2021 AP Exams: Digital & Paper Testing

As expected, administering the 2021 AP Exams is going to look a little different this year. College Board is offering 3 separate test dates for each AP exam (plus, an additional makeup test date) with options for traditional paper testing or digital testing both in-school and at-home. 

The first AP Exam Administration (May 3–7, 10–12, 14, & 17) will only offer traditional paper testing within school-proctored settings. The second AP Exam Administration (May 18–21, 24–28) will offer both traditional paper testing (in school) and options for digital testing (both at-home and in-school), while the third AP Exam Administration (June 1–4, 7–11) will primarily offer digital testing options. 

A student can mix and match taking digital and paper and is not required to take each AP exam in the same format. However, certain tests, such as AP Calculus, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, and AP Statistics, will not be offered digitally until the third AP Exam Administration.

While all test formats will be full-length (typically running about 3 hours), some paper and digital formats of the AP exams will differ due to security and technological concerns. 

Let’s explore which AP exams we can expect to see changes to.

No Difference

The following 2021 AP exams will be available in traditional pencil and paper format and in digital format for both in-school and at-home testing, and there will be no differences between the paper and digital versions:

Slight Difference

The following 2021 AP exams will be available in traditional pencil and paper format and in digital format for both in-school and at-home testing; however, the paper and digital versions will have very slight variations: 

  • AP Art History Exam: Students will not be expected to identify works of art in stimulus free response questions.

Slight change from paper format—Students will not have to draw diagrams, graph, or show work, rather all work can be shown through typing for the following: 

Significant Difference

The following 2021 AP exams will be available in traditional pencil and paper format and in digital format for both in-school and at-home testing; however, the paper and digital versions will have format variations.

For each of the following 2021 AP Exams, while the initial multiple choice exam section will be the same format for both digital and paper testing, the second section’s format will differ:

  • AP European History, AP World History, and AP United States History Exams 

    • Paper Test: 3 Short Answer Questions + 1 Document-Based Question + 1 Long Essay Question

    • Digital Test: 3 Short Answer Questions + 1 Document-Based Question + 2 Short Answer Questions

  • AP Chemistry Exam 

    • Paper Test: 3 Long Answer Questions + 4 Short Answer Questions 

    • Digital Test: 45 Multiple Choice Questions +1 Long Answer Question + 2 Short Answer Questions

  • AP Statistics Exam

    • Paper Test: 6 Free Response Questions

    • Digital Test: 11 Multiple Choice Questions + 4 Free Response Questions

  • AP Physics 1 & 2 Exams

    • Paper Test: 5 Free Response Questions

    • Digital Test: 25 Multiple Choice Questions + 2 Free Response Questions

  • AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism and Physics C: Mechanics

    • Paper Test: 3 Free Response Questions

    • Digital Test: 35 Multiple Choice Questions (No Free Response)

No At-Home Option

The following 2021 AP exams will NOT be available in an at-home digital format due to security concerns and must be taken within a school-proctored location: 

  • AP French Language Exam

  • AP German Language Exam

  • AP Italian Language Exam

  • AP Spanish Language Exam

  • AP Spanish Literature Exam

  • AP Latin Exam

  • AP Music Theory Exam

  • AP Chinese Language Exam (computer-based format)

  • AP Japanese Language Exam (computer-based format)

Whether taking the paper or digital version of the AP exams, it’s important to have a strong study plan. Pivot Tutors is here to help with any and all AP exam needs!

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