The Complete 2019 AP Exam Calendar

For millions of high school students across the country, the end of the second semester doesn’t just mean that summer is around the corner. It also means that final exams, SATs, and AP tests have arrived as well. This is a busy time of year, and juggling it successfully means plenty of planning ahead.

If your teen is gearing up for test season, one of the most helpful ways to support him or her is to be aware of the schedule. By noting important dates, like AP tests, well in advance, your teen will have plenty of prep time and won’t be surprised by how quickly some of these dates roll around. To learn more the 2019 AP Calendar, including how to register and prepare for AP exams, don’t miss this post.

How to Register for AP Exams

Before your teen can take any AP exams, he or she will have to register for them. The process for this varies according to whether or not your teen is enrolled in the actual AP class. While most students take AP classes through their high school that naturally culminate in an AP test, others decide to self-study for AP tests and take them without having enrolled in the actual class.

If your teen is enrolled in AP classes at school, his or her teacher will usually discuss the associated test with the class well in advance, but it doesn’t hurt to double check. If your teen’s teacher has not mentioned exam registration during the spring semester, your teen should confirm with the teacher no later than March 1 that he or she will be registered for the exam.

If your teen is not enrolled in an AP class but wants to take the test anyway, he or she will need to speak with the school’s AP Coordinator no later than March 1. Tell your teen to ask a guidance counselor or someone in the administration office to identify who this person is.

For more information about registering for AP exams, including instructions for homeschooled students or students who have scheduling conflicts, see our post How to Register for AP Exams (Even If You Didn’t Take the Class).

When Is Your Child’s AP Exam?

In 2019, AP exams will be administered over the course of 2 weeks from May 6-10 and May 13-17. For a complete calendar of test dates, see the table below.

Tips to Help Your Child Ace Their AP Exams

1. Start with Assessment.

There’s a tendency to think of tests and assessments as a cumulative measure. Most students study first, and then take a test to see how they’ve done. In practice, though, taking an assessment before the studying even begins can be hugely beneficial for a test like the AP, when much of the material is specific content knowledge.

You can help by suggesting that your teen takes an assessment before studying, and then uses the scoring information to help guide a study plan. Identify areas in need of improvement and target these specifically in studying to see the best score improvements.

For more information about this strategy, check out our post What Is a Formative Assessment and Why Should I Use One to Study?.

2. Go Straight to the Source.

There are many commercial test prep products out there for nearly every standardized test your teen will ever encounter. It can be hard to choose the best ones. The best source for AP prep materials is the CollegeBoard, because they are the creators of the AP. On their website, AP Central, your teen will find a collection of official practice questions, an outline of expected knowledge, and even complete tests. This is the most reliable place to start for AP test prep.

3. Understand the Scoring Rubric for Free Response Questions.

Free response questions can sometimes seem like a shot in the dark. Even if your teen is confident in his or her knowledge, if the answer isn’t presented correctly, he or she could lose valuable points. Luckily, the scoring rubric for these free response questions is always available in advance on AP Central. Have your teen review the rubric in advance to clarify understanding.

Also remind your teen to pay close attention to the task verbs in each free response question. These commonly include words like show, explain, and identify. Successful test takers will know exactly what each of these verbs indicate. For example, in a question that asks a student to “show” something, he or she should use a diagram to illustrate the answer. Correct labeling of all elements including the axes of the diagram is necessary to receive full credit.

For more information about free response questions, be sure to check the specific exam page on AP Central where you’ll find free response examples from years past.

For more AP test tips that are sure to give your teen that extra boost, don’t miss our extensive collection of posts that cover all topics from creating an exam study timeline, juggling prep for multiple exams at once, and ultimate guides to each and every AP test.

Want access to expert college guidance — for free? When you create your free CollegeVine account, you will find out your real admissions chances, build a best-fit school list, learn how to improve your profile, and get your questions answered by experts and peers—all for free. Sign up for your CollegeVine account today to get a boost on your college journey.