Device Requirements Overview
Bluebook supports testing on Mac and Windows devices, iPads, and school-managed Chromebooks.
Choosing Devices
If you’re deciding between device types, consider these key factors:
- Minimum battery life is 4 hours for AP Exams and 3 hours for SAT Suite of Assessments.
- Chromebooks must be school managed, run in kiosk mode, and from 2017 or later.
- Physical keyboards are required for Windows tablets.
- Students testing on iPads must use physical keyboards for fully digital AP Exams and are allowed to use them for hybrid digital AP Exams, the SAT, and PSAT-related assessments.
Note: Be sure to review the complete specifications before you install.
Updates to Technical Requirements
This website always has the latest technical requirements for Bluebook testing.
Annual Changes
College Board publishes updated Bluebook technical requirements for the upcoming school year every summer. For operating systems, these include a minimum required version and a strongly recommended maximum version as well as any exclusions within that range.
We set these standards only after rigorous testing and thorough research, and we strive to provide every student with a testing experience that’s both successful and secure.
Midyear Changes
We won’t change minimum operating system requirements during the school year unless we have to. Reasons for an off-schedule change include the expiration of vendor support or the discovery of a critical issue with the way Bluebook performs on a particular version.
We test Bluebook on higher versions throughout the year and update the recommended maximums once they're certified.
Content Refreshes
We review and refresh the guidance on our website twice a year, before the fall and spring testing windows.
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