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How Are AP Exams Administered?

Get an overview of the exam modes for the 2027 AP Exams.

Starting this year, all AP Exams are digital. Most will be delivered as either fully digital or hybrid digital exams through Bluebook. Some AP subjects still only have portfolio assessments that are submitted through the AP Digital Portfolio, and don’t have an end-of-course exam in Bluebook. 

This page provides an overview of the 2027 AP Exams. For more information about a specific course, you can review the course and exam pages.

Digital AP Exams in Bluebook

Fully Digital AP Exams

The following AP subjects have fully digital exams. You’ll complete multiple-choice and free-response questions in Bluebook, with all responses automatically submitted at the end of the exam. 

New for 2027: The world language exams are transitioning to fully digital testing—listening to audio and recording will be done through Bluebook. The AP Statistics Exam is transitioning from hybrid digital to fully digital testing. AP Cybersecurity and AP Business with Personal Finance are new courses and will have fully digital AP Exams.

  • AP African American Studies 
  • AP Art History
  • AP Business with Personal Finance
  • AP Chinese Language and Culture*
  • AP Comparative Government and Politics
  • AP Computer Science A
  • AP Computer Science Principles*
  • AP Cybersecurity
  • AP English Language and Composition
  • AP English Literature and Composition
  • AP Environmental Science
  • AP European History
  • AP French Language and Culture*
  • AP German Language and Culture*
  • AP Human Geography
  • AP Italian Language and Culture*
  • AP Japanese Language and Culture*
  • AP Latin
  • AP Psychology
  • AP Seminar* 
  • AP Spanish Language and Culture*
  • AP Spanish Literature and Culture*
  • AP Statistics 
  • AP United States Government and Politics
  • AP United States History 
  • AP World History: Modern

*Note: For these exams you’ll complete the end-of-course fully digital AP Exam in Bluebook, and you’ll also submit work through the AP Digital Portfolio. 

Hybrid Digital AP Exams

The following AP subjects have hybrid digital exams. You’ll complete multiple-choice questions and view free-response questions in Bluebook. You’ll handwrite your free-response answers in paper exam booklets.

New for 2027: The AP Music Theory Exam will transition to hybrid digital testing.

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

AP Exams Through the AP Digital Portfolio

Here’s a summary of how these exams are administered.

AP Art and Design (2-D, 3-D, Drawing)

You’ll submit all work (three portfolio components) for scoring through the AP Digital Portfolio.

AP Research

There’s no end-of-course written exam for AP Research. Instead, you’ll be assessed on performance tasks you complete that are based on your yearlong research project: an academic paper (which you’ll submit for scoring through the AP Digital Portfolio), a presentation, and an oral defense of your research.

Getting Started with Bluebook

Here are some ways you can get familiar with the digital testing experience in Bluebook.

  • Follow the instructions to download Bluebook.
  • Try a test preview in Bluebook to explore the tools and features you’ll use on exam day. Note: Test previews for most AP subjects are available now, with additional subjects coming in early 2027.
  • Try practice assessments from your teacher in AP Classroom. The AP Classroom testing experience continues to be updated to closely match Bluebook.  

Bluebook for Students

Learn About Bluebook

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