Wondering how long your AP Exams are? In this post, we’ll go over the length and format of each AP exam. At the end of this article, you’ll also find tips for how to prepare for the big day.
How Long Are AP Exams?
It is not uncommon for students to come to us asking something like the following: “How long is the AP Chem exam? How long is AP Stats? How will I know what’s on my AP test?” If you are one of many students trying to wrap your head around the AP test format, this article should answer all of your questions.
Let’s start with a brief overview of AP exam duration:
| Exam | Duration |
| AP Art History | 3 hours |
| AP Biology | 3 hours |
| AP Calculus AB | 3 hours, 15 minutes |
| AP Calculus BC | 3 hours, 15 minutes |
| AP Chemistry | 3 hours, 15 minutes |
| AP Chinese Language and Culture | 2 hours, 1 minute |
| AP Comparative Government and Politics | 2 hours, 30 minutes |
| AP Computer Science A | 3 hours |
| AP Computer Science Principles | ~2 hours |
| AP English Language and Composition | 3 hours, 15 minutes |
| AP English Literature and Composition | 3 hours |
| AP Environmental Science | 2 hours, 40 minutes |
| AP European History | 3 hours, 15 minutes |
| AP French Language and Culture | 3 hours, 3 minutes |
| AP German Language and Culture | 3 hours, 3 minutes |
| AP Human Geography | 2 hours, 15 minutes |
| AP Italian Language and Culture | 3 hours, 3 minutes |
| AP Japanese Language and Culture | 2 hours |
| AP Latin | 3 hours |
| AP Macroeconomics | 2 hours, 10 minutes |
| AP Microeconomics | 2 hours, 10 minutes |
| AP Music Theory | ~2 hours, 40 minutes |
| AP Physics 1 | 3 hours |
| AP Physics 2 | 3 hours |
| AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 1 hour, 30 minutes |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | 1 hour, 30 minutes |
| AP Psychology | 2 hours |
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | 3 hours, 3 minutes |
| AP Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 hours |
| AP Statistics | 3 hours |
| AP United States Government and Politics | 3 hours |
| AP United States History | 3 hours, 15 minutes |
| AP World History: Modern | 3 hours, 15 minutes |
How Are AP Exams Formatted?
Some students want to know more than simply how long is the AP Chem exam, APUSH, and so on. For them, we have compiled an overview of AP exam formats.
For the most part, AP exams begin with multiple-choice questions and conclude with a free response section. Additionally, a few exams include alternative question formats:
- Several AP history exams include short answer segments.
- Most language exams include a speaking component.
- The exams for AP Chinese and AP Japanese include several tasks, such as narrating a story or writing an email.
- AP Computer Science Principles involves two multi-hour tasks in addition to the exam, such as developing a computer program.
- AP Drawing and the AP Studio Art exams require portfolios rather than exams.
- AP Research and AP Seminar are not assessed with a traditional AP exam.
If you want to know the format and question weighting for each AP with an exam, scroll to find the subject areas that apply to you.
Arts
AP Art History: 3 hours
Section 1: Multiple Choice
80 Questions | 1 Hour | 50% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
6 Questions | 2 Hours | 50% of Score
AP Music Theory: ~2 hours, 40 minutes
Section 1: Multiple Choice
75 Questions | ~1 Hour, 20 Minutes | 45% of Score
Section 2A: Free Response: Written
7 Questions | ~1 Hour, 10 Minutes | 45% of Score
Section 2B: Free Response: Sight-Singing
2 Questions | ~10 Minutes | 10% of Score
English
AP English Language and Composition: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Section 1: Multiple Choice
45 Questions | 1 Hour | 45% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
3 Questions | 2 Hours, 15 Minutes | 55% of Score
AP English Literature and Composition: 3 hours
Section 1: Multiple Choice
55 Questions | 1 Hour | 45% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
3 Questions | 2 Hours | 55% of Score
History & Social Studies
AP Comparative Government and Politics: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Section 1: Multiple Choice
55 Questions | 1 Hour | 50% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
4 Questions | 1 Hour, 30 Minutes | 50% of Score
Note: When students ask, “How long is the AP Government Exam?” they are usually referring to AP United States Government and Politics, listed a few entries below this one. The AP Gov exam is 3 hours long.
AP European History: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Section 1A: Multiple Choice
55 Questions | 55 Minutes | 40% of Score
Section 1B: Short Answer
3 Questions | 40 Minutes | 20% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
2 Questions | 1 Hour, 40 Minutes | 40% of Score
AP Human Geography: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Section 1: Multiple Choice
60 Questions | 1 Hour | 50% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
3 Questions | 1 Hour, 15 Minutes | 50% of Score
AP Macroeconomics: 2 hours, 10 minutes
Section 1: Multiple Choice
60 Questions | 1 Hour, 10 Minutes | 67% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
3 Questions | 1 Hour | 33% of Score
AP Microeconomics: 2 hours, 10 minutes
Section 1: Multiple Choice
60 Questions | 1 Hour, 10 Minutes | 67% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
3 Questions | 1 Hour | 33% of Score
AP Psychology: 2 hours
Section 1: Multiple Choice
100 Questions | 1 Hour, 10 Minutes | 67% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
2 Questions | 50 Minutes | 33% of Score
AP United States Government and Politics: 3 hours
Section 1: Multiple Choice
55 Questions | 1 Hour, 20 Minutes | 50% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
4 Questions | 1 Hour, 40 Minutes | 50% of Score
AP United States History: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Section 1A: Multiple Choice
55 Questions | 55 Minutes | 40% of Score
Section 1B: Short Answer
3 Questions | 40 Minutes | 20% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
2 Questions | 1 Hour, 40 Minutes | 40% of Score
AP World History (Modern): 3 hours, 15 minutes
Section 1A: Multiple Choice
55 Questions | 55 Minutes | 40% of Score
Section 1B: Short Answer
3 Questions | 40 Minutes | 20% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
2 Questions | 1 Hour, 40 Minutes | 40% of Score
Math & Computer Science
AP Calculus AB: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Section 1: Multiple Choice
45 Questions | 1 Hour, 45 Minutes | 50% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
6 Questions | 1 Hour, 30 Minutes | 50% of Score
AP Calculus BC: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Section 1: Multiple Choice
45 Questions | 1 Hour, 45 Minutes | 50% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
6 Questions | 1 Hour, 30 Minutes | 50% of Score
AP Computer Science A: 3 hours
Section 1: Multiple Choice
40 Questions | 1 Hour, 30 Minutes | 50% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
4 Questions | 1 Hour, 30 Minutes | 50% of Score
AP Computer Science Principles: ~2 hours
Performance Task 1: Create—Applications from Ideas
12 Hours | 24% of Score
Performance Task 2: Explore—Impact of Computing Innovations
8 Hours | 16% of Score
End-of-Course Exam: Multiple Choice
~ 74 Questions | 2 Hours | 60% of Score
AP Statistics: 3 hours
Section 1: Multiple Choice
40 Questions | 1 Hour, 30 Minutes | 50% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
6 Questions | 1 Hour, 30 Minutes | 50% of Score
Sciences
AP Biology: 3 hours
Section 1: Multiple Choice
60 Questions | 1 Hour, 30 Minutes | 50% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
6 Questions | 1 Hour, 30 Minutes | 50% of Score
AP Chemistry: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Section 1: Multiple Choice
60 Questions | 1 Hour, 30 Minutes | 50% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
7 Questions | 1 Hour, 45 Minutes | 50% of Score
AP Environmental Science: 2 hours, 40 minutes
Section 1: Multiple Choice
80 Questions | 1 Hour, 30 Minutes | 60% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
3 Questions | 1 Hour, 10 Minutes | 40% of Score
AP Physics 1: 3 hours
Section 1: Multiple Choice
50 Questions | 1 Hour, 30 Minutes | 50% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
5 Questions | 1 Hour, 30 Minutes | 50% of Score
AP Physics 2: 3 hours
Section 1: Multiple Choice
50 Questions | 1 Hour, 30 Minutes | 50% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
4 Questions | 1 Hour, 30 Minutes | 50% of Score
AP Physics C (Electricity and Magnetism): 1 hour, 30 minutes
Section 1: Multiple Choice
35 Questions | 45 Minutes | 50% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
3 Questions | 45 Minutes | 50% of Score
AP Physics C: Mechanics: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Section 1: Multiple Choice
35 Questions | 45 Minutes | 50% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
3 Questions | 45 Minutes | 50% of Score
World Languages & Cultures
AP Chinese Language and Culture: 2 hours, 1 minute
Section 1A: Multiple Choice Listening
20–35 Questions | 20 Minutes | 25% of Score
Section 1B: Multiple Choice Reading
35–40 Questions | 1 Hour | 25% of Score
Section 2A: Free Response Written
2 Questions | 30 Minutes | 25% of Score
Section 2B: Free Response Spoken
2 Tasks, 7 Questions | 11 Minutes | 25% of Score
AP French Language and Culture: 3 hours, 3 minutes
Section 1A: Multiple Choice Listening
30 Questions | 40 Minutes | 23% of Score
Section 1B: Multiple Choice with Audio
35 Questions | 55 Minutes | 27% of Score
Section 2A: Free Response Written
2 Questions | 1 Hour, 10 Minutes | 25% of Score
Section 2B: Free Response Spoken
2 Questions | 18 Minutes | 25% of Score
AP German Language and Culture: 3 hours, 3 minutes
Section 1A: Multiple Choice Listening
30 Questions | 40 Minutes | 23% of Score
Section 1B: Multiple Choice with Audio
35 Questions | 55 Minutes | 27% of Score
Section 2A: Free Response Written
2 Questions | 1 Hour, 10 Minutes | 25% of Score
Section 2B: Free Response Spoken
2 Questions | 18 Minutes | 25% of Score
AP Italian Language and Culture: 3 hours, 3 minutes
Section 1A: Multiple Choice Listening
30 Questions | 40 Minutes | 23% of Score
Section 1B: Multiple Choice with Audio
35 Questions | 55 Minutes | 27% of Score
Section 2A: Free Response Written
2 Questions | 1 Hour, 10 Minutes | 25% of Score
Section 2B: Free Response Spoken
2 Questions | 18 Minutes | 25% of Score
AP Japanese Language and Culture: 2 hours
Section 1A: Multiple Choice Listening
30–35 Questions | 20 Minutes | 25% of Score
Section 1B: Multiple Choice Reading
35–40 Questions | 1 Hour | 25% of Score
Section 2A: Free Response Written
2 Tasks, 7 Questions | 30 Minutes | 25% of Score
Section 2B: Free Response Spoken
2 Tasks, 5 Questions | 11 Minutes | 25% of Score
AP Latin: 3 hours
Section 1: Multiple Choice
50 Questions | 1 Hour | 50% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
5 Questions | 2 Hours | 50% of Score
AP Spanish Language and Culture: 3 hours, 3 minutes
Section 1A: Multiple Choice Listening
30 Questions | 40 Minutes | 23% of Score
Section 1B: Multiple Choice with Audio
35 Questions | 55 Minutes | 27% of Score
Section 2A: Free Response Written
2 Questions | 1 Hour, 10 Minutes | 25% of Score
Section 2B: Free Response Spoken
2 Questions | 18 Minutes | 25% of Score
AP Spanish Literature and Culture: 3 hours
Section 1A: Multiple Choice Interpretive Listening
15 Questions | 20 Minutes | 10% of Score
Section 1B: Multiple Choice Reading Analysis
50 Questions | 1 Hour | 40% of Score
Section 2: Free Response
4 Questions | 1 Hour, 40 Minutes | 50% of Score
How Should I Prepare for My AP Exams?
1. Keep up with Course Assignments. AP Exams are a marathon, not a sprint. You can assume that all assessments in an AP class, from small vocabulary quizzes to major projects, are designed to help you score better on the AP exam. For that reason, you will save a lot of catch-up work for yourself later on if you consistently take the time to stay on top of your AP classes.
2. Write Chapter Recaps and Host Review Sessions Leading up to the Exam. Nothing will prepare you for an exam quite like teaching someone else the material. When you review the material as someone who is taking responsibility for your peers’ learning, you will see the content through new eyes. It will help you make connections between the nitty-gritty details and the big picture.
3. Practice with Full Section or Full-Length AP Practice Exam. Going back to our marathon metaphor, no one would attempt a marathon without going on several long runs prior to the big day. The same goes for AP exams. Whether you want to try sitting for a full-length practice test or simply practice several sections of the exam, getting extended exposure to the test format will help your body know what to expect on test day.
4. Sleep for at Least 8 Hours All Year. If you want to get the most out of your brain on test day, you have to take care of it beforehand. That means giving your brain rest so it can review, categorize, and prioritize the information it learns each day. We see so many students skip this step and then wonder why they are unhappy or have trouble remembering things. Even if you do not sleep 8 hours every night, make a point of doing so for the week leading up to your exams and every night of that week, too.
5. Avoid Sugary Snacks and Caffeinated Beverages on Test Day. AP exams require a lot of stamina. By contrast, most junk food, candy, and caffeinated beverages are designed to give you short bursts of energy. Stick to balanced meals on test day, supplemented with a healthy snack (veggies, fruits, low-sugar granola bar) and water during your break times. The only exception to this tip is if you already have a caffeine dependency. In that case, keep up a low daily dose of caffeine so you do not send your body into withdrawal.
6. Only Perform Light Review Between AP Exams. If you have multiple AP Exams in one week, it’s important that you rest between them. This is NOT the time to cram new material, since you are more likely to wear yourself out than retain a lot of new content. Spend those evenings between exams catching up with friends, eating dinner with your family, or reviewing a handful of flashcards.
7. Keep Your Eye on the Big Picture. AP exams depend so much on mastering the details that it can be easy to get lost in them. Leading up to the test day and after it, block off a couple afternoons to review your content at a high level. What have you learned from this class? How do you anticipate using the information in the future? Why was it important for you to cover this material? Taking stock will help you retain the content that matters most to you and help you to make sense of the huge effort you have just undertaken.
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.