Advanced Placement (AP) exams became digital or hybrid for the first time in history, teachers and students developed strategies to transition to this mode of testing. College Board announced this change in July 2024 to “ensure the continued security of AP exams.” Paper exams will still be available for language tests and students approved by College Board.
AP testing coordinator for District 219 Eunice Kim explains the benefits of switching to digital testing.
“Some benefits of digital testing include that there is no risk of losing student materials, late test orders can be processed more efficiently without waiting for physical materials to arrive, multiple choice sections are more secure and are scored more quickly, students can type their essays in Bluebook instead of handwriting them, AP Exam Readers can read typed essays more easily and the digital format significantly reduces paper usage, which is great news for our environment,” Kim said.
Student opinion on the change differed, with some enjoying the computer platform and finding it helpful.
“With computers the entire test was easier to complete. For the writing section I didn’t have to worry about my handwriting, my hand hurting or scribbling out words, and for the multiple-choice I didn’t have to fill it bubbles or anything like that,” junior Wyatt Nordena said.
Others test-takers found the new format change difficult and not as swift as the traditional paper exams.
“I think it works mostly well for writing the essays, but for the multiple choice questions, it’s just a lot of staring at a screen and it honestly made me not comprehend the stuff I was reading in the passages, which made it a lot more difficult and I think a lot of the tools like crossing things out were just not as effective as just using a pencil and paper to do it,” junior Charlotte Herbert said
AP History teacher Scott Dahlberg reflects on his efforts to simulate the digital testing experience accurately for his students.
“The problem for me is trying to create the same kinds of tests throughout the year that align with the AP test. I thought it’s very difficult to do, since AP classroom isn’t even the same as Bluebook. Those are slightly different. So it’d be great if [College Board] gave teachers some fake version of Bluebook to incorporate into Canvas and then use all year long, so that the AP test feels like the other tests that kids take during the year. To me, that’s the only weakness,” Dahlberg said.
In case of technological problems, the district has set protocols to address any potential issues on test day.
“All testing rooms are equipped with laptop carts containing extra Chromebooks as backup devices, the technology department has checked for strong Wi-Fi signals and speeds in all testing areas, tech staff are on standby during testing days for immediate support… I held a two-hour virtual training session with all proctors to review digital exam procedures, teachers and students were asked to complete digital readiness checks using detailed instructions I provided, I hired and assigned additional proctors, especially for the first day of testing, to ensure smooth operations and quick troubleshooting if needed.
