2026 Advanced Placement Exams - Bellevue School District

General Information

Bellevue School District will administer more than 9,000 AP Exams starting Monday, May 4, 2026. Most of these exams are taken May 4–15 on the College Board schedule published in July. It is a significant undertaking, and we count on school staff and students/families to ensure all students have an equal opportunity for a positive testing experience. This year, most exams are digital and will be delivered to students on their laptops using the Bluebook app. AP French Language, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature, AP Music Theory remain in the paper test format for the 2026 administration.

AP teachers have been preparing students for the exams in class, and the Bluebook app provides practice so students are familiar with the exam format before test day. Students must arrive for the test on time with a fully charged laptop and power cord, photo ID, pencils or pens for scratch work (scratch paper is provided), and an approved calculator if needed for the exam. Cellphones and other electronic devices (smartwatches, wearable cameras, etc.) must be powered down and stowed during exams. If a student has health issues requiring an asthma inhaler or EpiPen, it must be in a clear Ziploc bag and kept under the student’s chair. No other personal items are allowed in the test room, including water bottles. Water will be provided at drinking fountains or in dispensers using paper cups, depending on the location. Bathroom access is limited due to test security, and the test clock will continue if a student uses the restroom during an exam.

Please note, for 2025-2026 BSD will not be offering the following AP exams due to previous low-test numbers for courses not taught in the Bellevue School District:

Comparative Government and Politics
European History
German Language and Culture
Italian Language and Culture
Latin

Navigation

A.M./P.M. Start Times

The College Board requires that morning exams start between 8 and 9 a.m. local time, and afternoon exams between noon and 1 p.m. BSD starts the morning exam as soon after 8 a.m. as feasible and afternoon exams closer to 1 p.m., so that students with two exams on the same day have a break to eat lunch and relax.

Arrival Times

The schools and AP Test Center publish the required arrival time for each test. Students must arrive prior to the time of testing to allow for ID checks and other administrative tasks. Students who do not arrive on time will not be allowed to take the exam, nor will they be allowed to take a make-up exam during the late test window.

Accommodations Testing

The College Board approves accommodations for AP Exams if students have an IEP, 504 Plan or Health Plan requiring test modifications. Exams for students with approved accommodations are administered at the BSD AP Test Center located on the BSD central campus using conference rooms at ESC East, ESC West, and WISC.

Late Exams Due to Illness

There are real advantages to having as many students as possible take exams between May 4 and May 15. We expect all students to take exams on the scheduled date and time unless it poses a significant risk to the student or others. Students who experience a serious injury, illness, or family emergency on test day may request a late exam. Late exams are administered on the College Board Late Test Schedule. All requests are subject to approval by the AP Central Test Team. See the BSD Criteria for Ordering Late AP Exams for more information.

School Schedules

School AP coordinators publish exam schedules and communicate test-day details to students. Email blasts, website posts, and PA announcements are common methods of communication. AP teachers help prepare students in class. AP Exams are administered at schools for all students who do not have College Board-approved accommodations. Exams are given in school gyms and other large spaces according to the College Board schedule.

Central AP Exam Schedule for Students With Accommodations

Test-day Details for Exams with Accommodations

Location

All AP exams for students with accommodations are administered at the BSD Central campuses:

ESC West

12011 NE 1st ST. Bellevue WA 98005

Students enter the ESC-West building and will be directed to the testing room.

WISC

12241 Main ST. Bellevue WA 98005

Students gather at the front of the main building to await entry to the assigned rooms.

Parking

Parking at these sites is reserved for BSD staff, with limited additional spaces. There is limited parking at Wilburton Park, east of the WISC campus and within walking distance. Students should be dropped off and picked up, if possible.

Arrival Time

7:30 for a.m. tests 11:30 for p.m. tests

Digital Exams

Please ensure you have downloaded the Bluebook app, completed initial set up and taken a practice test or preview with your accommodations so you know how to navigate the test items and use the tools. Speak with your teacher or school Tech Specialist if you need support prior to test day. All AP exams are in Bluebook this year except for World Language and Music Theory exams.

Login & Password

Bluebook does not autofill logins and passwords. Students must enter in their login and password manually at the start of each exam. Students may bring a note (like an index card) with their name, login and password to the exam to assist in getting started. Like all other prohibited items such as cell phones, these notes will be picked up by the proctor prior to start of the exam and returned to students at dismissal.

Paper Exams

AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature, AP French Language and AP Music Theory will be administered using paper exams. No changes have been made to the format of these assessments. Students need to bring their BSD issued laptop with the Audacity app to the Language exams for recording the speaking portion of their exams.

Physical Photo Identification

(Driver's License, State ID, Passport, School ID) will need to be presented. You will not have access to your phone, so make sure you have a physical ID.

Late Arrivals

Students who arrive after 7:45 (morning exam) or 11:45 (afternoon exam) will not be allowed to take the exam. Please arrive on time and remember that traffic can be a challenge.

Items Not Allowed

Proctors will pick up and store cell phones and other prohibited electronic devices during the exam in a bin in the testing room. Students will stow backpacks and will not have access to them until dismissed. Water and cups will be provided.

Items to Bring

Students are to bring their own fully charged laptop, laptop charger, No. 2 pencils (no mechanical pencils), erasers, pens, and approved calculators. College Board Calculator Policy No other supplies are needed. Scratch paper will be provided.

Snacks and Drinks

No personal food or drinks are allowed during the exam unless an accommodation for food/drink/medication is approved. A water station will be available for students to get a drink of water. Students may bring a snack in a clear Ziploc-type bag labeled with their name for access during the break between test sections.

Dress

Students should dress comfortably and in layers. No hats or hoods are to be worn during the exam.

Pick-up time

Students with extended time for exams will be allowed to move through the exam at their own pace and will be dismissed when they are finished, provided the standard time for testing has elapsed. They will be provided with their cell phone and dismissed from the testing room when finished and can contact a ride for pick-up. There is seating in the building lobby to wait.

World Language/Music Theory Exams

These exams do not use Bluebook. The Japanese and Chinese exams use another app for a digital test that allows students to type in the characters of the language. French and Spanish Language exams are paper, just as in past years. Students record the speaking portion of the exam using the Audacity app on their BSD laptops. Similarly, Music Theory is paper-based and uses Audacity for the sight-singing portion of the exam. The audio files are saved to a thumb drive and uploaded to the College Board for scoring.