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AP Exam Timing and Structure
Learn about the timing and structure for most AP Exams.
Most AP Exams share the following timing and structure. Specific exam details and requirements for each AP subject can be found on the course and exam pages.
AP Exam Timing
Most AP Exams are 2–3 hours long.
AP Exam Structure
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.