To Test, or Not to Test

APs: The announcement that the College Board would still administer the exams amidst the pandemic shocked all AP students. Given the unprecedented times, exam details were constantly changing, and it was hard for students and teachers to continually adapt to the ongoing adjustments. The College Board cut out part of the curriculum in every class, changed every exam format, and attempted to construct a reliable software to take the exams in only a matter of less than two months.

On the day of my AP exam, I logged into my AP account only to be kicked out of my account 5 minutes before my exam was supposed to begin. I lost all my progress for the information that I had filled in before, and I genuinely thought I would be unable to take the test. I sat at my computer in tears while my dad frantically tried to figure out what was going on. I ran downstairs with all of my materials to my brother's computer, where I was finally able to log in. So there I was, my eyes puffy, my heart racing, and my stress levels were through the roof all because of a faulty computer. Thankfully I was able to take my test, but not before a computer screen launched me into a panic. Similar problematic stories can be heard from all over the country: students who faced computer problems, tech issues, and who didn't even learn some of the curriculum on the test.

The AP exams were poorly organized this year, and it became clear that the College Board did not care for the students. This corporation did not care about students’ technology issues or lack of technological resources. There was no regard for the students’ mental health, feelings, or wants when College Board decided to hold AP exams. All that seemed to matter was the money that would be lost if the College Board canceled the examinations. If one thing has become apparent during this pandemic, it’s that the College Board’s “care” for students only translates to the monetary value that they receive from them.

SAT: Since the pandemic has caused mass SAT cancellations, many colleges and universities have opted to go “test optional” for applicants applying to the Fall 2021 semester. However, “test optional” does not mean “test blind” and for many high school seniors on the brink of admissions, a great SAT score can push them to acceptance. The cancellations of SATs were frustrating, especially since I spent a large portion of my junior year preparing for them. I spent months preparing for the March SAT at North, only for it to be canceled 24 hours before I was supposed to take it. All spring SATs were canceled as well, which led to a rush to sign up for the summer SATs. The summer SATs were nearly impossible to get a seat at. Less than one hour after the priority sign up, every testing center in Rockland was full for incoming seniors who did not have any scores, forcing many students to travel out of state.

Finding a seat for the SAT proved to be a nightmare, with the test centers closing the day before the tests, spots filling up minutes after being announced, and schools not offering any tests at all. The fact that every test I had signed up for since March had been canceled pushed my friends and me to journey to Connecticut to take the September SATs. Having to travel almost two hours away to take a test and drive two hours back proved to be extremely draining. For each test, my four friends and I woke up at 4:30 AM to drive, stop for breakfast, and sit outside the test center until they let us in. We then had to sit through the agonizing 4 hours to take our tests, and after the tests, we were exhausted. Unlike most schools, my top school was not test-optional. The school requires SAT scores as a part of the application, forcing me to drive to Connecticut another 4 times to take additional tests in an attempt to improve my score. North had open spots, but with a new pattern emerging of test centers closing the day before a test, I decided to take it in Connecticut. The SATs are already stressful enough, and to have kids going out of state to take them adds another level of stress and exhaustion to the mix. By the time each test was done, I would walk out with a headache, only to clamber back into my car and make the long drive home.

This school year’s overall consensus has been made abundantly clear as even the highest achieving students reached their breaking points. The College Board is simply hungry for money, and although students across the country have bought into this system, it seems to be a waste of time and money alike. Like the Regents, the SATS favor the wealthy students, as they can hire private tutors or attend expensive prep classes, therefore receiving a higher score. It puts lower-income students at a disadvantage. Many schools went test-optional this year, and it seems more favorable for every student to have this option moving forward. If there can only be one takeaway from 2020, it should definitely be that mental health is the most important thing to succeed. A test that depletes energy, time and the state of a student's mental health surely should not be implemented any longer. It is an outdated and ineffective way to determine college acceptance, especially if a student is a weak test taker yet an extraordinary student in class.