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AP Music Theory

The 2026 AP Music Theory Exams will be administered as they have been in the past—as paper and pencil exams with audio components. This page offers a summary. Review complete information in the AP Coordinator’s Manual, Part 2. 

AP Coordinator’s Manual, Part 2

The 2025-26 AP Coordinator’s Manual, Part 2 will be available in January 2026.

Visit the AP Coordinator Resource Library

Ordering CDs

Each AP Music Theory Exam order includes one set of CDs (one listening CD and one sight-singing CD), regardless of the number of exams ordered. If there will be multiple testing rooms for the AP Music Theory Exam, you’ll need to order a set of CDs for each testing room. Order additional CDs by March 13. Review the “Ordering Additional CDs” section in the AP Coordinator’s Manual, Part 1. 

When you submit your exam order, you may request: 

  • 1 additional sight singing CD for every 4 exams ordered
  • 1 additional listening CD for every 10 exams ordered 

You may add additional CDs to your exam order until March 13, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Administering the Exams

AP Music Theory Exams require special equipment and exam procedures. Student responses for these exams are recorded using digital recording equipment and must be submitted through the Digital Audio Submission (DAS) portal to be scored. Visit the following pages for more information: 

Key Dates

March 13, 2026 | 11:59 PM ET

Deadline to Add Additional CDs to Your Exam Order

You may add additional CDs to your order through AP Registration and Ordering until this deadline.

Deadline
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Resources

Download

AP Coordinator’s Manual, Part 1, 2025-26

This manual provides detailed information about everything AP coordinators need to do from the start of the school year through the November 14 exam ordering deadline.

  • PDF
  • 28.78 MB

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