In the upcoming months of May and June, students taking AP exams will again be expected to follow new regulations compared to previous years. Check this article for more information on AP Exam schedules.
There will be new requirements for digital AP test takers this year that were not enacted during last year’s at-home exams. Technical requirements consist of:
1. Making sure to test all devices and ensuring students are set up for the exam. Windows and Mac Computers can be either personal or school managed and as for Chromebooks, only school-managed computers will be used. Students can’t use a personal Chromebook.
2.There is no sharing of computers with other students.
3. Students have to review operating systems and specifications for each type of computer.
4. They must meet hardware requirements to take the exam, such as screen dimensions. The screen must be 10 inches or larger and the minimum screen resolution is 1024 x 768. External keyboards and mice are allowed. It is recommended for both peripherals to be wired and be in good shape. Bluetooth mice and keyboards are allowed but both should be fully charged to last the duration of the exam. Not only must they be fully charged to last through the full-length exams but also able to be plugged in during the exam if needed.
The AP test will be formatted differently for each different subject. Leanna Yu (12), who took the AP Environmental Science and Statistics exam last year, explained the format for both exams were all written responses. The exam had several questions, with sub-questions to each main question. Last year, the AP Statistics exam had only 2 questions, but 5 to 6 lettered sub-questions, making a total of 11 free response problems. Senior, Angela Dimaano, took the AP U.S. History exam and the AP Language and Composition exam. Both tests were formatted in a one-question essay. Madison Wong (12) took the AP Language and Composition and AP Statistics exams, explaining how the AP Lang test was one rhetorical analysis essay rather than the usual multiple-choice questions and three essays. Although having different formats and time limits, all exams were open-note.
Students reflected on their experiences taking the first digital AP test last year, and shared the effect going online and at-home had on them. Wong(12) explained the advantages and disadvantages of taking the AP tests at home saying that “an advantage last year was being able to type my essay rather than having to write it all out, since I am faster at typing than I am at writing. Another advantage was having the test be shorter. Normally, the tests are about three hours I think, but all AP tests last year were about an hour, maybe less.” A common advantage for all students was that the tests were open note, something AP Statistics students benefited the most from. Wong continued, “A disadvantage was having to do it at home. My parents were both homes, so I closed my room door and played music to drown out any background noise. I also didn’t have a desk at home at the time because I usually finished most of my homework at school, so I had to take both of my tests with my computer on my bed and me sitting right in front of my bed.” Yu (12) added, “I feel like the online test content and environment worked in my favor because I was able to use my notes, which isn’t normally allowed. Also, they gave an additional 5 minutes to upload your work and it was very stressful to upload on time.” Despite the changes, the College Board adjusted the exams to be fair for all students, including only testing on curriculum taught prior to March 2020 and reducing the amount of questions/time for technological disadvantages.
