AP Practice Test

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AP Practice Test

Updated for October 2026
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AP exams are taken by school students who want to show their level in a subject and possibly earn college credit or advanced placement. This page collects free practice sets for English Literature, Psychology and several Chemistry topics, alongside the College Board dates, fees, scoring and ordering facts for AP English Literature and Composition. Our questions are written with AI tools and are not real exam questions.

What the AP is and how it works

According to College Board, “AP Exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5. Many U.S. colleges grant credit and/or advanced placement (that means they let you skip the equivalent course once you get to college) for scores of 3 and above.”[2]

AP exams are run by the College Board. They are scored on a scale of 1 to 5, and many U.S. colleges grant credit or advanced placement for scores of 3 and above. Each college sets its own policy, so check the policy of the schools you are considering before relying on a particular score.

AP English Literature and Composition is fully digital. You complete multiple-choice and free-response questions in the Bluebook testing app, and all responses are submitted automatically at the end of the exam. The exam lasts 3 hours. The scheduled date is Wednesday, May 5, 2027 (Session 1), and the late-testing date is Monday, May 17, 2027 (Session 1).

You cannot order an AP Exam directly. Exams are ordered through a school's AP coordinator. Homeschooled students, independent-study students, virtual school students and students whose school does not administer AP Exams need to find a school that will let them test. The preferred ordering deadline was October 2, 2026, and the final ordering deadline is November 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. If you decide after that deadline not to take an exam that was ordered for you, the charge is $40 per exam. Students with significant financial need may be eligible for a $37 College Board fee reduction per exam.

Most scores are available in July, though some take longer. Scores do not expire, and scores from before 2018 are archived and can only be sent to a college, university or scholarship program. Local fees and school deadlines can differ, so confirm details with your AP coordinator and the College Board.

AP: upcoming dates and official changes
  • Nov 13, 2026: The final ordering deadline for 2027 AP Exams is November 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET; College Board's preferred ordering deadline was October 2, 2026.[6]
  • May 5, 2027: The 2027 AP English Literature and Composition Exam is on Wednesday, May 5, 2027, in Session 1 (usually the morning slot).[1]
  • May 17, 2027: The late-testing AP English Literature and Composition Exam is on Monday, May 17, 2027, in Session 1, and uses an alternate version of the exam.[7]

What changed for AP

  • The AP English Literature and Composition Exam lasts 3 hours.[1]
  • AP Exams are scored from 1 to 5, and many U.S. colleges give credit or advanced placement for a score of 3 or higher.[2]
  • Students with significant financial need may qualify for a $37 College Board fee reduction on each AP Exam.[3]
  • A student who decides after the November 13 ordering deadline not to take an ordered AP Exam is charged $40 for that exam instead of the full fee.[3]
  • AP scores from exams taken before 2018 are archived: they no longer show in the online score system but can still be sent to colleges, universities or scholarship programs.[4]
  • The AP English Literature and Composition Exam is fully digital: students answer both the multiple-choice and free-response questions in College Board's Bluebook testing app.[1]
  • Students and parents cannot order AP Exams directly, so homeschooled, independent-study and virtual-school students must find a school whose AP coordinator will order and give their exams.[5]
  • Most AP Exam scores come out in July; scores from later testing dates can take longer.[4]
  • The final ordering deadline for 2027 AP Exams is November 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET; College Board's preferred ordering deadline was October 2, 2026.[6]

Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.

AP Exam at a Glance

ItemDetailSource · Verified
Time limit (AP English Literature and Composition)3 hours[1]College Board · Oct 20, 2026
Passing scoreScored 1–5; many colleges grant credit for 3+[2]College Board · Oct 20, 2026
Exam fee (Fee reduction)$37 College Board fee reduction per exam[3]College Board · Oct 20, 2026
Exam fee (Unused/canceled exam)$40 per unused or canceled exam[3]College Board · Oct 20, 2026
ValidityScores don't expire; pre-2018 scores are archived[4]College Board · Oct 20, 2026
Delivery (AP English Literature and Composition)Fully digital in the Bluebook app[1]College Board · Oct 20, 2026
EligibilityOrdered through a school's AP coordinator; homeschooled and outside students must find a school[5]apcentral.collegeboard.org · Oct 20, 2026
Score releaseJuly (most scores)[4]College Board · Oct 20, 2026
Next exam date (AP English Literature and Composition)Wednesday, May 5, 2027 (Session 1)[1]College Board · Oct 20, 2026
Next exam date (AP English Literature and Composition (late testing))Monday, May 17, 2027 (Session 1)[7]apcentral.collegeboard.org · Oct 20, 2026
Registration deadlineNovember 13, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET (final ordering deadline; preferred deadline was October 2, 2026)[6]apcentral.collegeboard.org · Oct 27, 2026

What changed for AP in 2026

Worked examples: how to reason through AP questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: What is the main characteristic of ionic bonding?

  1. Electrons are shared equally between atoms.
  2. One atom donates electrons to another atom, forming oppositely charged ions.
  3. Atoms do not gain or lose electrons.
  4. Electrons are transferred but not shared.

Answer: B. One atom donates electrons to another atom, forming oppositely charged ions.

Explanation:

Option B is correct. In ionic bonding, one atom gives up electrons to another, which leaves a positively charged ion and a negatively charged ion that attract each other.

Option A describes equal sharing, which is nonpolar covalent bonding, not ionic bonding. Option C says no atom gains or loses electrons, which would rule out ions altogether. Option D is tempting because it mentions transfer, but it is not the best statement: the defining feature is the formation of oppositely charged ions held together by electrostatic attraction, and the option does not say that.

Rule to remember: transfer of electrons, usually from a metal to a nonmetal, gives ions and ionic bonding. Sharing of electrons gives covalent bonding. When a question asks for the main characteristic, pick the option that names the ions.

Example 2

Question: 10.0 mL of 0.200 M HCl is diluted to a final volume of 500.0 mL with distilled water. What is the pH of the resulting solution?

  1. 2.40
  2. 1.70
  3. 3.10
  4. 2.70

Answer: A. 2.40

Explanation:

Option A, 2.40, is correct. HCl is a strong acid, so it dissociates fully and the hydrogen ion concentration equals the acid concentration after dilution. Work out the moles of acid from the 10.0 mL of 0.200 M HCl, divide by the final 500.0 mL, then take the negative logarithm.

Option B, 1.70, is too low a pH. It implies a more concentrated solution, which suggests the dilution was undercounted. Options C and D are too high. They imply a more dilute solution than the numbers support, which usually comes from dividing by the wrong volume or slipping on the logarithm.

Rule to remember: moles do not change on dilution, only the volume does. For a strong acid, find the new concentration first, then convert to pH. A quick check is that diluting an acid must raise its pH.

Example 3

Question: Using Slater's rules, what is the effective nuclear charge (Z_eff) experienced by a 3p electron in chlorine (Cl, Z = 17)?

  1. 6.10
  2. 7.00
  3. 5.75
  4. 12.85

Answer: A. 6.10

Explanation:

Option A, 6.10, is correct. Effective nuclear charge is the full nuclear charge of 17 minus the shielding from other electrons. Slater's rules give each electron a weight that depends on its group. Electrons in the same group as the 3p electron shield only a little, electrons in the next shell in shield strongly, and electrons in the innermost shell shield almost completely.

Option B equals the count of outer-shell electrons, a shortcut that ignores how inner shells shield. Option C most likely comes from using a wrong shielding weight for one of the groups. Option D implies far too little shielding for an electron with filled inner shells beneath it.

Rule to remember: write the electron configuration, group the electrons, apply each weight, add up the shielding, and subtract from the nuclear charge.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material. Open the College Board page for AP English Literature and Composition, read the exam format description, and look at the sample questions and scoring guidelines it provides. That tells you what the real exam asks, so you can judge how closely any practice set matches it.

Then work through our English Literature practice test without notes, in a single sitting, and use the Bluebook app to get used to the digital format. Mark every question you guessed on as well as those you missed. Review each explanation and write down the rule behind it in your own words.

If you are also preparing for other AP subjects, use the Psychology set and the Chemistry sets such as Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure or Kinetics and Chemical Equilibrium in the same way: attempt, review, and retry the questions you missed after a few days.

Closer to test day, practise under timed conditions, then confirm your test date, room and device requirements with your school's AP coordinator. Remember that our questions are written by AI tools and are practice only, so rely on the official materials for the exact exam style.

AP practice tests

Psychology
Chemistry: Atomic Structure & Periodicity
Chemistry: Chemical Bonding & Molecular Structure
Chemistry: Intermolecular Forces & Properties
Chemistry: Chemical Reactions & Stoichiometry
Chemistry: Kinetics & Chemical Equilibrium
Chemistry: Thermodynamics & Thermochemistry
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Sources & last verified

  1. College Board — time limit, delivery, next exam date (official source). “Exam Duration 3hrs” Verified Oct 20, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
  2. College Board — passing score (official source). “AP Exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5. Many U.S. colleges grant credit and/or advanced placement (that means they let you skip…” Verified Oct 20, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
  3. College Board — exam fee (official source). “If you have significant financial need, you may be eligible for a $37 College Board fee reduction per AP Exam.” Verified Oct 20, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
  4. College Board — validity, score release (official source). “If you took your last AP Exam before 2018, your scores are archived. Archived scores are not viewable in our score reporting system and can…” Verified Oct 20, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
  5. apcentral.collegeboard.org — eligibility (official source). “Parents and students cannot order AP Exams directly. Students who are homeschooled, independent study, attend virtual schools, or attend schools that don't administer AP Exams…” Verified Oct 20, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
  6. apcentral.collegeboard.org — registration deadline (official source). “October 2, 2026: Preferred ordering deadline November 13, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET: Final ordering deadline” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 27, 2026.
  7. apcentral.collegeboard.org — next exam date (official source). “Late-Testing Schedule: May 17–21, 2027” Verified Oct 20, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
  8. College Board — other (official source). “AP World Languages and Cultures: April 30, 2027 (11:59 p.m. ET), is the deadline to submit your Personalized Project Reference (PPR) as final.” Verified Oct 20, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.

AP FAQ

When is the AP English Literature and Composition exam?

The scheduled date is Wednesday, May 5, 2027, in Session 1. The late-testing date is Monday, May 17, 2027, also in Session 1. Late testing is arranged through your school, so ask your AP coordinator whether it applies to you and confirm times with the College Board.

How long is the exam and how is it delivered?

The exam lasts 3 hours. It is fully digital: you answer multiple-choice and free-response questions in the Bluebook testing app, and your responses are submitted automatically at the end of the exam.

Can I register for an AP exam on my own?

No. Parents and students cannot order AP Exams directly. Exams are ordered through a school's AP coordinator. If you are homeschooled, in independent study, attend a virtual school, or your school does not administer AP Exams, you need to find a school where you can test.

What is the ordering deadline and what does cancelling cost?

The final ordering deadline is November 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET; the preferred deadline was October 2, 2026. If you decide after the final deadline not to take an exam that was ordered for you, the charge is $40 per exam. A $37 fee reduction per exam may be available for significant financial need.

What score do I need to earn college credit?

AP exams are scored from 1 to 5. Many U.S. colleges grant credit or advanced placement for a 3 or above, but each college decides for itself. Check the AP credit policy of the schools you are interested in before you count on a score.

When do I get my scores, and do they expire?

Most scores are available in July, though some take longer because of later testing dates or other circumstances. Scores do not expire. If your last AP Exam was before 2018, your scores are archived and can only be sent to a college, university or scholarship program.

What is the passing score for the AP?

AP Exams are scored from 1 to 5, and many U.S. colleges give credit or advanced placement for a score of 3 or higher. (Verified Oct 27, 2026 against College Board.)
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