Written By Grace Patrice
How Long Do AP Tests Take?
Taking AP exams is stressful enough so here is an easy guide to clarify how long each AP test takes as well as to go over the structure and factors that go into how long the exam actually takes.
About the AP Exam
AP tests are college-level exams, scored on a scale from 1 to 5, that test specific subject areas after the completion of an AP level course taken at a student’s high school. Most selective colleges look at AP scores in order to judge student’s applications as well as give students college credit depending on how they score on the exam. SoFlo Tutors can help you crush your AP exams!
Each exam is split into two sections—multiple choice and essay questions—but the number of questions varies depending on the subject area. Some tests, like history, have short essay questions and most language exams contain a speaking and listening components.
How Long Are AP Tests?
The table below contains information about how each test is broken up, the number of questions in each section, as well as how long students have to complete each section. It is important to note that structure may vary depending on if the test is performed on paper or digitally. The table includes information about tests taken on paper but details about the digital versions can be found on AP Central.
| Subject | Number of Questions | Minutes to Complete |
| Arts | ||
| AP Art History | 80 multiple choice questions 6 free response questions | 60 minutes 120 minutes |
| AP Music Theory | 75 multiple choice questions 7 free response questions | ~80 minutes ~70 minutes |
| English | ||
| AP English Language and Composition | 45 multiple choice questions 3 free response questions | 60 minutes 135 minutes (includes 15-minute reading period) |
| AP English Literature and Composition | 55 multiple choice questions 3 free response questions | 60 minutes 120 minutes |
| History & Social Studies | ||
| AP Comparative Government and Politics | 55 multiple choice questions 4 free response questions | 60 minutes 90 minutes |
| AP European History* | 55 multiple choice questions 3 short answer 3 document-based question and short-answer questions | 55 minutes 40 minutes 100 minutes |
| AP Human Geography | 60 multiple choice questions 3 free response questions | 60 minutes 75 minutes |
| AP Macroeconomics | 60 multiple choice questions 3 free response questions | 60 minutes 60 minutes (includes 10-minute reading period) |
| AP Microeconomics | 60 multiple choice questions 3 free response questions | 70 minutes 60 minutes (includes 10-minute reading period) |
| AP Psychology | 100 multiple choice questions 3 free response questions | 70 minutes 50 minutes |
| AP United States Government and Politics | 55 multiple choice 4 free response questions | 80 minutes 100 minutes |
| AP United States History* | 55 multiple choice questions 3 short answer 3 document-based question and short-answer questions | 55 minutes 40 minutes 100 minutes |
| AP World History: Modern* | 55 multiple choice questions 3 short answer 3 document-based question and short-answer questions | 55 minutes 40 minutes 100 minutes |
| Math | ||
| AP Calculus AB | 45 multiple choice questions 6 free response questions | 105 minutes 90 minutes |
| AP Calculus BC | 45 multiple choice questions 6 free response questions | 105 minutes 90 minutes |
| AP Computer Science A | 40 multiple choice questions 4 free response questions | 90 minutes 90 minutes |
| AP Computer Science Principles | 70 multiple choice questions Create Performance Task | 70 minutes 12 hours of in class-time required to complete |
| AP Statistics** | 40 multiple choice questions 11 multiple choice questions & 4 free response questions | 90 minutes 25 minutes 65 minutes |
| Sciences | ||
| AP Biology | 60 multiple choice questions 6 free response questions | 90 minutes 90 minutes |
| AP Chemistry** | 60 multiple choice questions 40 multiple choice questions & 3 free response questions | 90 minutes 60 minutes 45 minutes |
| AP Environmental Science | 80 multiple choice questions 3 free response questions | 90 minutes 70 minutes |
| AP Physics 1** | 50 multiple choice questions 25 multiple choice questions & 2 free response questions | 90 minutes 45 minutes 45 minutes |
| AP Physics 2** | 50 multiple choice questions 25 multiple choice questions & 2 free response questions | 90 minutes 45 minutes 45 minutes |
| AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism*** | 35 multiple choice 35 multiple choice | 45 minutes 45 minutes |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics*** | 35 multiple choice 35 multiple choice | 45 minutes 45 minutes |
| World Languages & Cultures | ||
| AP Chinese Language and Culture | 25-35 multiple choice listening 30-40 questions multiple choice reading 2 free response written 2 free response spoken | 20 minutes 60 minutes 30 minutes 10 minutes |
| AP French Language and Culture | 30 multiple choice 35 multiple choice with audio 2 free response written 2 free response spoken | 40 minutes 55 minutes 70 minutes 18 minutes |
| AP German Language and Culture | 30 multiple choice 35 multiple choice with audio 2 free response written 2 free response spoken | 40 minutes 55 minutes 70 minutes 18 minutes |
| AP Italian Language and Culture | 30 multiple choice 35 multiple choice with audio 2 free response written 2 free response spoken | 40 minutes 55 minutes 70 minutes 18 minutes |
| AP Japanese Language and Culture | 30-35 multiple choice listening 30-40 questions multiple choice reading 2 free response written 2 free response spoken | 20 minutes 60 minutes 30 minutes 10 minutes |
| AP Latin | 50 multiple choice 5 free response | 60 minutes 120 minutes including 15-minute reading period |
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | 30 multiple choice 35 multiple choice with audio 2 free response written 2 free response spoken | 40 minutes 55 minutes 70 minutes 18 minutes |
| AP Spanish Literature and Culture | 15 multiple choice with audio 50 multiple choice 4 free response | 20 minutes 60 minutes 100 minutes |
*format for tests taken mid-May on, eliminates Long Essay
**format for tests taken early June
***early June exam digital format
Exam Schedule 2021
Because coronavirus prevents large groups of students from congregating for test-taking in person, CollegeBoard has created several options to support students and give alternatives for test-taking. These options take the form of three test administrations for each subject between early May and mid-June:
- Administration 1:
- Dates: May 3-7, 10-12, 14 and 23
- Format: traditional, full length paper test given in schools
- Administration 2:
- Dates: May 18-21, 24-28
- Format: half of the subjects are paper tests given in schools and the other half are full-length digital exams given in school or taken at home due to covid precautions
- Administration 3:
- Dates: June 1-4, 7-11
- Format: most subjects are full-length digital exams given in school or taken at home due to covid precautions
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