On Feb. 24, 2021, Juandeane Doherty sent out the official schedule of AP Exams for TOHS students. Unlike most years, the AP exams will be taken throughout the full month of March rather than two jam-packed weeks.

Seven AP exams will be taken on paper in-person, while fourteen are being taken virtually. The location and times of the in-person exams have not been determined as of yet.

When classes were forced online almost a full year ago, the College Board was forced to scramble to find a way to allow students to take their AP exams in a safe manner that was still rigorous enough for colleges to accept. The solution was providing 45 minute exams with no multiple choice and one short answer question.

The College Board knew they would not be able to monitor the usage of notes during the exams, so all exams were made an open-note test.

This year, the College Board was prepared to provide digital AP exams. Throughout the year, the College Board has been sending out test questions to students to make sure multiple choice questions, specifically ones with numbers appear correctly on phones, tablets, and computers.

Most exams this year will consist of the usual multiple choice and free response questions with some variations for certain exams for security or accessibility. To read the details on what will be included on your exams, talk to your teacher or read through this page.

The digital and in-person exams both have their advantages and disadvantages. For example, the digital version of the exam offers a more comfortable environment.

“Virtually, I take the test in my kitchen, which is really bright and has better chairs,” senior Sebastian Pouw said. “In person, I would end up in the gym most likely with at least 20 other students taking the same test. With that many students all taking the same test, you can feel the silence, and it always made me nervous.”

However, taking an exam at home provides added distractions that come with being in a familiar environment.

“I do worry slightly I will be easily distracted or zone off,” sophomore Bailey Glass said. “I also worry that the strain of staring at the screen will give me a headache.”

With digital exams, there will always be the constant fear of technology failing at the most inopportune moment.

“Although I didn’t have explicit technology problems, I still disliked the format, “junior Sydney Uliasz said. “I knew people who had to retake tests because of problems out of their control.”