The 2024-2025 school year is the first year that the Advanced Placement (AP) tests and the SAT will be taken online. Past cheating and stolen exam materials has prompted this switch, and with it comes a lot of change to the tests and their administration. The introduction of technology into academics has shaped the way exams are taken both in good and bad ways.
The SAT has been taken as a standardized college readiness test for years, but now the layout is new. The test is shorter, calculators are allowed during the math section and its format is adaptive. This adaptive format means that a student’s answer to previous questions will determine the next question they receive. Designing the test like this may lead to every person having a different test which could have an impact on scores.
There are lots of benefits of the online format. Scores are now available in a matter of days, shortening the waiting time and allowing for more opportunity. There is also a sense of security with an online test due to the fact the scores are less likely to get lost or have an error in them. Along with this, the test day is now shorter, making the experience easier for students and less paper is used.
Similar to the SAT, AP Tests have also made the switch to online. In May of 2025, 16 of the exams will be fully digital and 12 will be hybrid. The hybrid tests will have the questions online but the free-response answers will be written in a booklet, compared to the old, all handwritten, system.
Junior Lauren Pickles said that she likes to take tests online because when there is a long essay involved it becomes hard to write. On the other hand, she feels more focused when testing on paper. Pickles mentions “less distractions” on paper which can lead to problems while testing.
Devices have so many features that they can become overwhelming to students and disrupt their testing. The new format will involve tools that were not available before so it will be important that before the tests students become familiar with the new system so they feel prepared for test day. It’s also necessary that precautions are taken for broken devices, low power, and connection issues. The last thing wanted by test takers is a technology issue that prevents them from completing their exam.
These changes will hopefully lead to positive outcomes, but the impact that this has on the scores will be seen throughout the year and specifically in May, during AP testing.
