What Students Should and Should Not Bring to the Exam Room

It’s important that students bring only the items permitted in the exam room. A student observed with any of the prohibited items during testing or breaks may be dismissed from the exam, the device may be confiscated, the student’s score may be canceled, and no retest may be permitted. [AP Coordinator's Manual]

Bring to the exam room

• Two sharpened No. 2 pencils (with erasers) for completing multiple-choice answer sheets.
• Two pens with black or dark blue ink only, for completing areas on the exam booklet covers and for free-response questions in most exams.
• A watch (in case the exam room doesn’t have a clock that can be easily seen).
• Up to two calculators with the necessary capabilities if taking an AP Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics, or Statistics Exam. Instruct students to visit AP Student Courses and click on the link for their course for the specific calculator policy.
• A ruler or straightedge if taking an AP Physics Exam.
• A government-issued or school-issued photo ID if they do not attend the school where they are taking the exam.
• Their College Board SSD Eligibility Letter if they are taking an exam with approved testing accommodations.
• Snacks are allowed but may only be consumed during the designated break which is supervised and outside of the exam room.

[AP Coordinator's Manual]

Do NOT bring to the exam room**

• Electronic equipment of any kind: phones, smartwatches, or wearable technology of any kind, laptops, tablet computers, Bluetooth devices, portable listening or recording devices—MP3 player, iPod, etc.—cameras or other photographic equipment, devices that can access the internet, separate timers of any type, and any other electronic or communication devices.
  • NOTE: School-owned and -controlled recording devices that meet AP Program criteria are allowed only for the AP French, German, Italian, and Spanish Language and Culture Exams and the AP Music Theory Exam.
• Books, compasses, correction fluid, dictionaries, highlighters, or notes.
• Mechanical pencils, No. 3 pencils, or colored pencils.
• Rulers or straightedges (these are allowed only for Physics exams).
• Protractors.
• Scratch paper (notes can be made on portions of the exam booklets or, for Chinese Language and Culture and Japanese Language and Culture, on scratch paper provided by the proctor).  Computers or calculators (except as previously noted).
• Reference guides, keyboard maps, or other typing instructions.
• Watches that beep or have an alarm.
• Food or drink may be consumed only during the designated break which is supervised and outside of the exam room.
• Clothing or shoes with subject-related information.
• Ear plugs.
• Clipboards.

**Unless an item has been preapproved as an accommodation by the College Board Services for Students with Disabilities office before the exam date.

[AP Coordinator's Manual]