The 2026 Advanced Placement (AP) exams happen over the course of 2 weeks: May 4-8 and May 11-15, 2026.
There are 2 different sessions for different exams: morning sessions, which start between 8 am and 9 am, and afternoon sessions, which start between 12 pm and 1 pm, but most schools require students to arrive 30-45 minutes before their start time.
All About APs
Most AP exams consist of 2 sections that include a multiple-choice section (MCQ) and a free-response section (FRQ), which is usually the last section.
There will be a 10-minute break between the FRQ and the MCQ where you will be allowed to eat snacks you brought, drink water, and use the bathroom. You will have about 45-105 minutes to complete the MCQ section, in which you will have to choose the best answer out of 4 or 5 options, and 90-135 minutes to complete the FRQ, in which you will have to write your own response based on the question asked.
Some exams do consist of more sections or different sections with different tasks.
There has recently been a change in the way students take their exams. As of May 2025, different AP exams are now either fully digital or a hybrid of digital and paper. There are 16 AP exams that are now fully digital, and 28 are hybrid exams, with very few being completely on paper.
CMHS recognizes that exam season can be very stressful for students as they have to not only worry about studying for their exams but also juggle social life, sports, and grades. Because of this, our school allows for students to be excused from the rest of their school day on the day of their exam.
Tips to Prepare
There are so many ways to study for upcoming exams, so here is a list of different ways to cram for your exam:
- Review your material from notes that you may have taken during class.
- Do full exam-length practice tests and FRQs (you can find practice exams and FRQs on the College Board website or on Bluebook).
- Use study apps such as Knowt, LumiSource, or Quizlet.
- Watch YouTube videos from YouTubers that your teacher recommends, such as Mr. Sinn for AP Human Geography and Heimler History for AP U.S. History.
- Review units and/or lessons you don’t completely understand.
- Search for predicted concepts that will be on your exam and make sure you understand them.
A few things to remember before going into your AP exam are that you aren’t allowed any electronics, any school supplies other than the approved items, or books/notebooks.
Make sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep the day before your exam and eat a nutritious breakfast to fuel your brain. Be sure to bring a fully charged Chromebook and charger (if your exam is hybrid or fully digital), a #2 pencils, a calculator (AP Environmental Science), a ruler (AP Physics), and government or school ID.
The Day of the Exam
Here are some tips for the day of your exam:
- Read the question carefully.
- If you don’t know the answer, make an educated guess.
- Don’t rush, but also make sure you pace yourself so you don’t run out of time.
- Highlight any keywords or phrases that will help you answer the question.
- DON’T CHEAT!
Make sure you try your best and remember your score doesn’t define who you are and how smart you are!
