The SAT and ACT aren’t the only exams going digital these days. Most students gearing up for AP exams in May of 2025 should prepare to take their exams in a brand new digital format. While a handful of tests will remain in paper format, the majority are transitioning to the Bluebook digital testing application. Here’s the lowdown on the digital tests.
Digital test advantages
The Bluebook digital testing app will be your new go-to for most AP exams. You’ll take your exam on your Mac, Windows device, or iPad, or on a school-managed Chromebook. Don’t have access to a device? No worries—schools will offer loaners to make sure you’re set. Here’s what you need to know about the new format:
- No more worries about messy handwriting. For fully digital exams, you’ll type all of your responses. If you’ve struggled with handwriting legibility in the past, this is a big plus! But make sure you’re comfortable typing your responses quickly, especially for those longer essay responses. Note too that some exams will switch to a hybrid digital/paper format and will require some handwritten responses.
- You’ll have access to digital tools. The Bluebook app’s tools will allow you to highlight, annotate, and even eliminate answer choices digitally. And yes, you’ll still get scratch paper for planning and outlining.
- You’ll be able to use a built-in Desmos calculator. The Desmos calculator allows for easy graphing and solving and is included on 12 AP exams: Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Physics (1, 2, and C), and Biology, Environmental Science, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, and Precalculus. However, you should still bring your own calculator for these exams, as allowed by the AP calculator policy, for quicker execution of easy calculations.
Note: AP Statistics is the only math exam that will not have use of the built-in Desmos calculator. This exam is hand-held calculator only.
Don’t leave your pencil at home yet!
Even with digital exams, there are a few things you should bring along. Since you’ll have scratch paper provided during the test, make sure to pack a pencil or pen for any handwritten work you might need to do. If your exam allows a calculator, be sure to bring your own if you’ve been using it to prepare for the exam.
Which AP exams are going digital?
By May 2025, a total of 28 AP exams will be digital. However, some exams will be fully digital, while others will have a hybrid format.
Fully digital exams
These exams will be completed entirely in Bluebook, including both multiple-choice and free-response sections:
- AP African American Studies (U.S. schools only)
- AP Art History
- AP Comparative Government and Politics
- AP Computer Science A
- AP Computer Science Principles
- AP English Language and Composition
- AP English Literature and Composition
- AP Environmental Science
- AP European History
- AP Human Geography
- AP Latin
- AP Psychology
- AP Seminar
- AP United States Government and Politics
- AP United States History
- AP World History: Modern
Hybrid digital exams
For some exams—especially math, science, and economics—you’ll view the questions in Bluebook but write your free-response answers by hand in paper booklets. These include:
- AP Biology
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Calculus BC
- AP Chemistry
- AP Macroeconomics
- AP Microeconomics
- AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based
- AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based
- AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
- AP Physics C: Mechanics
- AP Precalculus
- AP Statistics
Which exams are staying paper only?
While most exams are going digital, some AP exams will remain paper-based for now. These include:
- AP 2-D Art and Design
- AP 3-D Art and Design
- AP Drawing
- AP Music Theory
- AP Research
- AP Seminar
- AP Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish Language and Culture exams
These subjects either require a portfolio or have an audio component that makes paper testing more practical.
What’s staying the same?
Even with these changes, a lot about your AP exams will feel familiar
- The structure and duration of the exams (number of sections, question types, timing) is unchanged. Unlike the switch to digital for SAT, the switch to digital for AP exams will not come with changes to the timing for content of the exam.
- You can still use calculators where applicable, and important reference materials like the periodic table or equation sheets will be available right in Bluebook.
- You’ll take your exam in the same testing environment at your school.
Preparing for digital AP exams
Wondering how you’ll prepare? You’ll have plenty of chances to practice with Bluebook before the big day. It’s important to practice with the specific format of your exam in mind:
- For fully digital exams, practice completing multiple-choice questions on your computer, and typing free-response questions while using physical scratch paper for notes and outlines.
- For hybrid exams, get used to completing multiple-choice questions on your computer and reading free-response questions in Bluebook, while handwriting your answers on paper. This will help you transition smoothly between the two formats during the actual exam.
- AP Classroom practice tests will give you a feel for what the digital exams are like.
- For calculator exams, familiarize yourself with the Desmos calculator. If your exam includes the Desmos tool, spend some time practicing with it so you’re comfortable using it on exam day
- Preview digital AP exams in the Bluebook app and practice highlighting, annotating, and using the answer eliminator tools.
Need help? Our expert tutors are ready to guide your child through the transition to the digital AP exams and help them create an effective study plan. Contact us for more information on our AP tutoring services.
