By Uy Pham
Some Fountain Valley High School (FVHS) students taking the digital versions of the AP English Literature and Composition (AP Literature) last Wednesday and the AP United States History (APUSH) last Friday were unable to complete and submit their exams.
Last year, FVHS AP Literature students took the exam digitally via AP Classroom. However, this year, the College Board administered the digital exams through Bluebook, its digital exam application, and some students have experienced difficulties utilizing the platform to submit their exams.
Approximately 20 AP Literature students could not submit their test on Wednesday. After attempting to order paper tests as a precautionary measure, APUSH had to continue digitally since FVHS did not give a 48-hour notice to College Board. Afterward, approximately 45 APUSH students were unable to access the test at all.
“It seems as though the Bluebook server can not handle the activity when students around the country are trying to access [or] submit their exam,” Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction Jon Hurst said. “[The] College Board hasn’t given an explanation yet, but it seems as though that is the issue.”
The College Board has instructed students experiencing difficulties to attempt to submit their test for a period of five days. Otherwise, students who could not submit or access their test will take the exams on their respective make-up dates. Both the AP Literature and APUSH exam will be administered using a paper format on May 17.
“[I’m] angry and it’s unfair because I wasted three hours on that test to have the application and my computer fail me after I almost completed the exam,” senior Nylah Mirshafiei, who could not submit her AP Literature exam, said. “I have to retake the entire test too… the College Board needs to figure out their tech[nology] so issues like this don’t happen again.”
Previously, FVHS had also ordered for the AP Computer Science Principles and AP English Language and Composition exams to be administered digitally as well. However, with the problems experienced, College Board allowed FVHS to order paper versions of the exam.
Other high schools in the Huntington Beach Union High School District have experienced difficulties with digital exams. Marina High School and Edison High School both offer four AP exams digitally, while Westminster High School’s paper exams have experienced no issues.
Marina’s Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction Josh Lamar told Baron Banner that a handful of Marina High School students will need to retake their exams. This week, the AP English Language and Composition and AP World History exams will remain digital; Lamar says the short time frame prevented Marina from switching back to paper.
Edison High School has experienced difficulties with three of four digital AP exams, resulting in about 33 students needing to take a makeup exam. Regarding this week’s AP English Language and Composition, Edison’s Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction Kevin Fairman told Baron Banner that the exam will remain digital due to a lack of time to switch to a paper format.
All three high schools will discuss the decision to offer digital AP examinations in the future after gathering feedback from teachers and determining which format would be the best option for students.
“I just feel bad for the students who came to the exam prepared and couldn’t complete it based on something that had nothing to do with them or the school,” Fairman said.
