Can I take the AP Exam if I haven't taken an AP course?
Yes. Because the College Board is committed to providing access to the AP Exams to homeschooled students and students whose schools do not offer AP it does not require students to take an AP course prior to taking an AP Exam.
The College Board urges students to study the kinds of skills and subjects outlined in the Course Description for each subject, because they represent the basis for the AP Exam. The best way to do so is in a year-long AP course in which the students and teachers focus on AP-level work. Some students, however, have taken strong courses and/or have studied in depth on their own. These students may be able to perform quite well on the AP Exam.
I want to take an AP Exam and I have a disability. Can I make any testing arrangements to accommodate my disability?
If you have a documented disability, you may be eligible for accommodations on AP Exams. To find out more, visit Services for Students with Disabilities or contact your school's AP Coordinator.
If I don't get a good score on an AP Exam, will it hurt my chances for college admission?
If you take an AP Exam as a senior, colleges will not receive your score before July–probably well after you have been admitted. If you choose to report AP scores from before your senior year, you will primarily be telling the colleges that you undertook a difficult course and that you are serious about your studies. Overall, nearly 60 percent of all AP test takers receive AP scores of at least 3. This score is regarded as an indicator of an ability to do successful work at most colleges.
How many times can I repeat an AP Exam?
You can take an AP Exam each time it is offered (AP Exams are offered once a year in May). Your score report will include your scores for all the AP Exams you have taken, including yearly "repeats" of the same subject exam. You have the option to withhold a score from a college or cancel the score altogether.