By Aidan Cook I
The coronavirus pandemic has caused everyone to reconsider how to assess students as they start thinking about college. This year, the College Board, the institution that organizes and administers most of the standardized tests high schoolers take as they apply to college, has announced that AP tests will be given remotely and that SAT tests will be cancelled until at least August. These changes have far-reaching implications in the college process for not only juniors but also younger students.
For many students, the subject-based AP exams are a way to demonstrate what they have learned in a more rigorous class environment. Instead of the usual in-person exams in May, when students around the country sit for three-hour exams at school, the College Board will be administering a remote 45-minute version of the tests. Each subject test is new in its own and unique way, but most tests seem to focus on free-response questions. The tests will also be open-book, allowing students to refer to notes and other materials when writing their responses. The College Board has reassured students that “it won’t be more difficult to earn a 3, 4, or 5 this year” and that “AP Exams are never graded on a curve—and this year’s exams are no different. You’re not competing against any other students. There’s no maximum or minimum number of students who can receive a specific score.”
There are certainly concerns about cheating, though. As with any take-home test, it is impossible for the College Board to accurately determine if the writing submitted by each student is in fact their own. While there are some “plagiarism detection” measures in place, nothing prevents students from calling their friends on the phone while taking the exam (not a suggestion!). While the College Board may reassure students that it won’t be more difficult to get a certain score, they neglect the fact that a 5 on an AP exam this year may not mean much to elite colleges and universities.
One possible solution is for the AP classes and exams to return to fulfilling their original intent: providing students a method of getting college credits in high school.
One possible solution is for the AP classes and exams to return to fulfilling their original intent: providing students a method of getting college credits in high school. The exams were never meant to provide just another metric for college admissions officers to assess students by, but this is exactly what they have become. Perhaps this year, it makes sense for institutions to refuse considering AP exams in the admissions process, thus reducing the incentives to cheat on the exams.
Colleges and universities across the country are already going test-optional for the coming years, a trend accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic. According to a CNN article from a few weeks ago, Tufts University has already announced going test-optional for a three-year period starting in 2021, and the University of California system is also not requiring standardized tests for students applying for Fall 2021. By making applying easier for all types of students, application numbers are bound to increase, making these already competitive institutions even more so.
