Registration for Advanced Placement (AP) exams are now open for Upper School students. Read this message thoroughly for information about the exams, their role in the college admissions process, exam fees, deadlines, how to register, and cancellation fees. While AP exams are open to all Upper School students, 9th graders are rarely prepared for these tests.

What are AP exams? When do they occur?

Each spring, the College Board administers AP Exams. Ten exams are offered on-campus over a two-week period from May 4 - May 15, 2026; the schedule is below and also on the Lakeside Calendar. These exams give students the chance to demonstrate college-level understanding of particular subjects. Strong scores might help students place into a higher course or earn credit in college, but this varies by college.

Digital and Hybrid exams

Starting in May 2025, standard paper testing was discontinued for multiple AP exams and exams moved to the Bluebook digital testing application consisting of either a fully digital or hybrid exam experience.

For fully digital exams, students complete multiple-choice and free-response questions in Bluebook, with all responses automatically submitted at the end of the exam.  

For hybrid exams, students complete multiple-choice questions and view free-response questions in Bluebook. They handwrite their free-response answers in paper exam booklets that are returned for scoring.

You can find the format of the AP Exams offered at Lakeside in the "Schedule" table toward the end of this email. 

To learn more about Digital and Hybrid testing, watch the following videos from College Board: Fully Digital Exams; Hybrid Exams.

Do AP tests play a role in the college admissions process?

AP scores are not required for admissions by any U.S. colleges. If students earn strong AP exam scores, they may submit them as part of their application, but because Lakeside does not follow the AP curriculum, colleges do not weigh them heavily. The transcript (course selection and grades earned) is more important than exam scores. Therefore, if the student plans to study for an AP exam(s), it should not be at the expense of school work. (Note: Some international universities, particularly those in the U.K., may require AP exam results.)

How do students decide whether to take exams -- and which ones?

Lakeside offers exams in subject areas with significant content overlap between Lakeside classes and the AP curriculum (see list below). To learn which classes prepare students for exams, review the chart below.

The decision to take AP exams should be made by the student and their parent(s) or guardian(s) after the student has consulted their teacher and advisor. Teachers can explain how much students will need to prepare; some tests require significant preparation beyond the regular class requirements. 

Because of changes to the physics curriculum, we will not be offering the AP Physics C: Mechanics exam this year. 

What if a student wants to take an AP exam that Lakeside doesn’t offer?

The student should contact other local schools to see if they can test there (see the College Board website for more information). Some schools welcome outside students to their campuses for AP Exams. However, absences for AP exams at other schools are not excused absences. 

If a student is considering a test offered at another school, they should begin reaching out to those school ASAP, as many have a hard deadline of Nov. 14 or earlier. If you live in the Seattle Public School district, click here to learn more about registering for AP Exams at an SPS school; they have an Oct. 17 deadline!

How much does it cost to take AP exams? When is the deadline to register?

Registration Deadlines and Fees:

• AP Exam registration on or before Friday, Nov. 14, 2025: $130 per exam 
• AP Exam registration between Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, and Friday, Mar. 13, 2026: $170 per exam
• Cancellations after Nov. 14, 2025 and up until 24 hours before the exam will pay $45 per exam instead of the full exam fee.
• Cancellations within 24 hours of an exam, or missing the exam without canceling, will result in the student being charged the full exam fee.
• NO REGISTRATIONS AFTER MARCH 13, 2026 WILL BE ACCEPTED.

The cost of each AP exam will be billed to the student’s account in late May 2026; financial aid will apply to those who currently receive aid. 

How do students register for AP Exams?:

Students will self-register on the College Board Website. 

1. Sign in to myap.collegeboard.org using the student’s College Board account login. This is the same login for receiving PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, and prior AP scores. If you need to create an account, click the “Sign Up” link.
2. Click the “Join a Course or Exam” button.
3. Enter the appropriate join code (found below) and click Submit.
4. Make sure the information that comes up is for the correct course. If correct, click “yes.”

Because of changes to the physics curriculum, we will not be offering the AP Physics C: Mechanics exam this year. 

If you have eligible accommodations with the College Board, contact your case manager and/or Ms. Aktepy if you have questions about AP testing with accommodations. 

How can a student cancel their exam?

Students can cancel their registration by emailing Ms. Aktepy (info@lakesideschool.site).

Questions?

If you have questions about how to register for AP exams, fees, and deadlines, please contact Ms. Aktepy (info@lakesideschool.site). All other questions should be directed to the student’s advisor or teacher.