What Happens If I Miss an AP Exam?

Missing an AP exam can feel like a disaster. You've spent months preparing, your schedule was set, and now you can't make it to the test centre on exam day.

Has all your hard work gone to waste? Will you lose your exam fee? Will this hurt your chances of getting into college? These questions matter, and the uncertainty can be overwhelming.

Thankfully, missing an AP exam doesn't have to derail your academic plans. In most cases, there are options available - particularly if you have a valid reason for your absence. This article will walk you through exactly what happens when you miss an AP exam, whether you qualify for Late Testing, and what steps you can take to minimise the impact.

Key Takeaways

• You can’t retake an AP exam during the same testing year, but you may qualify for Late Testing if you have a valid reason for missing the original date.

• Late Testing takes place 1-2 weeks after the regular exam administration and must be arranged through your school's AP coordinator.

• Missing an AP exam without a valid reason typically means no makeup opportunity and no refund, but it won't destroy your college application.

Can You Retake an AP Exam If You Miss It?

Not in the same year. According to College Board (opens in a new tab), AP exams are only administered once per year. If you miss your scheduled exam date, you won't be able to simply retake it a week or two later if you don’t have a valid reason for missing it.

However, there is an official makeup option called Late Testing. This is your only chance to take the exam during the current testing year if you miss your original date. If you don't qualify for Late Testing, you'll need to wait until the following year to take the exam again, as there are no other makeup opportunities within the same testing cycle.

What Is Late Testing for AP Exams?

Late Testing is College Board's official makeup testing window for students who cannot take their AP exam on the originally scheduled date.

Late Testing exams are administered during the third week of May, typically 1-2 weeks after the regular exam period ends.

Here's what you need to know about how Late Testing works:

• Alternate exam versions are used. To preserve exam security, College Board uses alternate versions of the exams for late testing. This means you'll take a different (but equivalent) version of the test than students who took it during the regular administration.

• Your AP coordinator arranges it. You cannot sign yourself up for Late Testing directly through College Board. AP coordinators are responsible for notifying students when and where to report for the exams.

• Timing is standardised. Schools must begin the morning exam administration between 8 and 9 a.m. local time and the afternoon exam administration between 12 and 1 p.m. local time.

• All students at your school take the alternate exam together. All students who participate in late testing at a given school must take these alternate exams on the scheduled late-testing dates at the scheduled times.

Late Testing is not available on-demand or at your convenience. It happens on specific dates set by College Board, and you must have a valid reason to qualify.

Valid Reasons for Missing an AP Exam

You might be wondering: What happens if I miss an AP exam, but have a valid reason? According to College Board, the following circumstances qualify for Late Testing without incurring an additional fee:

• Illness or injury: Serious illness or injury that prevents you from taking the exam. Documentation may be required.

• Emergency situations: Family tragedy, bomb scare, fire alarm, natural disaster, or school closing due to emergency.

• Exam schedule conflicts: Having two or more AP exams scheduled at the same date and time, or conflicts with IB, Cambridge exams, or nationally/state-mandated tests.

• Religious observance: Religious or holiday observance that falls on your exam date.

• Academic or athletic events: Academic contests, athletic contests, or school-related events that your school has approved.

• Accommodation issues: Disabilities accommodations problems or digital testing logistics issues.

• Other approved circumstances: 

  • Student court appearance

  • High school graduation

  • Language lab scheduling conflict

  • Strike/labour conflict

  • Delayed shipment

Your AP coordinator makes the final decision about whether your situation qualifies. They will assess your circumstances against College Board's guidelines (opens in a new tab) and your school's policies.

What If You Miss the Exam Without a Valid Reason?

If you miss your AP exam for a reason that doesn't qualify for Late Testing, the situation becomes more difficult.

Here's what typically happens:

You won't be allowed to take the late test. If your reason doesn't meet College Board's criteria as detailed in the section above, your AP coordinator will not approve Late Testing. Common reasons that don't qualify include:

• Oversleeping

• Family vacations

• Forgetting the exam date

You won't receive a score. Without taking the exam, you won't get an AP score for that subject this year.

Refunds are unlikely. When the late testing is beyond the control of both school and student, there's no additional fee, but some reasons may incur an additional $40 per exam late-testing fee. If you simply don't show up without a valid excuse, your school may not offer any refund at all.

It's not the end of your academic journey. This is important to remember: one missed AP exam does not ruin your college prospects. Colleges evaluate your full academic record, including your:

• Coursework

• Grades

• Extracurricular activities

• Essays 

The disappointment is real, but it's manageable. Focus on what you can control moving forward.

How to Request Late Testing

If you know in advance that you'll miss your AP exam, or if an emergency occurs on exam day, follow these steps immediately:

Step 1: Contact your AP coordinator as soon as possible 

Time is critical. As soon as you realise you have a conflict with the exam, get in touch with your school's AP coordinator to discuss AP late testing. Don't wait. Coordinators need time to process your request and order the appropriate exam.

Step 2: Explain your situation honestly and provide documentation 

Be clear about why you cannot take the exam on the scheduled date. Provide documentation, such as a:

• Doctor's note

• Court summons

• Proof of a conflicting exam

This strengthens your case.

Step 3: Wait for confirmation of eligibility 

Your coordinator will review your request and determine whether you qualify for Late Testing based on College Board guidelines and school policies. They'll let you know the decision and, if approved, when and where you'll take the makeup exam.

Step 4: Prepare for the Late Testing date 

Once approved, show up to the assigned Late Testing session at the scheduled time. The exam will be a different version than the regular administration, but it's equivalent in difficulty.

How Missing an AP Exam Affects College Admissions

This is often the biggest worry students have when they miss an AP exam: "Will this hurt my college application?"

The short answer is: it depends. Here's the reality about AP scores and college admissions:

AP scores are typically not required for admission. For example, at Bucknell University (opens in a new tab), admissions requirements focus on adequate preparation in high school. AP scores provide credit only. Students can choose to self-report some, all, or none of their AP scores on their applications. Read our full breakdown of how AP exams are scored for more details.

However, they come in handy to help you stand out when applying for competitive courses at elite universities. Plus, you can earn college credit if you take the exam. This means you could skip some introductory courses, and start at a more advanced level when you start university. Read our comprehensive overview of AP credit to get up to speed.

If you miss the exam, you won’t receive college credit. However, you still have AP coursework to demonstrate your academic rigour. Vanderbilt (opens in a new tab), for example, states that they ”will consider an applicant’s academic record, including rigor of coursework.”

Can You Get a Refund for a Missed AP Exam?

Refund policies for missed AP exams can be complicated and vary significantly by school. Here's what you need to know about refunds:

College Board charges a fee for unused exams

College Board charges an unused/cancelled exam fee of $40 per exam for: 

• Exams cancelled after the November ordering deadline

• Exams cancelled by the March spring orders deadline

• Exams that aren't taken and are indicated as unused

Schools set their own refund policies

Individual schools determine how much of the exam fee you can get back if you miss an exam. The amount varies significantly depending on when you cancel and your school's specific policies.

No-shows generally don't qualify for refunds

If you simply don't show up on exam day without prior arrangement, you likely won't receive any refund at all.

Documentation helps your case. If you miss an exam due to a valid reason (illness, emergency, etc.) and provide appropriate documentation, your school may be more flexible with refund policies.

What to Do If You Can't Take the Exam at All

If you're not eligible for Late Testing and won't be taking the exam this year, don't panic. There are still productive steps you can take:

• Consider taking the exam next year. You may repeat an AP exam in a subsequent year. If the subject is particularly important for your intended major or college credit goals, you can register to take the exam during the next testing cycle.

• Highlight your AP-level coursework on applications. Even without an exam score, the fact that you took an AP course demonstrates academic rigour. This is valuable on its own and shows colleges you challenged yourself with college-level material.

• Demonstrate your knowledge in other ways. If you're concerned about showing mastery in a particular subject, look for other opportunities: 

  • Participate in related extracurricular activities

  • Pursue relevant projects

  • Take additional coursework in that area

• Keep perspective. One missed AP exam is a setback, not a failure. Your academic journey is much bigger than a single test. Focus on the aspects of your education you can control and continue building a strong overall record.

The key is to move forward constructively rather than dwelling on what you can't change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will missing the exam hurt my college application?

Missing one AP exam is unlikely to significantly impact your college application, but will harm your chances of securing college credit. Most colleges don't require AP scores for admission, and students can choose whether to report them. 

Can I take the AP exam next year?

Yes. AP exams are only given once a year, but you may repeat an exam in a subsequent year. If you missed an exam this year, you can register to take it again during the next May testing cycle.

Who decides if I get Late Testing — College Board or my school?

Your school's AP coordinator makes the final decision about Late Testing eligibility, though they follow College Board's guidelines.

College Board sets the overall rules, but your coordinator interprets and applies those rules to your specific situation.

Ace Your APs with Save My Exams

Missing an AP exam can feel devastating in the moment, especially after months of hard work and preparation. But, it’s not the end of your academic journey. With evidence, you could secure Late Testing. Even if you don’t have a valid reason, you can retake the test in the following year’s AP exam cycle.

If you’re in the throes of studying for your AP exams now, be sure to head over to Save My Exams’ teacher-written AP revision resources to pinpoint exactly what to revise, help you identify your weak points, and show you how to improve. Join over 2 million students and teachers using Save My Exams to master what matters, and boost your AP grades today.

And, be sure to explore our AP Exams Step-by-Step Strategy for Success today.

References

College Board - Can I sign up to retake an AP Exam? (opens in a new tab)

College Board - AP Late Testing (opens in a new tab)

College Board - FAQ Late Testing (opens in a new tab)

Bucknell University - Undergraduate Admissions (opens in a new tab)

Vanderbilt - Undergraduate Admissions (opens in a new tab)