Madison Rivera, Crystal Wang
The recent takeover of technology has finally reached College Board, the organization that issues Advanced Placement (AP) exams, causing the transitioning of all exams to a new, digital format. This shift started with the SATs last school year and now moves onto AP exams, which will be taken digitally for the first time this year.
Starting in May 2025, traditional paper testing will be discontinued for 28 AP exams. These exams will be conducted using the Bluebook digital testing application. Out of the 28 exams, 12 will have a hybrid format, incorporating both pen-and-paper and digital elements. However, the College Board plans to eventually make eight of these exams fully digital.
Recognizing the challenges posed by this new change, Cardozo High School is committed to facilitating a smooth transition for all students enrolled in AP courses with support from AP teachers and Mrs. Rothenberg, the assistant principal of data and testing, the school aims to make the switch from paper to digital as seamless as possible.
Ms. Rothenberg acknowledged that the change in testing format have both pros and cons.
“I think it’s good because it makes it a lot easier to coordinate the exam, in the sense that we don’t have to distribute paper booklets,” she explained. “If students forget a pencil, it’s not a big deal anymore. Many programs have built-in calculators, so if a student forgets theirs, one is readily available during the exam.”
Despite the many benefits, Cardozo faces challenges with bandwidth—essentially the amount of data transmitted over an internet connection at a given time.
With over 300 students taking a test simultaneously, Wi-Fi reliability can become a significant issue, which can open the possibility to extended difficulties on exam day. Ms. Rothenberg added, “It’s a lot of logistics to figure out, but overall, I lean towards the positive side of it.”
Teachers at Cardozo who teach AP courses also have mixed opinions about the new testing format, recognizing its pros and cons, as well.
Ms. Masterson, an AP Macro teacher, expressed concerns, sharing, “I’m not crazy about it because we spend so much time drawing graphs. Although my exam is hybrid, I always remind students to create graphs, and I’m worried about how they’ll manage that on the computer while having to graph separately.”
Mr. Glasel, an AP Physics teacher, shared similar concerns, stating, “I’m worried about the free-response section and how it will be graded online.”
“I doubt they’ll provide an electronic mouse pad for students to write their answers. While the multiple-choice aspect is fine, the free-response raises concerns about grading accuracy and assessment quality,” he added.
However, Mr. Glasel pointed out a benefit, expressing, “It will limit cheating, if any, and it’s more efficient, which might lead to grades being released earlier than in July.”
Some students, on the other hand, have expressed their unhappiness with the shift to digital testing. “I’m upset because I’m so used to writing on paper,” said Kyle Chen, a Cardozo senior.
Another senior, Yuvraj Singh shared, “I think it’s terrible because I can’t type that fast.”
These response showcase the anxiety that many students are beginning to feel about adapting to a digital format after years of relying on pen and paper for major exams.
In contrast to student concerns, Ms. Rothenberg is determined to help students adjust to the digital testing environment.
She plans to collaborate with AP teachers to provide laptop cards for practice tests, expressing, “The College Board is also releasing practice tests through AP Classroom that teachers can assign to their students.”
As well, for students without access to a device at home or for those who cannot visit a library after school, Cardozo offers the option to sign out a device, ensuring they can keep up with preparations for the new digital AP exams throughout the school year, too.
