So, the dates are out. It happens every year around this time—that low-simmering panic starts to bubble up as high schoolers across the country realize May isn’t actually that far away. You’re likely looking for a 2025 ap exam schedule pdf because you need to know if you're going to have three tests on the same day or if you actually lucked out with a week of breathing room. Honestly, the College Board doesn't always make it the easiest thing to navigate on a phone screen during lunch, which is why having that PDF saved to your files is basically a survival tactic.
Let's get real for a second. The 2025 testing window is two weeks of high-stakes academic adrenaline. It starts on Monday, May 5, and runs through Friday, May 16. If you mess up and miss your window, you're looking at late testing from May 14–23, but nobody wants that unless they have a legit emergency or a massive sports conflict.
The Week 1 Gauntlet: May 5 – May 9
Monday, May 5, kicks things off with a heavy hitter: AP Biology. If you’re a science person, you’re hitting the ground running at 8 AM local time. That same morning, schools will be proctoring Latin. By the afternoon, at 12 PM, the focus shifts to European History and United States Government and Politics. It’s a dense start. If you’re taking both Bio and Gov, I truly hope you’ve been drinking your coffee because that’s a long day of mental gymnastics.
Tuesday, May 6, keeps the pressure on. In the morning, you've got Chemistry and Source Evaluation (for AP Seminar). Chemistry is notorious for being one of the tougher exams to pace, so having your timing down by early May is non-negotiable. The afternoon session brings Human Geography and Statistics. "Stats" is one of those exams where students often feel confident until they hit the free-response questions, so keep that in mind during your late-night study sessions.
Wednesday, May 7, is a big one for the humanities. English Literature and Composition happens in the morning. This is the exam where you’re writing until your hand cramps. If you’re also taking Comparative Government or Computer Science A in the afternoon, you’re moving from analyzing 19th-century poetry to debugging Java or comparing the political structures of Nigeria and China. It’s a weird vibe shift, but that’s the AP life.
Thursday, May 8, features African American Studies and United States History in the morning. APUSH is arguably one of the most popular exams in the country. Thousands of students will be sweating over the DBQ at the exact same time. Afternoon slots go to Macroeconomics and World History: Modern. If you’re an international student or just really into global trends, the World History exam covers a staggering amount of ground, from the Mongols to the Cold War.
Friday, May 9, rounds out the first week. Chinese Language and Culture and Environmental Science (APES) take the morning slot. APES is often seen as "the easy one," but don't let that fool you; the scoring rubrics have become much tighter lately. The afternoon concludes with Psychology and Art History. Psychology is usually a favorite for many, but the sheer volume of vocabulary can be a tripwire if you aren't prepared.
Week 2: The Final Push (May 12 – May 16)
You survived week one. But wait. There’s more.
Monday, May 12, opens with Calculus AB and Calculus BC. This is the "Big One" for many STEM-track students. These exams are grueling, three-hour marathons of limits, derivatives, and integrals. In the afternoon, students will tackle Italian Language and Culture or Precalculus. AP Precalc is still relatively new to the lineup, but it’s becoming a popular way for sophomores and juniors to get a head start on college credits.
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Tuesday, May 13, brings English Language and Composition (the "other" English exam) in the morning. This one is all about rhetoric and persuasion. It’s less about The Great Gatsby and more about how an author uses a semicolon to destroy an opponent's argument. The afternoon features African American Studies (if not taken earlier), Physics C: Mechanics, and Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. If you're taking both Physics C exams, you're basically living in the testing room that day.
Wednesday, May 14, covers French Language and Culture and World History: Modern (again, for different sections) in the morning. Afternoon sessions include Computer Science Principles and Music Theory. Music Theory is unique—you’re literally sight-singing into a recording device while trying not to let the person in the next cubicle distract you. It’s awkward. It’s stressful. It’s AP.
Thursday, May 15, is for the linguists and the mathematicians. Spanish Language and Culture takes the morning, followed by Art and Design (portfolio due dates usually loom around here) and Japanese Language and Culture. The afternoon slot belongs to Physics 1: Algebra-Based. This is statistically one of the lowest-scoring AP exams, so if you’re looking at your 2025 ap exam schedule pdf and seeing Physics 1, start practicing those conceptual questions now. Seriously.
Friday, May 16, is the finish line. German Language and Culture and Physics 2: Algebra-Based happen in the morning. The very last slot of the 2025 season goes to Spanish Literature and Culture. If you make it to 4 PM on this Friday, you’ve officially survived the gauntlet.
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Why You Actually Need the PDF Version
Look, checking the College Board website is fine, but their interface is... let's just say it's "built by a committee." It’s clunky.
Having a 2025 ap exam schedule pdf on your phone is better for a few reasons. First, schools often have terrible cell reception in the hallways or lockers. If you need to check your room assignment or start time and the page won't load, you're going to stress out. A PDF is offline. It’s there. You can highlight your specific tests so you don't get confused by the 30+ other exams you aren't taking.
Also, many high school guidance counselors create their own localized version of the PDF. These are gold because they often include school-specific info like:
- Which gym or cafeteria you need to report to.
- The exact time you need to be in your seat (usually 30 minutes before the official start).
- What you can and can’t bring (looking at you, mechanical pencils).
Deadlines You’ll Probably Forget
It’s not just about the test dates. There are "soft" deadlines that can ruin your life if you miss them.
- Digital Portfolios: For AP Art and Design, AP Seminar, and AP Computer Science Principles, your digital components usually have a late April or early May deadline. If you wait until the morning of your written exam to upload your performance task, you’re playing a dangerous game with the server crashing.
- The Fee Deadline: Most schools require payment way before May. If you haven't paid by now, you might already be looking at a late fee. Check with your AP Coordinator tomorrow. No joke.
Navigating Conflict and Late Testing
Life happens. Maybe you have two exams scheduled for the exact same time (it happens more often than you'd think). Or maybe you get the flu. This is where the Late-Testing Schedule comes in.
The late-testing dates for 2025 are May 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23. You can't just decide to show up late because you wanted to sleep in. You need a valid reason, like a school-sanctioned athletic event, a conflict with another AP exam, or a medical emergency. Some reasons are free; others might cost you an extra fee depending on the circumstances. If you see a conflict on your 2025 ap exam schedule pdf, talk to your coordinator immediately. They have to order special "Form I" exams for late testers.
Strategic Prep Based on the Calendar
Knowing the schedule allows for "backward mapping." If your AP Calc exam is May 12, you shouldn't be starting your final review on May 10.
Most successful students use a "3-2-1" strategy. Three weeks out, you do a full-length practice test to find your gaps. Two weeks out, you drill your weakest units. One week out, you focus on timing and "cheat sheets" (the stuff you need to memorize right before walking in).
If your exams are all in Week 1, your spring break is going to be a study-fest. If your exams are in Week 2, you have a little more luxury to pace yourself, but don't fall into the trap of "I have plenty of time" and then wasting it on TikTok.
Essential Items to Carry (Besides Your Schedule)
When you finally walk into that room, the PDF on your phone won't help you because your phone will be in a plastic bag under your desk. You need the physical basics:
- Two No. 2 Pencils: Not mechanical. The scanners hate them.
- Pens: Black or dark blue ink for the free-response sections.
- Calculator: Check the official list to make sure your TI-84 or whatever you use is actually allowed for your specific test. Some tests (like Chemistry) have very specific rules.
- A Watch: A non-smartwatch. If it beeps or connects to the internet, it’s gone. Being able to track your own time is a huge psychological advantage.
The 2025 season is going to be a whirlwind. Whether you're aiming for a 5 to get out of freshman comp or just trying to pass so your parents stop hovering, having the schedule burned into your brain—or at least saved as a PDF—is the first step toward not losing your mind.
Actionable Next Steps
- Download and Print: Don't just keep the 2025 ap exam schedule pdf on your phone. Print a physical copy and tape it to your desk or inside your planner.
- Verify Your Locations: Ask your AP coordinator exactly which room you'll be in for each test. Testing in a familiar classroom is a lot different than testing in a giant, echoing gymnasium.
- Sync Your Calendar: Put the dates into your Google Calendar or iCal right now with 24-hour reminders.
- Check Your ID: Make sure you have a valid school or government-issued ID ready. You don't want to be hunting for your passport ten minutes before AP Gov starts.