The AP exams, normally the most anticipated part of any AP student’s year, were greatly affected by schools’ foolhardy decisions to close in the wake of a global pandemic. While many prospective test-takers, me included, were distraught to find out we might not be able to take the exam, we were soon reassured that while economies were struggling, and thousands were dying, the AP exams would still be a thing. Unfortunately, the exams, riveting three-hour assessments typically containing around 50 multiple choice questions and then timed essays/open-ended responses, had to be shortened to 50 minutes, and the multiple choice section (the hard part) was removed. I initially feared that these tests wouldn’t be as good as usual, but after taking them, I was pleasantly surprised.
My favorite thing about the 2020 exams was probably the length. Many people would say that trying to pack an entire year’s worth of learning into a 50-minute essay might make it more stressful. However, I actually found it to be quite the opposite. Having less time on the test gave me less time to fail. I also heard complaints that featuring only a single unit on the assessment, which students may or may not recall, is unfair. All I can say is this: If you don’t remember every single thing that you’ve learned since the beginning of the year, you’re a failure at life. Moving on.
One fear going into the exam was that all the rich kids would cheat and hire people to take the test for them. However, if the college admissions scandal has taught us anything, it’s that these students/parents know they’ll be caught, discouraging this kind of behavior. I can’t imagine anyone would lie on the identification section before the exam, and the security measures—having students input their AP IDs and birthdays—are virtually unhackable. There isn’t even anything to hack! All in all, this exam was as equitable as they come.
I think the 2020 exams were an improvement on an already good test, and I hope they are continued into the next school year. When the whole world was shutting down, these exams were there for me, reminding me that no matter how bad things seem, they can always get worse.
Screenshot from collegeboard.org
