How is the Coronavirus Impacting AP Exams?

Updated March 23, 2020. Re-updated with schedule on April 10, 2020.

The College Board announced on March 20 that normal AP exams would be suspended for 45-minute online exams. These exams will be free-response only, and will be offered on two separate testing dates. The content on these exams will only cover any units taught up until March of this school year, and the College Board will be providing online review courses.

Below is an up-to-date list of the primary 2020 AP exam dates and times. 

The College Board also released the makeup dates for the 2020 AP exams, a listing of which you can find below. 

The AP also updated the deadlines for its portfolio courses (AP Art and Design, AP 2-D Art and Design, AP 3-D Art and Design, AP Seminar, AP Research, and AP Computer Science Principles). The new deadline for submission is May 26, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. ET. It’s also worth noting that the AP Seminar and AP Computer Science Principles assessments will not include an end-of-course exam this year—students will only be assessed by their portfolio submissions.

You will be able to earn college credit for these exams, and you’ll also be able to cancel for no charge if you no longer want to take AP exams. For those who do want to go ahead and take the exams, you’ll be able to do so from any device (computer, tablet, smartphone). You will also be able to take photos of any written work, if you don’t have wifi or a digital device. The College Board is doing their best to ensure that all students will have everything they need to test, and you can reach out to them if you require extra resources.

For more information on these AP exam changes, visit the College Board’s website. For live updates on how COVID-19 is impacting college admissions, visit our Coronavirus Info Center.

Original Post from March 18, 2020:

AP exams are right around the corner, with the exams scheduled to take place during the first two weeks of May. However, the rapidly changing situation resulting from COVID-19 (better known as the Coronavirus) has many students wondering if all their studying was for naught. While the situation remains in flux, here’s the latest on what will happen to AP exams during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Are AP Exams Still Happening?

Currently, the AP exams are still on schedule to take place for schools that remain open (consult our blog post, 2020 AP Exam Schedule: Everything You Need to Know, for a comprehensive list of AP exam dates and times). However, on the same day the College Board announced their plans to move forward with AP exams, they also announced the cancellation of the SAT administration on May 2. Consequently, it’s highly likely that the AP exams will also get canceled. 

Fortunately, the College Board is focused on “providing flexible and streamlined testing opportunities” to students. For schools that are already closed, or need to close, in March or April, the College Board will have make-up testing dates available—the scheduling of make-up dates will depend on how much instruction time has been lost. They’re also developing a solution that will allow students to take AP exams at home, and more information on in-home testing is expected on March 20. 

On March 20, the College Board will also announce portfolio deadline extensions for AP 2-D Art and Design, AP 3-D Art and Design, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Studio Art: Drawing, AP Research, and AP Seminar. 

How Will These AP Exam Changes Impact College Admissions and Credit?

The cancellation or postponement of AP exams will not affect your odds of admission into college—admissions officers don’t consider AP exams. However, AP exams are important for receiving college credit and placement. 

At the moment, the College Board is “partnering with colleges and universities to ensure that students can still receive the college credit they have been striving to earn all year long.” If the postponed exams or in-home tests aren’t options for you, there is a chance that colleges will be willing to accept grades in the course in lieu of an exam score. 

If students have any questions about their AP exams and how a college plans to handle them, they can always reach out to the school directly. It’s worth noting that COVID-19 is seemingly disrupting life by the minute, making this a fluid situation that many schools are likely still devising a response to. 

Should You Keep Studying for AP Exams?

The simple answer is yes, you should keep studying for your AP exams. Judging by the College Board’s response to COVID-19, they’re committed to holding AP exams in some form this year. Furthermore, the College Board is currently developing free online video lessons for students whose courses have been disrupted. These lessons will cover the topics and skills typically taught in the final weeks of each AP course, and they should be available by the beginning of April. 

It’s recommended that you proceed with your AP exam preparation as normal at home. If you’re looking for some tips on how to ace the exam, or you want insight into a particular exam, check out the library of AP guides available on the CollegeVine blog.

If you’re curious about your odds of acceptance to college, you might also want to check out our free College Admissions Calculator. Our Chancing Engine will not only help you predict your odds, but also let you know how you stack up against other applicants, and which aspects of your profile to improve. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to gain access to our Chancing Engine and get a jumpstart on your college strategy. It’s a great way to take a step back during this tough time and look at the bigger picture.

These are difficult times for everyone. At CollegeVine, we’re here to support you. How COVID-19 is impacting college admissions is a constantly-changing situation, and we want to ensure you have access to the most up-to-date info in one place. Visit our Coronavirus Info Center to check for any new developments in college admissions during these unusual circumstances.