Advanced Placement (AP)

WEST AP Exam Information for May 2026 AP Exams

You are receiving this letter because you have enrolled in one or more Advanced Placement courses at Normal West High School for the 2025–2026 school year. This letter provides essential information regarding West's AP courses, AP registration, and the May 2026 AP exams. Please read all the details and accompanying documents thoroughly.

AP Exam Information

• AP exams are standardized assessments that evaluate how well students have mastered the content and skills of specific AP courses. These exams are administered worldwide every May.

• All AP exams are developed and scored by teams of AP teachers and college professors, using a scale from 1 to 5:

  • A score of 1 indicates “no recommendation” from the College Board for college credit or advanced placement.

  • A score of 5 suggests the student is “extremely well qualified” to receive college credit or advanced placement.

• Taking the AP exam is optional; the workload remains the same regardless of whether students choose to take the exam.

To familiarize yourself with your AP Exam format, please visit the About the Exam tab on your course page at https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/course-index-page.

Important Deadlines

• Full Year and 1st Semester AP Courses:

  • Registration for AP exams will be open from September 15 to November 7, 2025, at 3 PM (no late fee).

  • From November 7 at 3:01 PM to March 6, 2026, a $40 per exam late fee will apply for any tests ordered, in accordance with College Board policy.

• 2nd Semester Only AP Courses:

  • Students will have two opportunities to register: from September 15 to November 7 or from January 6 to March 6.

Registration (2 Steps to be completed to have AP exam ordered for you)

1. Total Registration:

   • Visit the Total Registration website to complete your registration and submit full payment: https://user.totalregistration.net/PSAT/143201.
      

2. AP Classroom:

   • Join the AP classroom for any exam you are taking, using the join code provided by your teacher (supplied after completing Step 1): https://myap.collegeboard.org/login.

Please note: This is separate from your class's Google Classroom.

AP Exam Cost

• $100 per exam for timely registration; a $40 late fee applies for registrations after the November 7, 2025 deadline (first semester class and year long classes) and March 6th, 2026 for 2nd semester classes. 

• Students eligible for Free/Reduced Lunch pay only $15 per exam; please mark the F/R question in Total Registration for this reduced fee. Only currently approved Free/Reduced Lunch students qualify for this discount.

AP Classroom

• AP Course Registration:

  • Students must join each of their AP classes at https://myap.collegeboard.org/login, with Join Codes provided by AP teachers at the start of the school year.

  • Joining the class through the AP website grants access to resources such as study guides, practice exams, and video tutorials.

  • Students can check exam registration details at any time by logging into their My AP accounts.

Reminders for Registration

• Account Information:

  • Keep your email and account information consistent. If you take the Pre-SAT, use the same login details. Avoid creating a new account each year.

  • If you forget your login information, use the "Forgot your password" or "Forgot your Username" options.

  • General questions can be directed to https://pages.collegeboard.org/account-help.

• Seniors:

  • Ensure that the email address on file is not your school email, as it expires after graduation. Update your contact information if necessary.

AP Exam Schedule

• AP Exams are scheduled from Monday, May 4, 2026, through Friday, May 15, 2026.

• Refer to the included schedule for specific dates and times of the AP Exams.

• Students registered for AP exams must take them on the designated date and time set by the College Board. Requests to reschedule exams cannot be accommodated.

• Testing locations and exam procedures will be provided during the spring semester. Note that some exams may extend before or after regular school hours, so plan accordingly for transportation and other commitments. No one will be admitted late or dismissed early.

AP Exam Policy for Late Testing

• In specific circumstances outlined by the College Board, students may be permitted to take late exams.

• Make-Up/Late Testing will not be available for unapproved reasons; therefore, students should plan ahead to avoid conflicts.

• To qualify for a late exam, official documentation must be submitted to the AP Coordinator. There is no additional cost for approved late exams. If no documentation is provided, late testing will not be allowed. Approved reasons for late testing include:

  • Athletic contest/event: Email from coach indicating the event's date and time.

  • Serious injury, illness, or family tragedy: Doctor’s note or emergency department (ER) note.

  • Two or more AP Exams scheduled at the same date and time: No documentation required, approved by AP Coordinator.

Cancellation Fees

• The College Board imposes a $40.00 cancellation fee for students who decide after Friday, November 15, 2025-May 1, 2026, that they no longer want to take their AP exams, including those who registered and later dropped the course. After May 1st, no student will receive a refund for cancelled tests. 

• Students dropping an AP course or canceling an AP exam must complete an opt-out form, requiring signatures from a parent/guardian, teacher(s), and the student.

  • Failure to complete the “AP Exam Opt-Out” form may result in an ordered exam for a student no longer enrolled in the course or wishing to take the exam.

• Any student who registers for an AP exam but fails to appear on the scheduled date will not be allowed to take a late exam and will incur a $40.00 cancellation fee for each AP exam.

AP Communication

Students are responsible for knowing their exam schedules, as this information will be communicated throughout the year. Regularly check your school email to stay updated on notifications and reminders.

College Credit & Placement from AP Exams

Students typically earn college credit or placement into honors or advanced courses with a score of 3 or higher on an AP Exam, depending on the specific exam and institution. Each college and university has its own policies regarding AP credit and placement. For more information, visit https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/getting-credit-placement and explore colleges that grant credit or placement based on AP Exam scores at https://collegeboard.org/apcreditpolicy.

• When will AP exam scores be available?

  • Scores will be accessible online at http://apscore.org in July 2026.

  • Students must log into their My AP account at http://myap.collegeboard.org to access their scores.

AP Exam Accommodations

Students with an IEP or 504 plan must be pre-approved by the College Board for accommodations such as extra time, breaks, sign language interpreters, and other support for the upcoming Advanced Placement Program exams in May 2026.

• To learn about permitted accommodations and for additional information, please visit https://accommodations.collegeboard.org.

• Note that submitting an application does not guarantee access to accommodations; the College Board makes the final determination regarding requests.

We wish you the best of luck in your AP courses and exams!

Feel free to contact AP Coordinator and School Counselor, Ms. Bollmann, at bollmannb@unit5.org with any questions or concerns.

Week 1	Morning 8 a.m.	Afternoon 12 p.m.
Monday, May 4, 2026	Biology
Tuesday, May 5, 2026	Chemistry	United States Government and Politics
Wednesday, May 6, 2026	English Literature and Composition	Comparative Government and Politics
Thursday, May 7, 2026		Statistics
Art and Design: Friday, May 8, 2026 (8 p.m. ET), is the deadline for AP Art and Design students to submit their three portfolio components as final in the AP Digital Portfolio.
Week 2	Morning 8 a.m.	Afternoon 12 p.m.
Monday, May 11, 2026	Calculus AB Calculus BC	Music Theory
Tuesday, May 12, 2026	French Language and Culture	Psychology
Wednesday, May 13, 2026	English Language and Composition German Language and Culture	Physics C: Mechanics
Thursday, May 14, 2026	Spanish Language and Culture	Computer Science Principles Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
Friday, May 15, 2026		Computer Science A