Advanced Placement

Starting with the 2019-2020 academic year, the College Board  implemented several changes regarding how students register for AP exams. This included the addition of a two-step process which is highlighted below.

Step 1: Joining the AP Course on the College Board Site
AP students and teachers will complete a short digital activation process at the start of each AP course. Students will log into their College Board account where they will gain access to resources such as a question bank, unit guides, personal progress checks and a performance dashboard. The AP teacher will provide the student with the "Join Code" needed to complete this step. All students wishing to self-study for an exam can get the appropriate "Join Code" in B207 from Mrs. Swenson or Mrs. Ullom.  Completion of this step will generate the student's test ticket and exam for the May examination.

Step 2:  Paying for the AP Exam via Total Registration
Once a student has "joined" the AP course, the next step is to finalize their AP Exam Order and submit payment to Total Registration. This is the same provider used for the past several years for AP Exams and PSAT exams. AP courses that begin Term 1 or Semester 1, in addition to all Independent Study courses, will have an exam registration deadline of November 1. Advanced Placement courses that start Term 2, Term 3, or Term 4 including Semester 2 courses, will have a March 1 deadline. Please be advised that the district may establish a deadline different from the dates established by the College Board in order to accurately process exam orders prior to the CB deadline.  

Students who cancel an exam (with both the College Board and Total Registration) by November 1 are eligible for a full refund minus any accrued fees. After this date, no refunds are available and the College Board will charge a $40 cancellation fee. Term 1, Semester 1 or Independent Study exams ordered after November 15 will incur a $40 late fee payable to the College Board. In addition to the fees charged by the College Board, there will be a $10 fee assessed by the testing office.  After March 15, it is no longer possible to order exams for the May testing dates. No exceptions!

Cost of exams: $85/exam; AP Seminar and AP Research fees are $125.  There is a one-time administration fee of $10 that will be charged per student taking exams, regardless of the number of exams taken.  This fee is used to pay for testing supplies, rentals, and professional development. The Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) student rate is $10 for standard exams and $25 for AP Seminar or AP Research.  This rate is available to students currently enrolled in the Federal Free and Reduced meal program.  Students will also pay a one-time facility fee of $5.  Late fees assessed by the College Board also apply to FRL students.

* The "Fee-Reduced" rate shown above is available to students who are currently enrolled in the Federal Free and Reduced Priced program (FRP). If you are enrolled in the FRP program, select the FRP button on the Total Registration site when you register and pay the reduced amount online. We do check each registration, so only select this option if you are enrolled.

**Students opting to enroll in an independent study (exam only section) will be charged $100 for the exam. Students who are enrolled in the FRP program would would pay $10 for an independent student exam.

*** The College Board will be implementing a late fee of $40.00 for exams ordered after the cut-off date. The College Board will be implementing a $40.00 cancellation fee for exams cancelled after they are ordered.  The College Board will be implementing a $40.00 return fee for exams not used. WHS may charge a $10 cancellation / processing fee. 

**** There will be a one-time facility use fee of $10 applied to the total exam order.  

Students with a medical condition, an IEP or a 504 plan may be eligible for testing accommodations such as extra breaks, extended time, etc. Contact the student's case manager or school counselor to submit accommodations to the College Board.  Only College Board approved accommodations may be used on AP Exams.  

Students already approved for AP testing accommodations with the College Board do not need to re-apply. The deadline for first-time applications is January 2026.  It takes at least seven weeks for non-emergency applications to receive approval.

1. The deadline for registering for 1st semester and 1st term course exams is November 1.  The deadline for courses that start after Term 1 is March 1. Students enrolled in AP Courses will be provided information on how to register for exams by their AP teacher, once the course has started. Students may also pick up information on exam registration in B207.

• All Independent/Self Study students will need to complete the exam registration process prior to November 1 or incur a $40.00 late fee payable to the College Board. Please stop by B207 for information on how to register and to get the IS Join Code.
• After March 15, 2026, it is no longer possible to order exams from College Board.  No exceptions.

All AP Test Registration questions should be directed to Amy Swenson at amy.swenson@wayzataschools.org, Lory Ullom at lory.ullom@wayzataschools.org, or in person in room B207.

While each test has different timing guidelines, an AP exam typically runs about 3 1/2 - 4 hours. Therefore it is important for students and parents to understand that morning exams will begin prior to the start of school (7:30 a.m.) and afternoon AP exams will not be completed by the end of the school day (3:20 p.m.). CollegeBoard requires all students to stay in the testing room until testing is completed. Students will not be allowed to leave for after school activities, jobs, etc., until the timed session has come to an end. Students will be responsible for finding alternative transportation to morning exams and home at the end of the exam for afternoon exams.

CollegeBoard rules also require students to power off all non-testing electronics and place them with the proctor during the exam. Students will not have access to cell phones during the testing session and will be dismissed from the exam should they try to access their technology at anytime during the testing session.  They are also not allowed to use any form of communication device while on the CollegeBoard scheduled break. Students who break any of the CollegeBoard rules will be removed from the testing room and their scores will be cancelled.

Parents and Guardians can learn more about the Advanced Placement Program (AP) on the College Board website.  In addition, Exam Policies and Guidelines provide detailed information for students on exam day.