Many high school students who wish to earn college credits before they graduate from high school take AP (Advanced Placement) classes. AP courses have high workloads to simulate the increase in work in college. At the end of the school year, students take their AP exams, and to get their college credit, they need to pass. The exams are graded on a scale of 1-5; every college has different requirements for the scores needed to get credit. Usually, students earning a 3,4, or 5 will get the college credit for that specific course.

During the 2025 school year, a big change was made to these exams. All the tests have become either fully digital or hybrid digital. The hybrid digital exams are used for most of the math and science tests, because they require more writing that can’t be done on a computer, however, the multiple choice sections for each exam are completely digital. These major changes have caused mixed opinions between students and teachers, but I think the paper tests were better for everyone involved.

I think paper tests are better for everyone because there is a lot less that can go wrong with them. Many students experienced getting randomly logged out during the test or having wifi problems that delayed the start of the test. These things can cause added stress for students who are already very stressed about passing the test.

Although paper tests might make the job of the proctors a little more intensive, they ensure the security of the test and minimize the risk of unexpected technology issues throughout the test.