Retaking an AP exam: Is it possible and how?

Hi folks, I'm kinda stressed because I didn't do as well as I hoped on one of my AP exams last year. Is there a way to retake an AP exam, and if so, could someone give me the rundown on the process for this? Thanks a bunch!

Hi there! First off, it's completely okay to not do as well as you hoped on an AP exam. It happens to many students, and I'm glad you're looking into your options. Yes, you can retake an AP exam, but it comes with specific considerations. AP exams are only offered once a year in May, with a makeup period shortly after, which means you'd have to wait until the next May to retake it.

To retake the exam, you would register for it the same way you did the first time, which is usually through your high school. If your school does not offer that specific AP exam or if you're no longer a high school student, you can contact AP Services for Students to locate a testing site. Keep in mind that colleges mainly look at the highest score you receive, so a previous lower score won't hurt you.

However, before deciding to retake an AP exam, consider if it's worth your time and effort, especially if you're already a strong candidate for college admissions. A strong AP exam score certainly won't hurt, but ultimately the main thing the exam itself helps with is receiving college credit. Your overall performance in the class is more important, so if you are on track to get a good grade, retaking the exam may not be worth the energy. If you don't retake it, worst case scenario you won't be able to place into a higher level of that subject in college. Even (or perhaps especially) if it's an area you're passionate about, taking a lower level class up front will give you a stronger foundation, and overall won't negatively impact your graduation timeline.

If you want more advice on this topic, you can check out CollegeVine's blog post on retaking APs: https://blog.collegevine.com/can-you-retake-ap-exams-should-you. Whatever you decide, it's a personal choice that should align with your academic and college admissions goals. Good luck!