Taking AP Exams with Accommodations

All students taking AP Exams with accommodations must have approval from College Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD).

Once approved, students should speak to their AP coordinator, SSD coordinator, or school counselor well before test day to make sure their school knows that they will be taking AP Exams with accommodations.

Before Test Day

Families should check with the school's SSD coordinator to make sure accommodations are in place and no further documentation is required—especially if the student was approved at another school or the family did not go through the school to request accommodations.

What to Know About Extended Time

Under standard conditions, most AP Exams take 2–3 hours. For subjects that correspond to half-year college courses, the exam is closer to two hours. An accommodation for extended time usually gives either 50% or 100% more time.

When students are approved by the College Board for extended time, they may be approved in some or all of five competencies (reading, mathematical calculation, written expression, listening, and speaking). They will receive extended time only for sections impacted by their disabilities.

What to Know About Breaks

Under standard testing conditions, most AP Exams include a 10-minute break between the two sections. Students with disabilities can be approved for different types of breaks:

• Extra breaks: Students are provided one or more additional breaks.
• Extended breaks: Students break at the same point as nondisabled test takers but for a longer period.
• Breaks as needed: Students may break at any time during the exam for as long as needed, within reason.

What to Know About Alternate Test Formats

• Braille with raised line drawings, contracted, and large print are available for students who receive SSD approval for these accommodations.
• If a student is approved for a format that uses a font larger than 20-point, please contact Services for Students with Disabilities as soon as possible.

What to Know About Through-Course Assessments

We are committed to ensuring that students who require reasonable accommodations can participate in AP courses. For most AP courses, a student’s overall AP score is determined by their end-of-course exam.  However, for some AP courses, a student’s overall AP score is determined by additional assessments. These assessments are sometimes referred to as “through-course assessments” or “performance-based tasks.” Examples of AP courses that include assessments other than or in addition to an end-of course exam include AP Seminar, AP Research, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP African American Studies. The accommodations that a student requires for a through-course assessment, such as an oral presentation, may differ from what is needed for a written exam.

Accommodations approval for through-course assessments

For through-course assessments, students may use accommodations under either of the following circumstances:

• The accommodation has been approved by the College Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) for the student for College Board tests; OR
• The student’s school/state/district has approved the student’s use of the requested accommodation for classwork through an IEP, Section 504 Plan, or other formal process;

NOTE: In special circumstances, such as a home-school student, or where a school does not provide any accommodations, the student may submit a request for accommodations for through-course assessments to College Board SSD.