AP Chemistry tests atomic structure, bonding, reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, equilibrium, and acid-base chemistry over a 3 hour 15 minute 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 Tuesday, May 5, 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 (a scenario, particulate diagram, graph, or data table) across a few related questions.
- Roughly 1.5 minutes per question on average, but stimulus-based sets often need more time than that suggests.
Section II: Free response
7 questions · 105 minutes · 50% of composite · 46 raw points
Seven free-response questions handwritten in a paper booklet: 3 long questions worth 10 points each and 4 short questions worth 4 points each, for 46 raw points total. Trained readers score against published rubrics with partial credit available throughout.
- 3 long-answer FRQs (10 points each). Multi-part questions that combine calculation, explanation, and representations.
- 4 short-answer FRQs (4 points each). Focused questions on a single skill or concept.
- Skills tested across the set include experimental design and data analysis, writing and balancing equations, quantitative reasoning, and particulate or qualitative reasoning with graphs and diagrams.
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 nine 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 Chemistry 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 Chemistry exam?
The 2026 AP Chemistry exam is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 8:00 AM local time. Official scores release in July 2026 through your College Board account.
How long is the AP Chemistry exam?
Three hours and fifteen minutes total, plus a short break between sections. Section I (multiple choice) is 90 minutes. Section II (free response) is 105 minutes.
How is AP Chemistry scored?
Section I and Section II are each weighted at 50 percent of the composite. Multiple choice is 60 questions and free response is 46 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 Chemistry?
Yes. A scientific or graphing calculator is now permitted on both sections of AP Chemistry. This changed with the digital format; the older paper exam allowed a calculator only on the free response section. Bluebook also provides a built-in Desmos calculator, and the Equations and Constants sheet and Periodic Table are provided on both sections.
What units are on the AP Chemistry exam?
Nine units: Atomic Structure and Properties, Compound Structure and Properties, Properties of Substances and Mixtures, Chemical Reactions, Kinetics, Thermodynamics, Equilibrium, Acids and Bases, and Applications of Thermodynamics. Properties of Substances and Mixtures and Acids and Bases carry the heaviest weighting.
How many free response questions are on AP Chemistry?
Seven. The free response section has 3 long questions worth 10 points each and 4 short questions worth 4 points each, for 46 raw points across 105 minutes. See the FRQ guide for what each type asks and how to earn the points.
What's the typical score distribution for AP Chemistry?
On the May 2025 administration, about 17 percent of students earned a 5, 29 percent a 4, and 32 percent a 3, so roughly 77 to 78 percent scored a 3 or higher, with a mean near 3.36. Exact percentages shift each year and release with the official score distribution.
