AP Exam Registration 2026–27: The Nov. 13 Deadline, Fees and May 2027 Schedule
If your teen is taking an AP class this year, the date that matters this week is Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. That's the College Board's final deadline for schools to order AP Exams for full-year and fall courses, at 11:59 p.m. ET.[1] An exam costs $99 in the U.S. Order it after Nov. 13 and it costs $40 more.[2] The exams themselves run May 3–7 and May 10–14, 2027.[3]
Most families never see the ordering screen. The school does. But the decisions behind it are yours: which exams to take, which to skip, and whether the May calendar works for your child. This post covers the deadline, the fees, the full May 2027 schedule, and a simple way to decide.
- Nov. 13, 2026 is the final ordering deadline for full-year and fall-semester AP courses. Your child's school may close sign-ups earlier.
- An AP Exam costs $99 in the U.S. for 2026–27. Ordering late adds $40. Cancelling after Nov. 13 can cost $40 too.
- Eligible students can get $37 off each exam through the College Board fee reduction.
- Exams run May 3–14, 2027, at 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. local time. Late testing is May 17–21.
- Juniors: the May 1 SAT falls two days before AP week. Plan the SAT date and the AP calendar together.
What the Nov. 13 AP deadline means for your family
Students don't register for AP Exams on a College Board website. They register through their school.
Here's how it works. Each AP class has a join code. The teacher shares it at the start of the year, and your child uses it to join the class section online.[5] The school's AP coordinator then places the exam order. Nov. 13 is the coordinator's deadline, not yours.
That's why the date that actually binds your child is usually earlier. Many schools set their own cut-off, often in October, so they have time to check the order before it goes in. If your child hasn't confirmed which exams they're taking, ask the school counselor or AP coordinator today.
Three more things to know:
- Spring courses have a later deadline. Exams for courses that start after Nov. 13, such as second-semester classes, can be ordered until March 12, 2027, with no late fee.[2]
- Homeschooled and self-study students can test at a school that agrees to add them. Only the AP coordinator can create these "exam only" sections and give out the join code,[5] so contact a local high school well before the deadline.
- Payment usually isn't due now. Schools decide when to collect money from families. Payments go to the school, not to College Board.[2]
Key AP dates for 2026–27
These come from College Board's 2026–27 calendar for AP coordinators.[1]
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Oct. 2, 2026 | Preferred ordering deadline (passed) |
| Nov. 13, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET | Final ordering deadline for full-year and fall courses |
| Nov. 14, 2026 – Mar. 12, 2027 | Late orders allowed, with a $40 late fee per exam |
| Mar. 12, 2027, 11:59 p.m. ET | Deadline for spring-course orders and fall order changes |
| May 3–7 and May 10–14, 2027 | AP Exams |
| May 17–21, 2027 | Late testing |
| July 2027 | AP scores released (exact day not yet announced) |
How much AP Exams cost in 2026–27
College Board sets the fees below.[2] Your school collects them and may set its own payment dates.
| Fee | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee (U.S., U.S. territories, Canada) | $99 per exam | Every exam ordered on time |
| Exam fee (schools elsewhere) | $129 per exam | Schools outside the U.S. and Canada |
| Fee reduction | $37 off per exam | Students who qualify based on financial need |
| Late order fee | +$40 per exam | Exams ordered Nov. 14, 2026 to Mar. 12, 2027 |
| Unused or cancelled exam | $40 per exam | Exams cancelled after Nov. 13, or ordered but not taken |
| Late-testing fee | +$40 per exam | Only for some late-testing reasons; most carry no extra fee |
The late fee doesn't apply to spring courses or to students who transfer in after the deadline.[2] And for 2026–27 only, College Board waives the unused-exam fee for AP Business with Personal Finance and AP Cybersecurity.[2]
The cancellation fee is the one families miss. If your child is unsure about an exam, it's cheaper to decide before Nov. 13 than to order it "just in case" and drop it in April.
The full May 2027 AP Exam schedule
For schools in the lower 48 states, Hawaii and Washington, D.C., morning exams start at 8 a.m. local time and afternoon exams at 12 p.m.[3] Exams can't be taken early.
Week 1: May 3–7, 2027
| Day | Morning (8 a.m.) | Afternoon (12 p.m.) |
|---|---|---|
| Mon., May 3 | Human Geography; Physics C: Mechanics | Biology; Italian Language and Culture |
| Tue., May 4 | Business with Personal Finance; U.S. Government and Politics | European History; Microeconomics |
| Wed., May 5 | Cybersecurity; English Literature and Composition | Physics 1: Algebra-Based; Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism |
| Thu., May 6 | French Language and Culture; Physics 2: Algebra-Based; World History: Modern | African American Studies; Chemistry |
| Fri., May 7 | German Language and Culture; U.S. History | Macroeconomics; Networking (pilot schools only) |
Week 2: May 10–14, 2027
| Day | Morning (8 a.m.) | Afternoon (12 p.m.) |
|---|---|---|
| Mon., May 10 | Calculus AB; Calculus BC | Music Theory; Seminar |
| Tue., May 11 | Japanese Language and Culture; Precalculus | Statistics |
| Wed., May 12 | English Language and Composition | Art History; Computer Science A |
| Thu., May 13 | Spanish Language and Culture | Chinese Language and Culture; Environmental Science |
| Fri., May 14 | Comparative Government and Politics; Computer Science Principles; Spanish Literature and Culture | Latin; Psychology |
Source: College Board, 2027 AP Exam Dates.[3] Late testing runs May 17–21, 2027, using different versions of the exams.[4]
How to decide which AP Exams to take
Taking the AP class doesn't mean your child has to take the exam. Here's a short way to decide, based on what we see when we help families plan the spring. Take it as guidance, not a rule.
1. Check what the score is worth
AP Exams are scored from 1 to 5. Many colleges give credit or placement for a qualifying score, but the rules differ by college and by subject. Look up two or three colleges on your child's list with College Board's AP Credit Policy Search.[7] If none of them give credit for a subject, the exam may still be worth taking as proof of strength, but the case is weaker.
2. Be honest about how the class is going
A student with a solid grade and good unit test scores in November is usually on track. A student who is struggling now can still get there, but only with steady review from the winter on, not a cram in April. Our AP exam prep timeline shows what that looks like month by month.
3. Map the exams onto the calendar
Find your child's exams in the tables above. Two exams on the same day, or three in four days, change how the spring review should be spread out. A common science-and-math load (Biology, Chemistry and Calculus BC) means Monday afternoon, Thursday afternoon, then Monday morning of the next week.
If two exams fall in the same slot, tell the AP coordinator now. Late testing is arranged by the coordinator, not the student, and College Board says most reasons for late testing carry no extra fee.[6]
4. Juniors: plan the SAT and AP calendar together
The May SAT is on Saturday, May 1, 2027, two days before AP week starts.[8] For a junior with three or four AP Exams, that's a heavy stretch. Two cleaner options are the March 6 SAT (register by Feb. 19) or the June 5 SAT (register by May 21), after AP Exams are done. See every date on our SAT test dates page, and our guide to SAT vs. ACT if your child hasn't picked a test yet.
What to do this week
- Ask your child which AP Exams they've signed up for. Check that it matches what they actually want to take.
- Find your school's own deadline. It's on the school's AP page or with the counselor, and it may already be close.
- Drop "maybe" exams now. Cancelling before Nov. 13 is free. After that, it costs $40.
- Ask about the fee reduction if cost is a concern. It takes $37 off each exam for eligible students.
- Write the exam days on the family calendar, along with the SAT date your junior is aiming for.
Questions parents ask about AP Exam registration
When is the AP Exam registration deadline for 2026–27?
Schools must submit AP Exam orders by 11:59 p.m. ET on Nov. 13, 2026, for full-year and fall-semester courses. Spring courses have until March 12, 2027. Your child's school may set an earlier deadline for students.
How much does an AP Exam cost in 2027?
The fee is $99 per exam at schools in the U.S., U.S. territories and Canada, and $129 elsewhere. Students who qualify for the College Board fee reduction get $37 off each exam.
Can my child still sign up for an AP Exam after Nov. 13?
Yes. Schools can order exams until March 12, 2027, but each late order adds a $40 fee. Exams for spring courses and for students who transfer in later don't get the late fee.
What happens if my child cancels an AP Exam?
Changes made by Nov. 13, 2026 are free. An exam cancelled after that, or ordered but not taken, carries a $40 fee. For 2026–27, College Board waives this fee for AP Business with Personal Finance and AP Cybersecurity.
When do 2027 AP scores come out?
College Board lists July 2027. The exact release day hasn't been announced yet.
Where MindzQ can help
MindzQ Education offers AP prep courses at our Fair Lawn, NJ center for AP Physics (1, 2 and C), AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Calculus AB and BC, and AP Statistics. We start by looking at where your child is in the course now, then build a review plan that fits around the rest of the school year, including the SAT if your child is a junior. Questions? Call us at (201) 270-8684 or send us a message.
Sources
- College Board, AP 2026-27 Key Dates and Deadlines
- College Board, AP Exam Fees
- College Board, 2027 AP Exam Dates
- College Board, 2027 AP Late-Testing Dates
- College Board, Creating AP Class Sections and Exam Only Sections
- College Board, AP Exam Late-Testing Policies and Ordering
- College Board, AP Credit Policy Search
- College Board, SAT Dates and Deadlines
