COVID caused  the academic world to adapt. Digital exams have now replaced in person standardized tests. However, now that COVID restrictions have been lifted, AP exams have resumed in the manner in which they were carried out pre-COVID. However, the CollegeBoard recently came out with a statement which stated that “In-school digital exams are available for 7 AP subjects in May 2023 (48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C. only).” 

AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP European History, AP Seminar, AP U.S. History and AP World History: Modern are the 7 AP subjects that are offered digitally.

Students will take the AP exam on school administered chromebooks, Windows and Mac laptops and desktops and iPads.

All aspects of the exam are the same as the paper version, except for the fact that students will be able to type their essays in lieu of handwriting them. 

It is up to each school to decide whether or not they choose to administer the digital exam. According to CollegeBoard, “Schools can choose to give digital, paper, or both.” If a school chooses to administer both, the decision of paper vs. digital would be left up to the student. 

Glenbard South has not come out yet with a statement about which test they will be administering, but a handful of Glenbard AP students have a clear idea of which test version they would choose if they were given the choice.

Mary Kate Pinkelman, a junior who is currently taking AP English Language and Composition and AP U.S. History, stated that if she were given the choice between paper and digital and paper she would choose paper. She explained that she “prefers taking tests on paper since it is more comprehensible.” However, Pinkelman agreed that typing essays would be beneficial so that the essay tests less on how fast you can write, and more on how well you can truly write.  Her only concern with digital AP exams is technical difficulties that may arise.

Similarly, Bryn Showalter, a senior who has taken AP European History, AP English Language and Composition and AP U.S. History, stated that she would choose a paper exam because she would have a “hard time focusing on the iPad.” She also added that she feels an iPad exam may be more tiring than a paper exam. 

Arya Nade, a senior who has taken AP European History, AP English Language and Composition and AP U.S. History and is currently taking AP English Literature and Composition, had a similar viewpoint as Showalter and Pinkelman. Nade stated that “personally, it’s hard for me to focus on digital tests, it hurts my eyes and I tend to have to reread multiple times on digital tests. It’s easier to highlight/underline on a hard copy and I follow the reading excerpt better.” 

Tia Knuth, a junior currently taking AP English Language and Composition, agrees that the screen time would hurt her eyes. Knuth also added that she is used to writing her essays on paper since that is how English classes have been structured in the past.

Despite Nade’s preference for paper exams, she believes digital exams could lead to less paper wastage and possibly faster score reports. 

Maddie Weber, a senior, and Lorenza Foster-Simbulan, a junior, also agreed with Nade on the fact that digital exams would save paper and be more environmentally friendly.

Erika Hartman, a junior who is currently enrolled in AP English Language and Composition and AP U.S. History, stated that she would choose to take her exams digitally. In explanation, Hartman referred to the streamlined process of typing essays as opposed to handwriting them. 

Lauren Field, a senior, agreed with Hartman that digital exams would allow for students to get more words on the page and therefore make the written portion of tests easier for students.

Colin Luangrath, a senior who has taken AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Language and Composition, AP European History and AP U.S. History, stated he would prefer digital exams for subjects with a lot of writing. He believes that subjects without writing should not be offered digitally since it increases the possibility of technical issues. However, when it comes to subjects with a large portion of writing, he believes that the pros (including typing speed) outweighs the cons (including technical difficulties).

Digital AP exams offer a multitude of pros and cons that each AP student will have to consider before deciding which test they would like to take. For more information check out the CollegeBoard website regarding digital exams at this link: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/exam-administration-ordering-scores/digital-ap-exams