AP Biology tests the chemistry of life, cell structure and function, energetics, cell communication, heredity, gene expression, natural selection, and ecology over a 3 hour hybrid digital exam. Section I is multiple choice in the Bluebook testing app; Section II is handwritten free response in a paper booklet. The two sections are weighted equally, and the final composite is mapped to a score of 1 to 5. The 2026 administration is Monday, May 4, 2026 at 8:00 AM local time; official scores release in July 2026.
Section I: Multiple choice
60 questions · 90 minutes · 50% of composite
Sixty discrete and stimulus-based multiple-choice items in the Bluebook digital testing app. Each question has four answer choices with exactly one correct answer. No penalty for guessing: every blank is a lost point, so fill in an answer for every question.
- Discrete items test a single concept in isolation.
- Question sets share a stimulus (an experimental scenario, model, graph, or data table) across a few related questions.
- Roughly 1.5 minutes per question on average, but data-heavy sets often need more time than that suggests.
Section II: Free response
6 questions · 90 minutes · 50% of composite · 34 raw points
Six free-response questions handwritten in a paper booklet: 2 long questions worth 9 points each and 4 short questions worth 4 points each, for 34 raw points total. Trained readers score against published rubrics with partial credit available throughout.
- 2 long-answer FRQs (9 points each). The first is an interpreting-and-evaluating-experimental-results question; the second centers on analyzing a model or visual representation.
- 4 short-answer FRQs (4 points each). Focused questions covering conceptual analysis, data analysis, and quantitative reasoning.
- Skills tested across the set include experimental design, data analysis and statistics, interpreting models and visuals, and quantitative reasoning.
See the full FRQ guide for what each question type wants and the scoring patterns that show up every year.
Course and Exam Description
The CED is the authoritative document for what's on the exam: the eight units, topics, learning objectives, and science practices.
Download from AP Central ›
Released FRQs and scoring guides
Every past administration's free response questions with scoring guidelines and sample student responses.
AP Biology exam page ›
Bluebook testing app
The digital testing app used for the MCQ section. Practice with the app before exam day so the interface isn't a surprise.
College Board Bluebook ›
When is the 2026 AP Biology exam?
The 2026 AP Biology exam is scheduled for Monday, May 4, 2026 at 8:00 AM local time. Official scores release in July 2026 through your College Board account.
How long is the AP Biology exam?
Three hours total, plus a short break between sections. Section I (multiple choice) is 90 minutes. Section II (free response) is 90 minutes.
How is AP Biology scored?
Section I and Section II are each weighted at 50 percent of the composite. Multiple choice is 60 questions and free response is 34 raw points. The composite is mapped to a final score from 1 to 5, and College Board sets the cut scores after each administration.
Can I use a calculator on AP Biology?
Yes. A four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator is permitted on both sections of AP Biology. Bluebook also provides a built-in calculator on the multiple choice section, and the AP Biology formula and equations sheet, including the statistics, probability, and Hardy-Weinberg tools, is provided on both sections.
What units are on the AP Biology exam?
Eight units: Chemistry of Life, Cell Structure and Function, Cellular Energetics, Cell Communication and Cell Cycle, Heredity, Gene Expression and Regulation, Natural Selection, and Ecology.
How many free response questions are on AP Biology?
Six. The free response section has 2 long questions worth 9 points each and 4 short questions worth 4 points each, for 34 raw points across 90 minutes. The questions test science practices such as experimental design, data analysis and statistics, interpreting models and visuals, and quantitative reasoning. See the FRQ guide for what each type asks and how to earn the points.
What's the typical score distribution for AP Biology?
On the May 2025 administration, 19 percent of students earned a 5, 24 percent a 4, and 28 percent a 3, so about 70 percent scored a 3 or higher, with a mean near 3.24. Exact percentages shift each year and release with the official score distribution.
