With the COVID-19 pandemic causing schools to close and go online, many high school students wonder about their Advanced Placement tests. The College Board has recently released information detailing changes to the testing structure.

“Normally, we would prepare the whole class [for the AP exam] and we would review all the different sections. Because of our situation, I am just going to be providing resources for those who are taking the exam,” said AP Language and Composition teacher Philip Hamilton

In the past, most tests involved around an hour of multiple-choice questions and then followed by free-response questions. The timing varied per subject with most science free-response sections taking close to an hour and a half, humanities taking two hours and math subjects would vary between 90 minutes and 105 minutes. This year’s AP tests will be online and will consist of only free-response questions or essays within a 45-minute time period.

“Students will go online on their phone, tablet or laptop. They can also use a pencil and paper then submit a picture [of their response],” Hamilton said

The College Board has also provided review videos for students on their YouTube channel. Each video is taught by AP teachers across the country.

“I am taking four [AP] tests and the fact that they’re all mostly writing is a bit nerve-wracking. I’ve been following the AP Instagram and asking teachers for the best ways to prepare,” junior Jaycie Swift said.

Now that schools have gone online as well, students and teachers are changing how they prepare for the test since many aspects, such as the multiple-choice portion, have been removed. The content of the test will also focus on the material that was covered before continuous learning began in order to lessen the pressure to learn information independently for the test. 

“You should keep working on the material and thinking about the topics, the content, the ideas a1nd the skills,” said AP Psychology and AP US History teacher Micah Tenner.