Quick question: Are we allowed to use highlighters while taking our AP exams? I find them super helpful for marking key points in passages and questions. Haven't seen any official guidelines on this and I don't want to be caught off guard on exam day. Thanks for any info!
Hey there! Great question – being prepared for the format of your exams is super important. For AP exams, the College Board has specific rules about what you can bring into the test room. Pens and pencils are definitely allowed, but unfortunately, highlighters are not on that list. They're pretty strict about this to avoid any issues with exam materials and to keep things consistent across the board for all test takers.
When I prep my students for the exams, I suggest practicing without a highlighter so you can get used to identifying and remembering key information without relying on them. If you usually use a highlighter to help with comprehension, try underlining with your pencil or jotting down a few quick notes in the margins if the exam booklet allows it. This method is a great way to transition without losing the benefit of highlighting critical info. Hope this helps and wishing you the best of luck on your exams!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.