AP tests are creeping up with fees being due as well as new information from College Board.

First, all AP test fees are due by February 19th. You can pay your balance online by going to https://az-tucson.intouchreceipting.com/, logging in using your student ID number and last name, and there should be an alert at the top that says how much you owe. You can simply click that and proceed with payment, almost like online shopping! (P.S. The testing fees qualify as a tax credit donation!)

This year, College Board is approaching testing in a different way. Testing will be separated into three windows, and the school district’s AP coordinators will decide what window students will be participating in. TUSD had not yet chosen, but are expected to by the end of February.

Administration 1: May 3-7, 10-12, 14, 17. In-person only.

Administration 2: May 18-21, 24-28. In-person and online.

Administration 3: June 1-4, 7-11. In-person and online.

The tests themselves will also be different than last year in that those online testing will be taking the full test. Depending on what test you are taking, the contents of the online vs in-person exam may differ. For example, on the AP U.S. History exam:

In-person contents: MCQ, 3 SAQ, 1 DBQ, 1 LEQ with question options.

Online contents: MCQ, 5 SEQ, 1 DBQ with no question options.

If you want to see the contents of your specific test, go here.

Another important difference between the tests is that you cannot go back and change any of your answers online. If you are 15 questions into the multiple-choice and realize you answered number 5 wrong, you’re fresh out of luck. You also must take the digital exam on a desktop/laptop (no tablets or phones), you will have to download a lockdown browser, and more information will be released on how College Board plans to prevent cheating closer to the testing date.

So… if reading this totally stressed you out, don’t worry. You’re not alone.

“I feel College Board truly can care less on students’ mental health regarding AP exams. (…) The fact that during the AP exams, students are not allowed to go back to questions when a study guide book that I have, that college board made THEMSELVES, says to go back on questions you don’t know??? I smell hypocrisy in the air. Doing the exams online is more realistic in my situation, but the College Board is pretty much intentionally setting students up for failure. (…) At this point, why hasn’t Gen Z canceled College Board?” Paula Le who is a junior, clearly, is very upset at how the organization is handling the exams this year.

We students can all relate to the stress and unfairness of not only AP testing, but also other standardized tests. We’re being thrown into taking difficult tests when I can almost guarantee most of us can’t remember the last time we didn’t google answers. It’s important to remember that these tests won’t define you as a student or what you have or haven’t learned this crazy year, you may save some money and time in college though.