The new digital format

The switch to digital

As of May 2025, the AP English Literature and Composition exam is offered only in a digital format. You’ll take the test in the Bluebook testing app, which you can download from the College Board website. Bluebook works on Windows and Apple laptops, Chromebooks, and tablets/iPads with full keyboards.

To avoid surprises on test day, ask your teacher whether you’ll test on a school-provided device or your own device. Even if you expect to use a school device, it’s still a good idea to download Bluebook on your personal device (you’ll need a College Board account to log in) so you can get comfortable with the app and its tools.

Digital exam overview

The AP exam is offered only in digital format; there isn’t a hybrid option. That means both the multiple-choice and free-response sections are completed on a device. Later sections cover the practical implications of this.

Unlike some other online exams (such as the SAT), this test is nonadaptive, meaning the difficulty doesn’t change based on how many questions you answer correctly. You’ll still have a break between the two sections.

One major change from the paper exam is the number of answer choices in multiple choice: you’ll now see four multiple-choice options instead of five.

The multiple choice section

A later chapter covers this section in detail, but the overall structure stays the same. The number and types of passages and questions are unchanged, so older review books can still be used as a supplemental study resource (as long as you use them thoughtfully).

Bluebook includes built-in tools that let you:

• Highlight parts of the passage
• Type notes attached to highlighted text
• Flag questions to revisit
• Eliminate answer choices on-screen

You’ll also receive 2 pieces of scratch paper at the beginning of the exam. You can use them for the multiple-choice section, the free-response section, or both.

Having four answer choices can be an advantage. If you need to guess, the odds are slightly better, and you typically spend less time and energy eliminating wrong answers - both of which can help reduce test fatigue.

The free response section

The free-response process is mostly the same as on paper. You can use scratch paper to outline, and you’ll type your essays in the app.

A few details matter on a digital test:

• There’s no word limit.
• There is no spell check or grammar check.

Plan to format paragraphs carefully and leave time to proofread. It also helps to practice typing in the months leading up to the exam so you can type quickly and accurately and make the most of the two hours in this section.

Final considerations

Here are some final considerations to keep in mind as you study and as test day approaches:

• Timing - a clock is available at the top of the test page. This helps with pacing for each passage and each free response question. The clock can be hidden if you find it too distracting.
• Utilize annotation and answer elimination, but keep in mind these can be time consuming. *Finding a balance between annotating on computer and supplemental, organized notes on paper is best.
• Be sure to log in to Bluebook in April, as AP test previews will be made available then. This is an excellent opportunity to familiarize yourself with the new test format, features, and tools available to you, and to decide on your strategy for utilizing them.
• Staring at screens can be straining to the eyes. Get blue light blocking glasses, and/or give your eyes a break in between sections by alternating between staring at something far away and then something close.
• The practice tests provided with your Achievable course are a fantastic way to prepare yourself for the digital exam. Best of luck!