AP exams go digital, sparking concern
The scratch of pencils bubbling in multiple-choice test answers is a familiar and comfortable sound for many students. However, following the advent of standardized test digitization, Advanced Placement (AP) exams will be taken on computers, rather than paper, beginning with the current AP exam window, May 5-16. This change has prompted anticipation and concern among students and teachers.
The current testing window marks a shift to an online format nationwide. This change was made to enhance security and efficiency.
Tesla STEM High School junior Keerthi Rajesh feels prepared to do well with the subject matter on her AP Computer Science A exam. However, she is concerned that the digital format will impact her concentration.
“I think I concentrate better on paper because I can highlight and underline. Whereas on the computer, I can’t, so I think it’ll test my ability to concentrate,” Rajesh said.
The lack of in-school practice with the new format adds to Rajesh’s worry.
“We’ve also had no practice with the online exams. At school, when we take practice exams, we take them on paper, so we don’t ever prepare on a computer,” Rajesh said.
According to Eastlake junior Harini Saravanan, testing on a computer means students’ comfort with technology could also affect how well they perform.
“The format affects the ability for us to pace, especially in writing essays, because the typing speeds among people really does vary,” Saravanan said.
Adding to the complexity are hybrid exams that combine online and paper sections.
Tesla STEM freshman Varnika Elenthendral believes that taking the hybrid AP Physics 1 exam will feel completely different from any test she has written.
“Since the free response questions are going to be on paper, I think that’s easier for me, since somehow I work things out better if I’m writing on paper as compared to drawing it on a laptop. For multiple choice, it’s just easier to click through answers,” Elenthendral said.
Teachers express a range of concerns, too.
Tesla STEM AP biology teacher Marisa Williamson, 36, worries about technical glitches and the limited ability to mark up, or annotate, documents digitally.
“I was frustrated after hearing the shift of the AP exams because I think that there’s a lot more likely to be technological issues that hurt the kids in terms of just making it more challenging for them to take the exam. For example, when they’re answering their questions, their formula sheet, when it opens, covers the questions, so you can’t look at the formula sheet and the question at the same time,” Williamson said.
Eastlake AP Computer Science Principles teacher Jon Formantes, 31, also raised concerns about the lack of specific training and resources for the new online platform, known as Bluebook.
“They haven’t given us anything specific about Bluebook, and I can’t seem to find a lot of stuff about it. I feel like it would be nice to have the ability to get students to practice on Bluebook,” Formantes said.
Eastlake AP statistics teacher Gregory Emerson, 52, acknowledges the shift as inevitable but points to the challenges of a learning curve.
“I think the biggest disadvantage is just for the kids to get used to something that they haven’t experienced before,” Emerson said.
