As the school year draws to a close, thousands of students find themselves facing one last major obstacle before summer break: AP testing season. Each year, over 2.5 million students nationwide sit for Advanced Placement exams, tests that test not only knowledge but also endurance, strategy, and nerves. The AP experience is more than just a series of tests; it’s a psychological challenge shaped by institutional expectations and the high stakes of college admissions.

AP exams are offered in 38 subjects, with the most popular courses including English Language, U.S. History, and World History. The testing format has evolved, with the major transition this year from paper to digital for most subjects. Students now face a multitude of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and various free-response questions (FRQs), each demanding a different set of skills. The digital shift means students must adapt quickly, mastering both content and technology as they navigate the Bluebook app and, for some subjects, continue to handwrite math and science responses. For example, the Bluebook testing app has multiple options for highlighting, adding notes, and a reader blackout if desired. Additionally, students have to become familiar with Desmos, which hovers annoyingly in a small window beside your test on the screen. Becoming familiar with the new format may pose new challenges to students who prefer paper and overall to students who find this adjustment somewhat difficult. 

The psychological skill of test-taking is as crucial as content mastery. Many students describe the challenge of choosing “the College Board way” over their own instincts when answering questions, a tension that can feel like a test of conformity as much as knowledge. Teachers, too, walk a fine line, balancing the need to teach to the College Board rubric while encouraging authentic student thought in FRQs.  Generally, tests have short answers, long answers, and document based questions. Students have to be well-versed in how the AP college board judges wish the writing to be formatted, along with being able to quickly adapt and write relevant information in their responses. 

Multiple choice questions, while efficient and objective, have a complicated history set of limitations. Originating during World War I as a tool to quickly assess recruits’ intelligence, MCQs were  designed for efficiency rather than depth of understanding. According to research from Rutgers University, MCQs offer benefits such as rapid grading, saving teachers time, and reducing subjectivity. This frees educators from labor-intensive grading, allowing them to focus potentially more on instruction and student support. However, MCQs often promote memorization just for the sake of memorization rather than higher level thinking, and often leads to students being tested on their test taking skills rather than their knowledge of the actual material itself. For example, students can sometimes deduce answers through elimination without needing to fully understand the content, which can be frustrating for learners who excel and write but struggle with bubbling a “forced” choice. As the education community continues to learn about the different types of learners, it is becoming increasingly clear that there can be discrepancies within MCQ testing when a student is perfectly well versed in the material, just not necessarily the way the test works. 

In contrast, the free-response sections of AP exams offer a unique opportunity for students to demonstrate nuanced understanding and original thought. According to the College Board, FRQs require learners to construct arguments, analyze documents, and synthesize information-skills that align closely with college-level expectations. Writing sections suit many learners better because they allow for expression beyond selecting from predetermined options. Research from educational institutions underscores that writing assessments promote higher-order thinking and provide richer feedback opportunities, making the learning process more transparent and meaningful. For students who thrive in proving their knowledge through writing but struggle with multiple-choice, FRQs can be a chance to shine and demonstrate true mastery.

For students, the outcome of AP exams can mean college credit, advanced placement, or simply the satisfaction of surviving a high-stress rite of passage. Yet, the reality is that college credit policies vary widely, and the value of an AP score depends on the institution. Still, the experience itself is formative and tests resilience and adaptability. General test-taking strategies become survival tools: answer the easy questions first, return to the tough ones, and never leave an answer blank. Remember that AP only counts the correct questions. The shift to four-answer MCQs has changed the game, requiring even sharper elimination skills.

As you head into AP testing season, remember that the acorn AP logo, the bane of many students’ existence, is also a symbol of potential and growth. With each test, you’re not just chasing a score; you’re developing the endurance and skills that will prove to be useful in the next chapters of your life, whatever that may be. Good luck, and don’t get too flustered, after all, it’s just a test…