The Landscape
If you have been following trends in college admissions since the COVID-19 outbreak, then you are probably aware that most colleges modified their testing requirements for applicants–at least for the 2020-2021 cycle. With scarcity of ACT/SAT test dates and concerns over safety in large testing settings, colleges recognized that access to tests was limited.
While access to ACT/SAT tests varied considerably by region, access to AP testing changed much less last spring, and is likely to proceed unabated this year, too, as the College Board developed a platform for students to take their tests virtually.
What do AP tests mean for students in this test-optional environment?
It means that a student’s AP scores are an opportunity to confirm for colleges that they are a serious student, engaged in your coursework, and prepared for the rigors of college.
What if a student isn’t submitting an ACT/SAT score?
If students choose not to submit other test scores, submitting strong AP scores can help them stand out as applicants. And another advantage to AP exams is that students can probably do a lot to prepare for them. By working hard on a daily basis to master the curriculum covered in AP classes, and taking the initiative to prepare outside of class, students can put themselves in a strong position to earn high scores and have a valuable metric to share with colleges.
