Irvington has recently introduced major updates to its College Board testing policies. College Board, the organization behind the Advanced Placement (AP) program and SAT/PSAT exams, has also implemented nationwide changes in testing procedures.
At Irvington, these adjustments have had a direct impact on students. In past years, both 10th and 11th graders could take the PSAT in October, but this year, it was only offered to 11th graders on October 2nd and 3rd. Mrs. Howell, who oversees PSAT/SAT administration at Irvington, stated that the change was "a district decision." Similarly, this year, both seniors and juniors could take the SAT, a shift from previous years when only seniors were eligible.
Nationally, the College Board has emphasized a shift toward digital exams. The SAT became fully digital starting in March 2024, and the upcoming 2025 AP exams will also transition to a digital format. The College Board has cited this move as a way to reduce cheating and ensure fairness for students across the country.
Mr. Aucoin, Irvington’s AP coordinator, explained how the school is preparing for the digital transition. “We’re currently registering for exams and have had initial discussions with our IT team to ensure our internet infrastructure can support the new digital format,” he said. Additionally, underclassmen (9th and 10th graders) will only be allowed to register for two self-study AP exams: AP Macroeconomics and AP Microeconomics, while juniors and seniors will maintain priority for AP registration.
Mr. Aucoin also addressed concerns about limiting AP exams for underclassmen, noting that some students feel pressure to take more APs than necessary for college admissions. “Spreading the exams over four years could lighten the load, but unfortunately, we don’t have the capacity to offer that flexibility,” he explained.
The Fremont Unified School District aims to maintain uniformity in testing policies across all high schools. “Our AP testing policies are the same as those at Mission, Washington, and American,” Mr. Aucoin added, emphasizing the district-wide approach to registration, exam fees, and timelines.
Despite the numerous changes, the process for test registration at Irvington will remain the same as in previous years.
