May 2025 Digital AP Exam Format
The College Board is launching a significant shift for May 2025 AP exams. Sixteen AP exams will be fully digital, while twelve will follow a hybrid format with both digital and paper sections. At Presidio Education®, we’re already helping students adapt with updated training methods that target these changes directly.
Understanding the Digital Format and Internet Requirements
College Board has addressed common technical concerns. Students only need to be connected to the internet at the start and end of their exam. If the connection drops during the test, all answers are still saved and encrypted locally. Students will have four days to reconnect and submit their responses.
This offers students and schools a sense of stability, but it also reinforces the need to train for exam conditions early—especially in environments where internet reliability varies.
Mastering the New Digital FRQ Expectations
Though the overall exam structure remains unchanged, the digital format introduces new performance challenges, particularly for free-response questions (FRQs). Students must now type their responses without access to:
Spell-check
Copy/paste
Predictive text
To prepare effectively, students should:
Build typing speed and fluency
Practice proofreading without digital aids
Strengthen essay structure and clarity under time pressure
At Presidio Education®, our English Writing programs now include guided digital writing practice specifically designed for AP-style essays.
Navigating the Digital Exam Interface
Students will have helpful tools like highlighting, annotations, answer elimination, and the ability to mark questions for review—within a single section only. Once a section is submitted, answers cannot be changed.
We help students simulate these testing environments through custom tutoring sessions that focus on digital time management and section-specific review strategies.
Which AP Exams Will Be Fully Digital?
The majority of the fully digital AP exams are writing-focused. These include:
AP African American Studies (American schools only)
AP Art History
AP Computer Science A
AP Computer Science Principles
AP Latin
Hybrid Format Exams with Paper Components
Exams that involve graphs, calculations, or symbolic notation will still have paper-based free-response sections. Students will read prompts on the digital Bluebook platform but write their answers by hand—just like traditional AP exams.
These include:
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based
AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
AP Physics C: Mechanics
AP Precalculus
Students should continue using printed reference materials and formula sheets during practice.
Foreign Language Exams: No Change for 2025
Most foreign language AP exams will remain in their current format with audio and speaking components. These include:
AP French Language and Culture
AP German Language and Culture
AP Italian Language and Culture
AP Japanese Language and Culture
AP Spanish Language and Culture
AP Spanish Literature and Culture
Begin Training Early
Typing multiple-choice responses will be relatively straightforward, but typing well-organized, high-quality essays without writing tools will be the biggest adjustment. Students must begin building “digital writing stamina” now.
We encourage students to begin training early through our customized AP prep courses and one-on-one coaching. Learn more on our AP Test page, or explore personalized support through our Educational Consultation service.
Secure Your Spot
Ready to prepare with confidence? Our updated AP courses are open for registration. View class options and secure your seat through our Registration Page.
