Can You Take an AP Exam Without Taking the Class?

Can you take an AP exam without taking the class? Some students don’t end up taking a traditional AP course through their high school but still want to demonstrate their expertise to colleges by taking the test.

Taking the exam without the class may make sense if any of the following situations apply to you:

• You are home-schooled.
• Your school does not offer the course, but you have a high-level understanding of the content.
• You have taken courses in the subject through a dual-credit program or test prep courses, like those offered by The Princeton Review.

In many cases, it is possible to take the test at the nearest high school that offers the courses. College Board posts an AP Course Ledger, allowing you to search for all schools that are officially registered as offering AP courses. Once you find a school nearby, you will want to contact the AP Coordinator at that school. The AP Coordinator will know if the school is allowing outside students to take the exam and provide instructions on how to do so, and they will take over ordering the exam and collecting any fees if you are approved.

It is best to reach out to the school as soon as possible, as schools have to order AP tests by November 15th, and. some schools have deadlines prior to this date. Schools can technically add students after this date at their own discretion, but they must pay a late fee.

If you are attempting to study for the test without taking an official course, the best place to start is the College Board website for your specific subject. Every test page has a Course and Exam Description, which outlines the content that is covered, provides logistical information about timing and question types, and offers some sample questions.

The College Board website also offers free-response sections from previous administrations of its tests, including sample responses and scoring guidelines, which are a great resource! You can also find sample materials from test-prep providers, although you’ll want to make sure you’re using up-to-date materials for the exam you plan to take.

The Princeton Review offers a great variety of test preparation courses and books if you want up-to-date information and a way to prepare for the test without taking the class in school.

You CAN take the AP test without taking the class as long as you’re willing to put in the time to master the content on your own!