The 2027 AP seating policy
College Board’s summary for the 2027 AP Exams asks for at least 4 feet (1.2 meters) between students, measured center to center, facing the same direction or facing the wall. Chairs cannot be against the back wall. Seats are random, never alphabetical, and students never choose. A table needs 8 feet for two students and 13 feet for three, all on one side; round tables are not allowed. Each room holds one exam, except Calculus AB and BC together.
The full rules come in the 2026-27 AP Coordinator’s Manual, Part 2, due January 2027. Until then the proctor numbers and the subject table here come from the 2025-26 Part 2, so recheck them when the new manual is out.
Proctors
The 2025-26 manual asks for at least 1 proctor for up to 34 students, 2 for 35 to 50, 3 for 51 to 100 and one more per 50 after that. Students facing the wall need 2 proctors for up to 25 and one more per 25. Teachers may not proctor an exam in a subject area they teach or have ever taught, and nobody proctors an exam a family or household member takes that year. Mark each proctor under Rooms; the chart flags conflicts, including one person in two rooms in the same session.
Questions from test coordinators
Can AP Exam seating be alphabetical?
No. College Board says to assign seats randomly, not alphabetically or in any other expected pattern, and never to let students choose. The tool shuffles each room and keeps that order until you shuffle again.
How far apart do students sit for AP Exams?
At least 4 feet (1.2 meters), measured from the center of one student to the center of the next. If your desks are closer, the chart crosses out the ones to leave empty so every seated pair is 4 feet apart.
Can I use booklet serial numbers instead of names?
Yes. AP Central says schools may put either the 11-digit serial number of the exam booklets or students’ full names on seating charts. Paste the numbers with the exam after a semicolon.
Can a math teacher proctor AP Biology?
Yes. The rule is by subject area: someone who teaches or has taught biology or environmental science may not proctor either of those exams, but may proctor exams outside that area. A U.S. History teacher may not proctor African American Studies.
How long do I keep AP seating charts?
At least six months, or longer if your state or district says so. They are not returned in the exam shipment unless they are part of an incident report.
Sources: College Board AP Seating Policy and Seating Charts, Selecting and Preparing AP Exam Rooms, AP Proctor Roles and Responsibilities and 2027 AP Exam Dates (2027 summaries); 2025-26 AP Coordinator’s Manual, Part 2 (pages 49 to 53); AP Exam Seating Chart directions and sample. Checked October 2026. Your district or the test’s own manual has the final word.