AP exams, explained
Advanced Placement exams are College Board’s subject exams for high school students, scored 1 to 5. They cost $99 each in 2026-27 at US and Canadian schools, and the final on-time ordering deadline for May 2027 is November 13, 2026.
Last checked October 2026. Fees and deadlines are from College Board’s AP Central. Your school may add charges, so confirm with your AP coordinator.
Everything on AP exams
Fees, deadlines and format in one place.
→Every subject by day, May 3-14.
→Join your class, order by Nov 13, fees.
→No prerequisites; homeschool routes.
→1-5 scale and 2026 pass rates.
→What to bring for Bluebook.
→Which exams go digital in 2027.
→AP Classroom, past FRQs, Bluebook preview.
→Every College Board page you need.
→AP prep
Picks for several APs, one subject, books and free.
→Five head-to-head comparisons.
→From free to $79 a year for every subject.
→Trials, bundles and exam-fee help.
→Common questions
Do AP scores count for college credit?
It depends on the college. Each college sets its own AP credit policy, so check the policies of the schools you are applying to. Scores are reported on a 1 to 5 scale.