College board changes exam payment deadlines along with essay rubric rework

College Board has launched new policies regarding application deadlines along with tweaks to English Literature and Language exams. There may be slight changes to the overall exams, but the new policies could, in fact, affect students if they are taking multiple AP classes.
The new application deadline will be the biggest change that will affect any Bearcat who is planning to take the AP exam. Instead of ordering in early March, College Board has decided to move the deadline to Nov. 4 with a $40 down payment because of the enrollment policy including “increased student engagement throughout the course,” according to College Board’s website. Students will have to pay a $40 late fee if they don’t pay by the deadline.

The policy is enforced because College Board has found that schools whose students apply earlier tend to be more focused than they are when payment deadlines were in March.

Senior Josh Ramos is enrolled in six different Advanced Placement classes, and is currently planning on taking seven tests in total. Ramos disagrees with College Board’s statement, saying, “It’s a joke. Their job should be to determine if I’m college ready for a course, not to ‘motivate me to continue the course.’”

Another minor change was also constructed over summer vacation regarding the AP Language and AP Literature essay portions.
Students taking AP tests should also understand that this new system makes expectations more clear and concise compared to the previous system.

“In terms of the essays, it’s on a 6 point rubric instead of a 9 point holistic scale….this new rubric is a grid rubric with a section for a thesis, a section for commentary, and then there’s a section for sophistication. You either get a point or no point for a thesis… for evidence and commentary, you can earn a one through four and then for sophistication it’s either sophisticated or it’s not sophisticated,” AP Language Teacher Janice Hoy said. “The grading system should clarify what’s being looked for,” Hoy explained.

Hoy made clear that AP classes should not be taken for granted or treated like any other class. “Don’t slight any of your classes because if you want a 3 or higher on an AP test, then you really have to dive into the class. Sometimes doing the work isn’t just enough.” “You have to do a little bit more, go a little above and beyond, in order to get that extra understanding.”