General Exam Information

What are AP Exams?

• • AP Exams are standardized exams designed to measure how well you’ve mastered the content and skills of a specific AP course.  If students want to take the AP exam for their course, they must register and order for the exam using the steps below.  Exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5.  

Should I take an AP Exam?

• • Most US colleges offer credit or advanced placement, or both, for qualifying AP scores (usually scores of a 3 or higher).

    • College credit means that you will walk into college with credits under your belt - before you even take your first class there.  This allows some students to graduate from college early because of the credits they earned in high school through AP, which saves them money in tuition.  

    • Advanced placement means that the college is recognizing that your AP scores demonstrate that you already know the material in certain courses they offer, so they’ll let you skip those courses. These could be introductory courses required in your major, or core courses that the college requires all its students to take. Letting you skip these courses (so you can go right into advanced courses) is called granting you advanced placement.  Some students use the advanced placement earned through AP to free up space in their schedule so they can pursue a double major or take part in an internship or other special program.

  • Use this tool to see what the colleges you are interested in offer for a qualifying score in the exam(s) you're taking.

  • Talk with your AP teacher to see if you are ready to take on the responsibility of registering for your AP exam.

Exam Deadlines and Fees

• • There is a fee to take AP exams (unless you qualify for Free Reduced Lunch - see below).  

  • All exams are paid for by students through the Total Registration website when you register for the exam(s).  

  • Deadlines and Fees:

    • October 7-31 = Regular Registration Window:  $40 per exam

    • November 1-7 = Late Registration Window 1:  $40 per exam + $10 late fee per exam

    • November 8-March 6 = Late Registration Window 2:  $40 per exam + $40 late fee per exam

    • No refunds will be given after November 7, 2025.

    • No registrations will be accepted after March 6, 2026.

• The AP Computer Science Principles exam is paid for by the state.  You register and order the exam and then $31 will be refunded to you after the exam has been taken in May.

Free/Reduced Lunch Status

• • Students who qualify for free/reduced lunch still need to register for their exams using the steps below, but there is no fee for the exam if ordered in the regular window. 

  • You are still responsible for any late fees if you order in the late windows.

  • If you order an exam and cancel after November 7 (either intentionally drop the exam or no-show on exam day), you are responsible for a $40 cancellation fee.

  • To apply for a free/reduced waiver for your AP exams, you will mark your free/reduced lunch status in Total Registration as “yes” and we will check and either approve or deny the request based on our school records.  

    • Note:  If your free/reduced request is denied, it could be because you have not completed a new free/reduced form for this school year, you can do that by going to: http://bit.ly/FCPSEBF

Exam Dates

• • AP Exams take place on set days at the end of the school year.  These dates are set nationally by The College Board and cannot be moved or changed.  Before committing to an exam, make sure the dates work for you.  The schedule is below.

Ordering an Exam

I am enrolled in an AP course and DO NOT WANT to take the exam.

You must indicate that you do not want an exam ordered in College Board (you will do nothing in Total Registration).

1️⃣  Indicate “no” in College Board

• Log into myap.collegeboard.org using your College Board login information.  If you have logged in before but forgot your username/password, use the forgot password links to reset your account.  We do not have access to your login information at the school level, so you may need to call 866-315-6068 to reset your account.  If you have never created a College Board account, you can create one.

• Click “No" for the exams for the courses you do not want to take

Dropping an AP Course or Exam After It’s Been Ordered

• • If you order an exam, then decide you no longer want to take it (either by choice or if you drop the class):

    • Email Meghan.Borough@fayette.kyschools.us to be taken off the exam roster

    • No exam refunds are issued past November 7

2025-26 Exam Schedule

All exams will take place at Frederick Douglass High School this year on the dates/times below.

Exam Day Reminders

Exam Attendance Policies