Guess what! Starting this year, all AP exams are going to be online! That means no more filling in bubbles with pencils or sitting in a big classroom for hours. Students can now take their AP tests on a computer, whether in a classroom or in a gym, whatever the school says.
This is a big change because for a long time, all AP exams have only been on paper. There were some online but most made you use a pencil for 3 hours. Students would have to write essays by hand and check their answers carefully before turning in a huge test packet. Now, with everything online, it’s faster, neater, and maybe even a little less scary.
Some students are excited about this change. They say typing is easier than writing, and it will help them finish much faster and leave them with more time to check their answers. Others like how they can go back and forth to fix their answers with just a few clicks of their mouse. Plus, reading questions on a screen is sometimes easier than on paper.
But not everyone is happy about it. Some students worry that their computers might crash or that the internet could stop working during the test. That would be super stressful! Teachers are also a little nervous. They have to make sure all the students know how to use the new system and that everyone has a working device on test day.
The people who run the AP program, called College Board, say that they have tested the new system a lot and made sure it fully and efficiently works. They also made sure students can still take the test in a fair and safe way. The online exam still has the same kind of questions as before, and it’s still like before.
Even though it’s different, the goal is still the exact same. Passing the exams will help students get the college credit they took the class for. AP classes are pretty tough, and the exams are a really big deal. However, with everything going online, it might take some stress off for students and give them a new modern, simplified feel. This will all be much better for today’s students.
So, if you are in highschool and getting ready to take an AP exam, get ready to log in to your computer and show what you know! You got this!