What to Bring on AP Exam Day

It’s important to know what you can and cannot bring with you to the exam room.  

For an overview of how exams are administered (e.g., fully digital, hybrid digital) go to How Are AP Exams Administered?

Important: Remember, if you’re taking a fully digital or hybrid digital AP Exam in Bluebook, you’ll need to know your College Board student account information to sign in to Bluebook on exam day. Saving your password on your device won’t work.

What You Should Bring

• A watch that isn’t a smartwatch. 
• A government-issued or school-issued photo ID if you don’t attend the school where you’re taking the exam.
• For exams that allow or require the use of calculators: You can bring up to 2 approved calculators with the necessary capabilities. (Note: The Desmos built-in calculator is also available as an option in Bluebook for these exams.)
• For AP Physics Exams: You can bring a ruler or straightedge.
• Pencils or pens: 
  • For fully digital AP Exams: You should bring sharpened pencils or pens for taking notes on school-provided scratch paper.
  • For hybrid digital AP Exams: You should bring 2 sharpened No. 2 pencils (with erasers) or pens with black or dark blue ink to write in the free-response booklet.
• Fully charged testing device with Bluebook installed (if your testing school isn’t providing one for you) and a charging cord/AC adapter that’s compatible with your testing device.
• External devices.
  • External mouse (optional)*.
  • External keyboard*: An external keyboard is required if you’re taking a fully digital AP Exam on a tablet. If you’re taking a hybrid digital AP Exam on a tablet, an external keyboard is recommended but not required. External keyboards aren’t allowed if you’re testing on a laptop.
  • Power banks and external laptop batteries are permitted. You’ll need to leave any external power source on your desk for inspection prior to the start of the exam. Students must not share external power sources.
• For world language and Music Theory Exams: Wired headsets (if your AP coordinator has said that you should bring your own wired headset or if your school isn’t providing headsets for testing).

*Bluetooth external devices are approved in these scenarios. Bluetooth external keyboards and mice must be fully charged to last the duration of the exam.

You Must Not Bring*  

• Electronic equipment of any kind (except devices being used for the exam). Prohibited electronic equipment includes: wearable technology of any kind, smart glasses, smartwatches, phones, laptops, tablet computers, unauthorized Bluetooth devices**, portable listening or recording devices, cameras or other photographic equipment, devices that can access the internet, separate timers of any type, and any other electronic or communication devices.
• Electronic writing instruments including stylus pens, Apple pencils, and iPad stylus.
• Books, notebooks, compasses, correction fluid, dictionaries, highlighters, or notes.
• Mechanical pencils, No. 3 pencils, or colored pencils. 
• Rulers or straightedges (these are allowed only for AP Physics exams). 
• Protractors.
• Scratch paper (the proctor will provide scratch paper for applicable exams).
• Computers or calculators (except as previously noted).
• Reference guides or reference information (the proctor will provide any applicable reference information).
• Keyboard maps or other typing instructions.
• Watches that beep or have an alarm. 
• Food or drink.  
• Clothing or shoes with subject-related information.  
• Head coverings (e.g., hats, brimmed caps, etc.) are not permitted while testing. Head coverings worn for medical or religious reasons are permitted during testing provided they do not obstruct testing staff’s ability to view the test taker’s eyes and ears. 
• Earplugs or headphones (if bringing headsets for a world language or Music Theory exam, it must be a wired headset).
• Clipboards. 
• Privacy screens. 
• Separate computer monitors. 

*Unless an item has been preapproved as an accommodation by the College Board SSD office before the exam date. 

**Bluetooth devices are permitted only in the following scenarios: Bluetooth external keyboards for students taking digital AP Exams on tablets; Bluetooth external mice for all digital AP Exams.   

For AP world language and Music Theory exams: Your AP coordinator will provide details about the wired headsets that will be used for testing. 

Details about required and prohibited items are in the AP Exam Terms and Conditions. 

A student observed with any prohibited items during testing or breaks may be dismissed from the exam, the device may be confiscated, the student’s score may be canceled, and no retest may be permitted. 

You may use any other PPE (such as masks) following your school’s current requirements.