College Board Opens Options For AP Exams

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Credit: Wikipedia

For two years in a row student are taking an AP test that looks much different from previous years.

Since students all over the world are in different learning environments, the College Board is offering in person and at-home test options. However the style and format of the online and in person tests will differ. In addition, the College Board will also be offering three dates for students to take tests instead of one national date like they have in past years.

With the current state of the pandemic, some students have not been to in-person school since March 2020, making them unable to take the test in person. The second year of the pandemic in AP tests includes an in-person and online option differing from last year’s test that was only offered online.  Last years test covered 1/4 of the test, while this year’s test is set to cover more in length and content. 

 There will be multiple test dates starting May 3 and ending June 11. The College Board released a statement about the logistics of testing on their website.

“We’ve made decisions that prioritize the health and safety of educators and students while preserving opportunities for motivated students to earn college credit,” the College Board wrote on February 17. “Rather than offering a single testing approach that would serve only some students and educators well, we are offering a variety of testing options that reflect the unique characteristics of each exam and the preferences we have heard from AP teachers, coordinators, and school leaders.

The Williston administrator’s office responded to the AP tests by changing the school’s policy towards students taking them, said Kim Evelti, Director of Curriculum.

“For the May 2020 exams, the school changed this policy and left the decision completely up to the student and family to determine whether or not to take the exam,” Evelti said.

“Our policy for 2022 will be determined at some point next year, but it is likely that we will return to our previous practice of expecting that most students should take the exam,”

Greg Tuleja, the Academic Dean, elaborated that remote students will have the option to take their exams digitally, at home, but the exception will be for students enrolled in AP Languages and/or Music Theory.  “Unfortunately, College Board does not offer digital, at home options for these exams.  I am reaching out to remote students to make sure they understand their options regarding digital exams.”

Kai Hori, a junior from Tokyo taking AP Physics C, said he is worried about covering all the topics on the exam in time for the in-person test.

“Our class is behind where we are supposed because and in my other classes like in AP Chemistry and AP Computer Science we are gonna finish all the topics soon,” Kai said. “I think other schools are not getting to all the chapters like us.  I’m worried if I am going to be able to finish it all or not.”

Senior Tomi Akisanya said that her decision to not take the AP tests in some of her classes is heavily influenced by the pandemic and how it forced schools to adapt.

“Since I took APs last year too, taking AP tests online was just so awful and this year in general academics have just been very strenuous,” Tomi said. “So I’m thinking for the end of my senior year after putting myself through that and the college process do I really want to take the AP test.”