AP test changes

Avery Jones • April 14, 2020

[/media-credit] Due to COVID-19, all AP students will have to take AP tests at home unless school resumes, April 13.

Due to COVID-19, CollegeBoard is allowing students to complete their AP classes by taking their AP Exam online on any device they have access to.

Most exams will have one or two free-response questions, and each question will be timed separately. Students will need to write and submit their responses within the allotted time for each question.

Fresno Christian currently offers four AP courses this school year including, AP Calculus, AP statistics, AP United States History and AP English Language and Composition. A total of 49 FC students are enrolled throughout these classes.

AP United States History teacher, Kori Friesen shares the biggest change in the test she will be giving her students in May.

“My students begin training for the 3.5 hour test in September,” Friesen said. “Normally there are four sections on this test, each with its own difficulty. This year the College board has chosen a reduced version of only one section, the dreaded DBQ. What’s surprising is that the students will only have one shot at it. Having multiple sections allows for variations of strengths in testing skills. You either can or you can’t write a passing DBQ according to their new 10 point rubric.”

CollegeBoard is offering optional free, online AP classes and take-at-home AP Exams in support of students continuing their AP classes.

AP stats an calculus teacher, Scott Bucher explains the differences between this years testing with the previous years.

“With calculus the test used to be broken up into two parts with two sections in each part,” Bucher said. “There was the Multiple Choice section and the free response section. Each section had a calculator section and a non-calculator section. Each section was roughly 45 minutes long, so the test was about 3 hours long. The test was very carefully monitored and obviously without notes or any other materials to help. This year the test is a single section, 45 minutes long. It is free response with calculator and with notes and resources. It will be administered at home.”

Another test that has been changed is the AP English language and composition. The following modifications for the AP Literature exam are as follows:

45 minutes instead of 3 hours
There will be only one prompt and it will be a Prose Essay Analysis
Students are permitted to use notes and resources during the test
The essay can either be typed or handwritten and then uploaded
Testing will begin the week of May 11th-22nd

AP testing schedule:

Tues, May 12, AP Calculus

Fri, May 15, AP United States History

Wed, May 20, AP English Language and Composition

Fri, May 22, AP Statistics

In order to receive college credit for the AP class, the student must take a cumulative test at the end of the school year and receive a high enough test score.

For more information on AP test updates, head to the CollegeBoard website.

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