Spectrum: Test Companies Scramble (April 4, 2020)

Test Companies Scramble

Brendan Nordstrom ‘21 Staff Writer

On September 12, 1866, the Evansville Daily Journal printed the phrase, “The show must go on,” for the first time in recorded history. The phrase is said to have originated in circus acts when some dilemma or problem arose, meaning that despite this, it must continue as planned.

This same phrase can be applied to the need to move on in tough or dark times, such as what we are living through right now. In times of crisis such as these, it is important to stay strong and try to keep life as normal as possible.

In terms of AP tests and standardized tests, such as the ACT and SAT, they are adjusting as the situation continues and hope to maintain that sense of normalcy.

The AP Board is continuing with this ideology as they plan to maintain course, yet in a new, unconventional way. The traditional in-person, 3-hour AP exam format will be suspended this year, and replaced by a 45-minute online free response exam. Because many students may come from low-income households, they will be providing the materials necessary to review and take the test if one is in need.

The AP Board is also providing students with free learning resources, including live reviews on weekdays in preparation for the test. This is in order to keep stress levels low and make this as small a burden as possible. They will also be providing two separate days in which to take the test in order to be flexible and accommodating.

Another important aspect is that the exam curriculum will be reduced in order to accommodate students who will be unable to return to school. This means that the exam will only cover up to what most students had reached by early March.

Most importantly, colleges have agreed to accept any college credits due to earning proficient scores on the exam. While some may be concerned about the possibility of cheating, the questions are designed to avoid this, and systems have been set in place to detect academic dishonesty.

A concern for high school juniors may also include the administration of the ACT and SAT. The Spring ACT and SAT have already been cancelled. A number of colleges and universities have even elected to forego the standardized testing requirement for admission, therefore making it optional.

This means, at select universities for this year, students may be admitted without submitting an ACT/SAT score. Case Western and University of California, to name a couple, have already agreed to this policy. This list may be expected to grow as the conditions from the COVID-19 pandemic worsen.

However, since all colleges have not conceded to bypass the standardized test requirement, the April ACT has been moved to June. Students registered for the April ACT will be able to reschedule to June free of charge.

The SAT is still unsure what they are going to do at this time, but information will become available soon.

There are still a lot of uncertainties present at this time. However, the AP Board, ACT, and SAT are working as hard as possible to ensure “the show goes on.”