Later AP Tests are fair and convenient

By Stacy Cruz
Staff Writer

Students who are unable to attend their scheduled AP tests must take a makeup exam to receive their AP credit. This later exam is not only convenient for these busy students, but is also fair in its testing of these student.

Under certain circumstances, it becomes necessary for students to take their AP exam later than the original scheduled date. These certain specific condition can include personal emergencies, having 3 or more AP tests in one day, having 2 AP tests on the same day and at the same time, or a strike/labor issue.

If these conditions apply, students can take their respective AP test at a later scheduled time for no additional cost. If a students’ reasoning for missing the original exam has to do with prior academic, athletic, or family commitments, they must pay an additional $45.

According to the College Board website, alternate exams are equivalent in depth and difficulty to the regularly scheduled exams. Despite this rule, according to AP Biology teacher Dan Sponagle, many previous students have stated the make-up exams were much more difficult than what they heard the original exam was like.
This reported increase in difficulty of the later exam is fair, due to the extended amount of time students are given to prepare for the exam. If the make-up exams were of equal difficulty, such as collegeboard.com claims, then this would give the make-up students an unjust advantage over their classmates that took the originial exam, even if the two exams are different.
Students who are unable to take their designated AP exam for whatever scheduling dilemma do not have time for the original AP exam or preparation for said exam. Whether it be from illness, athletic commitment, or other AP tests on that day, these students are unable to take their AP test and perform to the best of their ability. With their filled schedules, students are given more time to fully prepare and study for that exam, which is fair to their situation. Without this additional time, students would be unable to take their AP exam.

The make-up test gives student athletes who must miss the exam due to prior sports commitments a just opportunity. Most student athletes show complete faithfulness to their sports and teammates during their seasons, some of which unfortunately overlap with AP season. According to Costa junior, Candace Cameron, having the choice to take the make-up test is fair because her sports commitment is very serious and involves interactions with college scouts. Such a serious competitor is very unlikely to choose an AP test over their athletic commitment. Even Costa athletes are expected to miss their scheduled AP test for whatever CIF sports commitment is included in their season. Without the make up tests, many of these serious student athletes would have to choose between athletics and academics.