AP Exam Security Policy

Ensuring a Fair and Secure Testing Environment

All students should have the same opportunity to succeed on AP Exams. The AP Program maintains strict exam administration and security procedures to prevent incidents or improper conduct that could disrupt the exam administration or give any student an unfair advantage. 

Informing Students of the Importance of Exam Security

Exam security information for students will be in the AP Exam Terms and Conditions. We’ll email schools and students in the spring when the Terms and Conditions are available for the upcoming AP Exam administration. Ensure students have reviewed them before the exam administration. On exam day (or when submitting their work through the AP Digital Portfolio), students acknowledge they’ve read and agree to the AP Exam Terms and Conditions.

In Case of an Exam Security Violation

A violation of exam security policies and procedures at a school’s administration site could result in the cancellation of exam scores for individual students or for all the students taking that particular exam at the school. In addition, if a school doesn't follow the policies and procedures detailed in the AP Coordinator’s Manual, Part 2, it may not be allowed to offer AP Exams in subsequent years and may be held liable for financial damages incurred by College Board as a result of a breach of security.

College Board reserves the right to decline to score an AP Exam or cancel an AP Exam score when, in its judgment, any of the following occurs: 

• Violation of test security policies and procedures
• Disclosure of secure test items
• Rule violations
• Testing irregularities
• Invalid scores
• Identification discrepancies 

Violation of College Board test security policies may also result in a student being prohibited from taking other College Board assessments in the future.

The duration of an individual’s ban may vary depending on the circumstances and severity of the violation, as determined by College Board. College Board reserves the right to share information, including the names of banned test takers, with their attending high schools and interested higher education institutions.

Appeals of the ban will be considered and decided at College Board’s discretion.

Smart Glasses

Smart glasses are prohibited from testing. When monitoring the exam administration, look for the following:

• Thick or asymmetric arms: one side may be noticeably thicker to house electronics (battery, camera, speakers, etc.).
• Pinholes/ports/vents: tiny openings on the temples that may indicate microphones, speakers, sensors, or vents.
• Tiny LEDs: small dots or light windows on the front frame or temples that may illuminate during recording/streaming or when powered on.
• Lens-edge sparkle: a subtle glittery or rainbow-like glint along the lens edge that can appear when tilted under bright light (more common on glasses with display-in-lens optics).
• Bone-conduction pads: small flat/rounded pads on the temple area that rest against the skin in front of the ear (cheekbone/temple) and transmit sound via vibration rather than earbuds.
• Repeated frame tapping or pressing: students frequently tapping, squeezing, or swiping the temple area (as if using built-in touch controls).
• Quiet speech while wearing eyewear: students softly speaking short phrases as if using voice commands or interacting with an assistant.

Report Security Issues

If you discover or suspect test security issues, please report this at:
collegeboard.org/reportcheating