Please read this entire page, including videos and links, if you are scheduled to take the AP test this Thursday.
Contents of this post
Connecting with College Board
Be sure you read the What Students Need on Exam Day page. Some of the key point are listed below.
Read Tips for Success on Open Book/Open Note Exams. For example:
You should not copy responses from notes or resources. We designed this year’s AP Exams knowing you have access to your notes and resources, so the exam questions will ask you to apply concepts from your notes and resources in new ways. Copying what you have done in the past won’t produce a satisfactory answer.
AP 2020 Exam: The Rules (video)
Required
- Exam ticket email
- Completed Exam Day Checklist, including AP ID
- Device: laptop, tablet, smartphone, desktop computer.
- Browser: Chrome (recommended), Firefox, Safari, or Edge
- Internet or cellular connection
- Assistive technology and devices (if applicable, for students approved to test with accommodations)
Recommended for students typing responses
- Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Notes, or another app to enter and save text
Permitted
- Your class notes or study guides
- Textbooks and other classroom resources
- Previous assignments or assessments
Preparing for the test/test contents
Test your technology before the exam day
You only have a limited amount of time for the exam, so you don’t want to waste any time finding out something is not working. The College Board has created a checklist here.
Pay particular attention to the Photo Submissions Issues section.
Resources for test day
- AP Physics 1 Table of Information and Formulas (required)
- Calculator (list of permitted calculators)
The College Board suggests you check in 30 minutes before your test time. This will ensure that you have the entire time for your exam.
Format of test
Be sure to watch the following video; it provides much information about test day, and your ability to log in and practice the format two days before.
Methods of submitting, as shown in the above video:
- Attach a text file (that you typed in another application)
- Copy and paste your response (that you typed in another application)
- Attach photos of your handwritten response.
I strongly suggest that you use the last method. Most answers will require some symbols and/or equations, and trying to write them in an online document is usually very time-consuming.
If you are going to write on paper, you need to use white paper and a #2 pencil or pen with black or blue ink, and have your APID and initials written on the top of each sheet. Plan ahead and have ten sheets (or more) of white paper with your APID number and initials on the top. Don’t number the pages in advance, and don’t add your name (they don’t want to introduce potential bias in grading by readers, so your reader will not be able to guess your gender and/or race/ethnicity.
My thought/suggestion: Many of you are most comfortable using your phone. If you are going to be writing on paper, you can taking photos and submitting them from your phone is probably easier than on a laptop/computer.