Due to the current Coronavirus outbreak, College Board has decided that this year's AP Tests will be online. Instead of the normal three hour exam, there will be a shortened 45 minute version. College Board has not said exactly what the test will entail, but they have said that it will have no multiple choice.

Some people are concerned that this shortened test will not be fair for all students.

“It is the only option we have at this point. Students have put in an extraordinary amount of work into their AP courses and deserve an opportunity to obtain college credit,” Assistant Principal and Testing Coordinator Mr. Keating said. The testing dates could not be pushed back due to college admissions processes; the only option was to have an online test.

However, College Board is taking measures to make sure that they can make the test as fair as possible.

“Because of the uncertainty of this situation, the College Board is allowing students that have already had a test ordered for them to opt out of testing. If you do not want to take an AP test, you do not have to,” Keating said. In addition to opting out, students have an option of two test dates, and to hand-write the test and turn it in.

Even though some people will opt out of the test, taking an AP class still will have its benefits.

"I think that the value of taking an AP course goes far beyond the importance of taking one test. AP classes are rigorous and reflect the content and pace of a college class,” AP English Language teacher Mrs. Jeffcoat said. After taking a college level course the whole year, students will be better prepared for the future.

With an at-home online test, there is always a suspicion of cheating from students. With nobody watching, some students will be urged to look at their notes or use some sort of aid.

“I hope and pray that Badin students are not tempted to cheat or be academically dishonest in any way. The College Board is utilizing a variety of different plagiarism detectors and will structure essay questions in a way that forces students to synthesize material rather than restate facts and information,” Keating said. The test only gives students 45 minutes to write a whole essay. Using notes could take up too much time for it to be useful for students on the test.

Students may be more or less intimidated by this new test format. It is obviously much shorter than the normal test, but some students may be intimidated by the new form.

“I am definitely less intimidated by the length of the test and doing it at my house adds some level of comfort as well. However, it is a whole new style and the time management strategies will likely be different, and I don’t feel as prepared for that as I would like,” AP student Mitchell Peel said.

Students have been preparing for a normal AP test the whole year and some feel slightly unprepared for this change.

Along with concerns over the format, students are concerned that one essay will make or break their whole college credit. “AP is going to inform students by April 3 which of the three types of essays they will be writing. This will allow students time to practice that particular essay format and prepare. Students who take responsibility by practicing online should be prepared and ready,” Jeffcoat said.

College Board will be posting free practice tests online for students to study. AP teachers at Badin will be focusing extra hard on the type of question that the students will be receiving in order to prepare for the test.

Mr. Keating has been hosting Zoom sessions with students to go over the format of the test. Any student that has missed these sessions can contact Mr. Keating or their teacher for information. Badin teachers have been doing their best to adjust to the situation and to make sure their students are prepared.