A ONE INSTITUTE
Mar 15, 2025
Today, I’ll walk you through the recent changes to AP exams for the 2024-2025 school year.
How AP Exams Evolve
The College Board continuously refines AP exams based on feedback from colleges and universities to ensure their effectiveness. Unlike many standardized tests, AP exams frequently undergo adjustments—sometimes small, sometimes significant.
Because of these ongoing changes, it’s critical for students to regularly check the College Board website for the latest updates on the exams they are preparing for. Staying informed can make a real difference in how you approach your test preparation.
Additionally, while past FRQ (Free-Response Question) problems are widely available for practice, high-quality multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are harder to find beyond official AP prep books. That’s why we’ve developed ETT-TEST.COM, where students can access free MCQ practice questions.
After requesting feedback from students, we received an overwhelming response—159 comments and requests for 26 different AP subjects! Here’s a look at the most requested subjects:
AP Calculus BC
AP English Language and Composition
AP Physics 1
AP U.S. History
Seeing such high demand, my team at A-One Institute is working diligently to provide free resources for as many requested subjects as possible. If you haven’t already, feel free to comment on our video to request additional subjects.
AP Test Changes for 2024-2025
Not all AP subjects have changed significantly this year, but there are a few key updates that students should be aware of.
To check specific changes for your subject, visit AP Central, navigate to your AP course, and look at the latest course updates for the 2024-2025 school year.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most notable changes, starting with AP Physics 1.
AP Physics 1: Exam Changes
One of the biggest changes this year:
The number of units covered has increased from 7 to 8.
Concepts from AP Physics 2, such as fluids, have been added.
Expect more integrated questions connecting rotational and translational motion.
Exam Structure Changes
MCQ: 50 questions → 40 questions / 90 minutes → 80 minutes
The “select two answers” format has been removed.
Overall, the MCQ section is slightly easier due to the reduction in questions.
FRQ: 5 questions → 4 questions / 90 minutes → 100 minutes
AP Physics 2: Exam Changes
MCQ: 50 questions → 40 questions / 90 minutes → 80 minutes
FRQ: 5 questions → 4 questions / 90 minutes → 100 minutes
AP Physics C: Mechanics & Electricity & Magnetism
AP Physics C is divided into two separate exams:
Mechanics
Electricity & Magnetism (E&M)
Previously, these exams were shorter compared to other AP subjects, but significant changes have been made:
MCQ:
35 questions → 40 questions
45 minutes → 80 minutes
Format changed from five-answer choices to four-answer choices
The exam is now longer and potentially more difficult, though reducing choices to four helps balance this.
FRQ:
3 questions → 4 questions
80 minutes → 100 minutes
Big Takeaway:
The total test time is now 3 hours, making it a full-length AP exam. Students should prepare accordingly for the longer test format.
AP English Language & Composition / AP English Literature & Composition
AP Lang Exam:
MCQ: 60 minutes
FRQ: 2 hours 15 minutes
AP Lit Exam:
MCQ: 60 minutes
FRQ: 2 hours
Key Change:
Both exams are now fully digital, and the MCQ section has shifted from five-answer choices to four-answer choices.
This adjustment will likely lead to higher overall scores, as reducing choices makes guessing slightly easier without increasing difficulty.
According to last year’s exam analysis, the percentage of students earning a 5 on AP Lang and AP Lit is expected to increase in 2025.
AP Exams Retaining Five-Answer Choice MCQs
Most AP exams are shifting to four-answer choices, but some subjects will still use five-answer choices:
AP Macroeconomics
AP Microeconomics
AP Human Geography
AP Statistics
AP Computer Science A
Because these exams still use five-answer choices, the chance of guessing correctly remains 20%.
Fully Digital vs. Hybrid Digital AP Exams
With AP testing shifting toward digital formats, it’s important to distinguish between:
Fully Digital Exams (both MCQ and FRQ are online)
Hybrid Digital Exams (MCQs are online, but FRQs require handwritten responses)
Why the Difference?
Subjects requiring complex written responses (English, History) are now fully digital, allowing students to type essays.
Subjects with extensive mathematical notation (Math, Physics) remain hybrid to accommodate handwritten solutions.
Students should check their specific AP course page to confirm whether their exam is fully digital or hybrid.
Free AP MCQ Practice Launching on ETT-TEST.COM in April!
In April, ETT-TEST.COM will launch a demo version of our AP MCQ practice test platform, providing free resources for students preparing for AP exams.
Our goal is to support international students, including those in South Korea, by offering high-quality AP preparation materials.
The 2025 AP Exam changes are relatively minor but still important to be aware of.
Key Takeaways:
✅ AP Physics 1 has added a new unit and revised its exam format.
✅ AP Physics C has been extended to a full 3-hour test.
✅ AP Lang and AP Lit are now fully digital, and four-answer choice MCQs will likely result in higher scores.
✅ Most AP exams now have four-answer choices, but a few still use five.
✅ Free AP MCQ practice will be available on ETT-TEST.COM starting in April—take advantage of it!
Good luck to all AP students preparing for the May 2025 exams!