of the specific rules that apply to each individual exam. In this section, we will go over every AP retake rule and list any notable differences among AP subjects, and end with specific tips to help you elevate your second sitting for the exam.

Retaking Rules and Procedures:

According to the College Board, if you plan to retake the exam it must take place the following year after your previous sitting. Additionally, both scores (your original score and your retake score) wll be sent to colleges unless you opt to withhold or cancel one of the scores. In the event that there is a conflict with your testing window, you can reach out to your AP advisor to see if you are eligible for a later testing date. 

Withholding and Canceling Scores

If you are unsure of whether to send your scores, there are two options to be aware of: 

Withhold a Score - allows you to choose which colleges will not receive your exam scores. 

• If you withhold the score, the college cannot see the score, nor will they be able to know that you even took the exam. 
• Each time you choose to withhold a score it costs $10 per college and can be undone with a $15 fee. 
• If you decided you would like to withhold a score, it must be completed by June 15th of your test year on the College Board website.

Cancel a Score - allows you to completely remove your score from your record.

• If you opt to cancel your score, it is free of charge. However, this action cannot be undone. 
• Similar to withholding your score, this must be completed on the College Board website by June 15th of your exam year. 

When to Consider Retaking an AP Exam

When deciding whether retaking an AP exam may be helpful, it is important to consider a variety of circumstances:

• Did you face any health issues on test day that impacted your performance?
• Did you realize that your study materials did not align with the test format?
• Have you recently qualified for new testing accommodations?
• Will you have a less busy schedule to dedicate more time to studying?

Multiple-Choice Rescore

For paper-form AP exams, you are eligible to send in a request for your multiple-choice answers to be rescored. Any AP exam that is delivered through a digital format, such as AP Chinese or AP Japanese is not eligible for a rescore. 

Longest AP Exams & Shortest AP Exams

Most AP exams last around three hours with the longest tests lasting 3 Hours + 15 minutes and the shortest lasting 90 minutes. 

Here is a breakdown of the AP exams that fall into the longest and shortest groups:

How To Study for the AP Exams

Whether you're taking an AP test for the first time, or deciding to retake a previous exam, there are a handful of strategies to guide your performance and lead you in the direction of a high score. Below we go over some expert tips to help you elevate your preparation for exam day.

Tips for AP Exam Prep

• Familiarize yourself with the exam format
• Develop a personalized study schedule and stick to it
• Regularly use official practice exams in your preparation
• Utilize class notes to inform your studying
• Purchase an AP exam review book for a more rigorous study plan
• Note areas of the highest difficulty to dedicate more time to studying them

Final Thoughts

With a routine study plan and knowledge of the exam format, you are well on your way to receiving a desirable score on any AP exam. Crimson’s expert team is here to help you prepare for exam day, and can support you in developing a stellar application. With Crimson’s team based approach, we ensure all of our students are getting expert support for every component of the application. 

Whether you’re seeking help to craft a compelling application theme, perfect your personal statement, or secure impactful extracurricular opportunities, Crimson is here to support you at every step. Our comprehensive support includes:

• Standardized Test Tutoring: Customized resources to maximize your SAT, ACT, AP or IB performance.
• Application Theme Development: Collaborate with your strategist to weave together your application with a narrative driven application theme.
• Extracurricular Advising: Highlight your leadership roles and make a meaningful impact in your extracurricular activities.
• Former Admissions Officer Reviews: Expert analysis of your application to ensure you are hitting all of the top marks. 

Get ahead on your preparation for upcoming exams and stand out to top university admissions officers. Book a free consultation to start building your application to get accepted to your dream university.

Additional Resources:

BLOG: The Ultimate College Application Timeline: A Step-by-Step Guide 

COLLEGE BOARD: Official AP Exam Materials