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AP Exam Timing and Structure
Each AP Exam has its own unique requirements. Find out what almost all exams have in common.
Most exams are 2–3 hours long.
The first part of the exam usually consists of multiple-choice questions.
- You will choose 1 of 4–5 answer choices for each question.
- Your total exam score on the multiple-choice section is based only on the number of questions answered correctly. You won’t receive or lose points for incorrect answers or unanswered questions.
The second part of the exam usually consists of free-response questions that require you to generate your own responses. Depending on the exam, your responses could be in the form of an essay, a solution to a problem, or a spoken response.
Details about each subject are on the exam pages.