Seating Policy and Seating Charts

Update for 2025 AP Exams: Starting with the May 2025 AP Exam administration, the minimum seating distance between students is 4 feet (1.2 meters) rather than 5 feet. This change is applicable to all exam subjects in all locations for all testing windows.

• Allow no less than 4 feet (1.2 meters) between students. Distance between students should be measured from the center of one student to the center of the next student.
• You may seat students using one of these AP Program seating options:
  • Seat students directly behind each other, no less than 4 feet apart (side to side), facing the same direction.
  • In rooms with elevated seating, seat students no less than 4 feet behind one another, facing the same direction.
  • Option for digital AP Exams, AP Chinese and AP Japanese Exams, and the speaking portion of world language exams only: For these exams, you may seat students facing outward toward the wall. In testing rooms where computer tables/desks are at a 90-degree angle, students must not be seated next to one another in the connecting corner.
• Assign seats randomly (not alphabetically or following any other expected pattern) within the testing room. Under no circumstances should students be permitted to select their own seats. Go here for step-by-step directions to assign random seating using Microsoft Excel.
• You may seat more than 1 student at a table, but only if all students face the same direction, are seated on the same side of the table, and the 4-foot distance between students can be maintained. To maintain this distance, a table must be at least 8 feet (2.43 meters) in length to accommodate 2 students and at least 13 feet (3.96 meters) to accommodate 3 students.
• Round tables are prohibited for testing, regardless of the number of students.

Failure to follow seating requirements could result in cancellation of exam scores.

Seating Chart Tools