Does AP Networking allow exam accommodations?
Yes. Students with documented disabilities may be eligible for approved accommodations on AP Exams. AP Networking’s first nationwide exam is scheduled for May 2028 and will be digital in Bluebook, with both multiple-choice and free-response questions. Accommodations must be approved through College Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), and your school must arrange the approved supports for your specific exam.
Three people to contact before exam day
Student and family
Explain which supports help you test, ask whether approval is already on file and practice with the tools you expect to use.
School SSD coordinator
Checks existing approvals, submits new requests and supporting documentation through SSD Online, and follows up on decisions.
AP coordinator
Orders the AP Networking Exam and confirms which approved supports, room arrangements and special materials must be assigned to that exam.
If you do not know who your SSD coordinator is, ask your counselor or AP coordinator. At a host school, confirm who handles each part of the process.
How to request AP Exam accommodations
- Start early. Ask your SSD coordinator whether you already have a College Board accommodation approval and whether it covers the supports you need.
- Discuss your needs. Describe the barriers you experience during timed exams and the supports you regularly use at school. The SSD coordinator can explain what documentation is required.
- Submit the request. Your school’s SSD coordinator ordinarily applies through SSD Online; do not assume a teacher or parent can submit the school request instead.
- Check the decision. Ask for confirmation of exactly which accommodations were approved. If a request is denied or differs from what you expected, ask the coordinator about next steps.
- Confirm the exam order. Work with the AP coordinator to ensure your AP Networking exam is ordered and its approved accommodations are confirmed.
- Practice and verify. Try the approved digital tools ahead of time and confirm your testing room, equipment, timing and arrival instructions.
For the official process, use College Board’s AP accommodation request instructions. See our AP Networking exam registration guide for the separate exam-ordering process.
Your school plan and College Board approval are separate
Many students already receive extra time, breaks or other help in class. Tell the SSD coordinator about your IEP, 504 plan or other documented support, but ask them to verify the College Board approval rather than assuming classroom arrangements automatically transfer to the AP Exam.
A planning calendar for the May 2028 exam
| When | Student or parent | School team |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2027 | Meet with your counselor or SSD coordinator; ask whether an approval already exists. | Review expected accommodations as AP Networking exam orders are planned. |
| Before the official 2028 SSD deadline | Provide requested information promptly and check the request status. | Submit requests and any required documentation through SSD Online. |
| After approval | Confirm exactly what was approved and ask about Bluebook practice. | Confirm approved accommodations for AP Networking and order special materials when required. |
| Before exam day | Confirm room, device, arrival time, assistive tools and approved breaks. | Check test configuration and administration plan. |
Swipe to see the rest of the table.
Reference only: College Board lists January 22, 2027, as the deadline for the 2027 AP Exam administration. This is not a confirmed deadline for the May 2028 national AP Networking Exam. Check the official page for the 2027–28 schedule when released.
What kinds of AP Exam accommodations can be approved?
College Board lists a range of AP Exam accommodations. What is appropriate depends on the student’s approved needs and the exam format—not every support applies to every student or test.
Timing and breaks
Extended time and approved breaks may change how a student moves through the exam. Confirm the exact timing and break rules for your approved arrangement.
Reading and display
Examples include screen readers, embedded text-to-speech, refreshable braille and some large-print or paper arrangements.
Response and room supports
Depending on approval, students may receive a scribe, a human reader, small-group testing or other permitted supports.
Use College Board’s AP accommodations overview for the official list and conditions.
How accommodations work with Bluebook
The national AP Networking Exam is scheduled to use Bluebook. Approved digital accommodations may require specific exam settings, assistive technology or a different administration arrangement. Ask the AP coordinator to verify the actual AP Networking exam order, not just the approval letter.
- Ask whether your approved timing, breaks and display or reading supports are reflected in the exam setup.
- If you use a screen reader or other assistive technology, confirm compatibility and practice with the device you will use.
- Ask whether special-format or paper materials are needed and whether the school has ordered them.
- Complete an appropriate Bluebook practice experience before test day; do not use a practice app as proof that your official exam is configured correctly.
Read our Bluebook exam preparation guide for a separate overview of the digital test.
What does extended time mean on a digital exam?
Extra time is not one universal setting. A student’s approval determines the amount and conditions, and exam administrators follow the relevant AP instructions. Ask the coordinator how extended time applies to both the multiple-choice and free-response portions of AP Networking, including breaks and the expected finish time.
Screen readers, text-to-speech, braille and special formats
Some approved accommodations require a particular digital setup or special exam materials. Your AP coordinator and SSD coordinator should review the approval together. For example, refreshable braille may be used with a digital exam, while some approved paper formats require the school to update its order.
Students should ask which devices, headphones or other tools they may use, whether those tools must be provided by the school, and how to practice in advance. Do not assume personal equipment is automatically permitted.
Official details: ordering exams with accommodations.
Homeschool students and students testing at another school
If your school does not administer AP Networking, you may need to locate a willing host school. Ask that school who will coordinate your accommodations and exam order. An existing approval still needs to be matched to the actual test administration.
When contacting a host school, ask: “Will you administer AP Networking in May 2028, accept outside students, and be able to arrange my approved College Board accommodations?” Start with our registration guide and sample coordinator email.
A five-point classroom-to-exam handoff
- Identify students who may need accommodations early, without sharing private disability information unnecessarily.
- Introduce families to the SSD coordinator and explain that AP Exam approval is separate from classroom support.
- Check with the AP coordinator before exam ordering deadlines, particularly for special materials.
- Give students opportunities to practice the networking tasks with their usual approved tools.
- Confirm the final exam setup and room plan well before test day.
For a complete course outline, see how to teach AP Networking in 2027–28 and our free teacher resources.
Student and parent accommodation checklist
Use this checklist at home or in a meeting with your school. It is a planning tool, not an official application.
Pair this checklist with the 2028 exam study plan so students can plan their studying while the school handles testing arrangements.
An email families can send to the SSD coordinator
Subject: AP Networking exam accommodations for May 2028
Hello,
My student plans to take the AP Networking Exam in May 2028. Could you help us check whether their College Board accommodations are already approved and whether any new request or documentation is needed?
We would also like to know the school’s timeline for confirming approved accommodations in the AP Networking exam order, including any Bluebook or equipment arrangements.
Thank you for your help.
[Student or parent name]
If your student is testing at another school, add a sentence asking who will coordinate the arrangements at that location.
Try a realistic exam-day planning scenario
Scenario: approved extra time, but the exam order looks standard
Jordan has an SSD approval for extended time. The school has ordered the AP Networking Exam, but nobody has confirmed the accommodation in the exam order. What should Jordan do?
Show the recommended next step
Contact the SSD coordinator and AP coordinator before exam day. Ask them to verify the approval and confirm the accommodation for this specific AP Networking exam. An approval letter alone does not confirm the Bluebook exam is configured correctly.
Scenario: a student needs a screen reader
The student uses a screen reader at school and has a College Board approval. What should the family confirm before the exam?
Show the recommended next step
Confirm which assistive technology and device are permitted, whether the digital exam supports the approved arrangement, and that the student can practice with the intended setup. The school should also check whether any special materials are required.
What if a student is injured shortly before the exam?
College Board has a process for requesting temporary impairment supports, such as help needed after a broken arm. The SSD coordinator submits the request through SSD Online. Ask immediately: late requests may not leave enough time to approve a support, configure a digital exam or arrange special materials.
A temporary support request is not a guarantee of approval. Follow College Board’s current instructions and keep your AP coordinator informed.
Prepare for the actual networking work, not just the testing setup
Accommodations address access to the exam; students still need practice with networking concepts and evidence. The May 2028 national exam will include scenario-based multiple-choice questions and free-response questions using networking artifacts.
24 free AP Networking accommodations flashcards
Review the people, deadlines and testing arrangements that matter before exam day. Choose a topic, flip each card to check your answer and shuffle for another round.
Free to use in class or at home. No login required.
AP Networking exam accommodations FAQ
Do I need a new approval just because AP Networking is a new AP course?
Ask your SSD coordinator to check the status and details of your existing College Board approval. Your AP coordinator must still confirm the accommodations for the specific exam.
Does a 504 plan automatically give me extra time on the AP Exam?
No. College Board SSD approval is required for AP Exam accommodations. Work with your school’s SSD coordinator.
What is the accommodations deadline for the May 2028 AP Networking Exam?
The exact 2028 deadline had not been published as of September 2026. College Board lists January 22, 2027, for the 2027 administration only. Check the current AP accommodations page and your school’s earlier local deadlines.
Can I use a screen reader or text-to-speech in Bluebook?
College Board offers certain approved digital reading and assistive-technology accommodations. The permitted setup depends on the student’s approval and exam requirements. Ask your coordinators to confirm and arrange practice.
What if I am homeschooled or taking the exam at another school?
Find a host school willing to administer AP Networking and ask who will coordinate your approved accommodations and special materials.
What happens if an approved accommodation is missing on exam day?
Tell the proctor immediately and ask them to contact the AP coordinator. Do not assume the problem will resolve itself after the exam starts.
College Board policies and related site guides
This independent guide is not affiliated with College Board. For current requirements, use these official sources:
- AP Exam accommodations overview
- Requesting AP Exam accommodations
- Ordering AP Exams with accommodations
- Official AP Networking exam overview
For additional planning, read our registration guide, 2027 versus 2028 exam comparison and complete site directory.