What about AP? Hear from students on how they’re preparing for an unprecedented test format

The College Board announced on April 3 that students taking an AP test this year would trade the silent testing room for their own home and the normal three-hour tests would be shortened to 45 minutes of free response questions. Read below for reactions from students to the testing changes, from a junior taking six AP tests to a sophomore taking their first one. 

Isa Rogler – Junior

AP Tests: AP Calc AB, AP English, AP US History, AP Biology 2, AP Spanish 5 and  AP Psychology

How are you preparing for the tests?

“Since school’s not in session, I feel like it’s been really hard to stay on track. If I didn’t have the tests school would basically be over, but I have to stay on track of what I’m learning so I know what’s on the test. The AP website has some good stuff to keep me on track, and I’ve been using Khan Academy for math. It’s kind of hard to stay focused, but my teachers are trying to keep us updated on what’s going on and giving us resources.”

What do you think of the new test format?

“To be honest, I feel like it’s a little bit of a rip off, because I had to pay $100 for each test. We were preparing all year for a certain format, but now a lot of my tests are only two questions. I feel like it’s going to either be really easy or really hard, and it’s hard to know how the scores are going to look this year. I’m not really a fan of how [AP] handled the situation, but I don’t know what else they could do because it’s at home.” 

Do you think the new format will affect how well you do on the tests?

“I think it’s going to be pretty hard for some people not to cheat. And I definitely think I’m going to do worse because we haven’t been in school for months before the test and also since you don’t know what’s going to be on the questions specifically it’s going to be hard to know everything for two questions. I don’t know if scores are going to mean as much when colleges look at them for credit because this is such a different year and things are kind of off.”

Do you have any tests that will be hard to do at home?

“Spanish, which would’ve been hard already. A lot of it is speaking and you respond to a person’s conversations almost. At home, that will maybe be easier with less people talking around you but I’m afraid something will go wrong, like my audio won’t work or my headphones are off. That one’s going to be really hard at home because now we need to do a lot more talking and there’s no more multiple choice, which is most people’s best part.”

Franzi Zueckert – Junior

AP Tests: AP Chemistry 2, AP French 5 and AP English

How are you preparing for the tests?

“I’ve been attempting to watch the AP videos on Youtube that they made free. For chemistry I’ve been Zooming with Mr. Appier twice a week.”

What do you think of the new test format?

“It’s bad circumstances obviously, but I feel like it’s a good opportunity to do well since it’s shorter. But there’s also a lot more room for error. You can’t mess up as much as you could on the big test because you have less points to make up for stuff that you missed.”

Do you think the new format will affect how well you do on the tests?

“Yeah, I think that it’s bad because it’s not really a standardized test anymore at that point, because the environment that you’re taking it in isn’t standardized. Someone could have a bunch of siblings running around and not be able to focus and someone else could have a completely empty house. It’s not like you’re going to be doing as well as you would be doing at school.”

Do you have any tests that will be hard to do at home?

“English is one of those things that I have a hard time focusing on when I’m writing an essay. I think French will be hard too, because you have to speak and record yourself which will be a struggle.” 

Will Green – Senior

AP Tests: AP Statistics, AP Government, and AP Calculus AB

How are you preparing for the tests?

“I haven’t started so far. I’m probably just going to start prepping at the end of the month and wing them pretty much.”

What do you think of the new test format?

“I think it’s stupid. They should have just cancelled all of the tests for this year and given us the scores that we needed for college credit.”

Do you think the new format will affect how well you do on the tests?

“Yes. I don’t do well with online formats in general so I think that it will negatively affect my score.”

Aaron Ralston – Sophomore

AP Test: AP European History

How are you preparing for the tests?

“My teacher has everything planned out for different units. There are different topics and questions that we can answer of stuff that will be on the test. I’m planning to start next week so I can finish it by the test.” 

What do you think of the new test format?

“I think it’s going to be easier since it’s open note. I’m going to print out all of my notes and label them and sort them in different sections, so I think it’ll make it easier to remember things.” 

Do you think the new format will affect how well you do on the tests?

“I think it’s going to make everyone do better on the tests since there are more resources available during the testing time. I think it’ll make the scores mean less because everyone is going to get a better score.”

Since this is your first test, do you think it’s better or worse to do it at home?

“I think it’ll be better because it doesn’t take as much time as the full tests and I can organize all of my notes and stuff.”