Prepare to Take a Pilot Exam
Students, learn how to prepare for the September 2026 pilot of AP Chinese Language and Culture, AP Spanish Language and Culture, and AP Music Theory.
Pilot Basics
The AP Exams in this pilot differ from other digital AP Exams in a few significant ways. For an introduction, go to the Pilot Primer.
Testing Devices
You’ll take the pilot exams on the Bluebook app. All pilot exams can be taken on Macs, iPads, and school-managed Chromebooks. AP Music Theory and AP Spanish Language and Culture can be taken on a Windows device, but for this pilot, AP Chinese Language and Culture cannot.
All pilot exams require audio equipment that meets requirements and an approved device with the correct settings.
If You’re Using a School-Managed Device
Your school is responsible for installing Bluebook and preparing your school-managed device.
For AP Chinese Language and Culture, devices must also support input method editors (IMEs). If you’re taking AP Spanish Language and Culture, you can use a Spanish language keyboard or a U.S.-international keyboard, or use long-press (pressing and holding keys) to select special characters from a menu. TIP: Check your device before exam day to make sure your preferred IME is installed. Go to Pilot Device Settings to learn more.
If You’re Using a Personal Device
Your school will let you know if personal devices are an option. If you use a personal device, you need to make sure it meets all requirements, install Bluebook, and apply all required settings before exam day.
Take these steps before exam day and as soon as possible:
If someone else had to download Bluebook for you, you’re not the device administrator, which could cause problems on exam day. Find out what to do.
Open Bluebook.
Click Test Your Device and follow the instructions to fix any problems.
Sign in to Bluebook with your College Board account.
Memorize your College Board account credentials.
You can’t test without them, and Bluebook won’t save them.
Check all test information on your homepage.
Apply required pilot device settings.
AP Music Theory: Your device must support headphones and allow mic access.
AP Chinese Language and Culture: Your device must support a headset with microphone and at least one of the recommended IME options must be installed.
AP Spanish Language and Culture: Your device must support a headset with microphone. If you don’t use a Spanish language keyboard or a U.S.-international keyboard,, you’ll need to use long-press (pressing and holding keys) to select special characters from a menu.
Make sure all other required device settings are applied.
Final Check
Take the steps listed below on the day before the pilot exam.
Connect to the internet.
Close and reopen Bluebook to make sure you have the latest version.
Click Test Your Device to make sure your device still has enough free space.
Disable parental controls and content filters and double-check all other required device settings.
Charge your battery.