Administering AP Music Theory Exams
How the Exam Is Administered
Beginning with the 2027 AP Exam administration, AP Music Theory is a hybrid digital AP Exam in Bluebook:
- Students complete the multiple-choice questions (Section I) and record their sight singing responses (Section II, Part B) in Bluebook. Bluebook manages audio playback, recording, timing, and submission automatically, so no action is required to start, stop, or submit audio responses.
- Students complete free-response answers (Section II, Part A) in paper exam booklets, which are collected and returned for scoring.
- Paper exams, answer sheets, CDs, CD players, the Digital Audio Capture (DAC) app, and the Digital Audio Submission (DAS) portal will no longer be used.
New Responsibilities for Coordinators and Proctors
- Before the exam begins, coordinators and proctors must confirm that students have a compliant wired headset or headphones and a compliant microphone and speaker. See the testing devices table below for specific details.
- Before Section II, Part B, of the exam, there is a second check-in, where students confirm their speaker and microphone are working before the sight singing responses begin.
Ordering
AP coordinators order AP Music Theory Exams along with all other AP Exams in AP Registration and Ordering. For more information, go to Ordering and Fees.
Testing Devices
Students need a keyboard-enabled device that meets Bluebook requirements: a supported Windows or macOS laptop or desktop, an iPad, or a managed Chromebook. Schools already administering digital AP Exams may have suitable devices. See the full device requirements at the Bluebook site.
Equipment Needed
Per section of the exam, students will need:
| Section/Part | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Section I, Part A | Wired headset or wired headphones (for audio stimulus) |
| Section II, Part A (Dictation) | Wired headset or wired headphones (for audio stimulus) |
| Section II, Part B (Sight Singing) | Speaker built into device or wired external; Microphone built into device or wired external |
Headset Details
Students are required to use wired headsets in the sections/parts listed above. Both school-owned and personal wired headsets are permitted, but wireless headsets are not. A microphone is not required for Section I, Part A and Section II, Part A, although a headset with a microphone may be used. Student-owned/personal wired headsets are not allowed at international test centers. Detailed specifications, including sight singing audio/microphone requirements, are available at Headsets for AP World Language and AP Music Theory Exams.
Headsets and earbuds may be worn only during portions that require audio playback or response recording and must be removed at all other times. The proctor will tell students when to put them on and take them off. Students with approved text-to-speech accommodations may use wired headsets for the duration of the exam.
Sight Singing
The sight singing process is the same as in previous years: students record their responses individually with a proctor, referring to a sight singing booklet that contains the melody. Bluebook now provides the starting-pitch audio, manages timing, and records each response, replacing the previous external playback and recording devices. Students confirm that their speaker and microphone are working in a second check-in before the sight singing responses begin.
Schools have two setup options for the sight singing room:
- Original testing device (recommended): Students carry their own device into the sight singing room and use its built-in speaker and microphone. This minimizes setup time.
- Dedicated testing device: Schools set up a separate testing device in the sight singing room. Students log out of Bluebook on their original device and log in to Bluebook on the dedicated device.
Exam Booklets
AP Music Theory uses two paper components:
- Free-response booklets (Section II, Part A): Proctors distribute these during the exam and collect them at the end of Section II, Part A, before students begin the sight singing tasks.
- Sight singing booklets (Section II, Part B): These contain the sight singing melodies. Proctors distribute them right before the sight singing tasks begin and collect each student's booklet as that student completes the tasks.
Both booklets are returned to College Board: the free-response booklets for scoring, and the sight singing booklets because they contain secure exam content. Additional exam-day procedures will be provided in the 2026-27 AP Coordinator's Manual, Part 2.
FAQ
What options are available to schools that don't have enough devices for all students to test at the same time?
Schools can purchase or rent additional devices, borrow from neighboring schools, allow students to use approved personal devices, or split testing across the regularly scheduled and late-testing dates. Schools unable to resolve a shortage locally can request loaner devices from College Board.
How are approved testing accommodations handled for AP Music Theory Exams?
Bluebook applies extended time and breaks automatically and provides built-in support for accommodations, such as text-to-speech and speech-to-text. Full details about available accommodations will be in the AP Accommodations Guide, to be released in December 2026. As with all digital AP Exams, AP coordinators confirm or waive approved accommodations for students, by exam, through AP Registration and Ordering.
Resources
Download
AP Coordinator’s Manual, Part 1, 2026-27
This manual provides detailed information about everything AP coordinators need to do from the start of the school year through the November 13 exam ordering deadline.