Update on Digital AP Exams

This summer, the College Board announced that it plans to begin offering digital AP exams in May 2023.

While this announcement reverses course from the College Board’s decision to return to paper-based AP testing in 2022, it aligns with the general trend within educational institutions of embracing digital learning and testing solutions. In explaining their decision, the College Board cited positive feedback from students and teachers alike in response to a 2022 pilot with a cohort of 550 schools.

While this announcement may elicit cheers from students tired of powering through hand cramp-inducing essays, it will not impact all AP exam testers. Read on for a breakdown of who will be affected and what we know so far.

The Rollout

This year’s digital rollout gives all participating AP schools the option to offer digital tests for 7 AP subjects: AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Language & Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP European History, AP Seminar, AP US History and AP World History: Modern.

In other words, this announcement does not affect students in some of the most popular AP classes, including AP Psychology, AP Government, or any of the AP math and science courses (like AP Calculus or AP Chemistry). So far, the College Board has not announced plans to offer digital versions of these tests.

Test-taking experience

Note that these are not the shortened, at-home tests AP students saw in May 2020. These are full-length exams, with the digital version mirroring the paper-and-pencil test as administered in the classroom.

Students will take the digital exam in school with an in-person proctor at the same time the paper-based test is administered. Students will be allowed to take the digital exam through a newly-designed College Board app on a personal or school-managed laptop, desktop, iPad (with external keyboard), or a school-managed Chromebook. Students will be able to move back and forth within a section but will not be able to navigate between sections until time is called, just like the paper-based test.

Finally, students who qualify for accommodations (including extended time) will be able to take either the paper-based or digital exams. However, students who require late testing due to unanticipated events (including illness or technical issues) will only be offered the paper-based exam.
Keep an eye out for announcements from your AP coordinator or teacher regarding your school’s decisions to offer digital or paper-based exams this year. No matter what your school decides, our team of expert tutors is ready to support you!