As CB announced that AP Stats is switching to hybrid testing for ‘25, I thought I’d write up my early thoughts on transitioning students to testing on the Bluebook app.
I don’t plan on changing my MCQ testing format. I give 7 to 10 MCQ’s on a typical unit test. My school uses Canvas. I put the questions in Canvas and every student gets a different scrambled order. I choose a setting where after students answer a question, they can’t go back to the question again. I make this choice for two reasons. For one, it helps a lot with testing security. Students cannot line up the question they’re working on with their neighbor. Secondly, I observe that Gen Z students tend to over-think their answers on an assessment. So while I’m not mimicking the AP exam setting, I am teaching them something very important. They can’t afford to spend too much time worrying about their responses. Students are given scratch paper for the MCQ’s, but their answers are solely entered on Canvas.
The FRQ’s are where things get interesting. But I think a simple twist will help my students prepare. I will place my questions in a Canvas quiz. Students will receive paper with the correct amount of blank space for their answers. I do plan on allowing them to navigate freely between the different FRQ’s. I anticipate that each problem will be on its own “screen” and thus they will be usually be toggling between only 2 to 4 screens.
Here’s a sample set of FRQ’s* I wrote up. The first three pages will be on-device. The last two pages will be printed, front and back.
I recognize that this unit test is different than the AP exam in all sorts of ways. I’m OK with that. I do look forward to the Bluebook.
Finally, I wrote this post for two very specific reasons. Firstly, to contribute something that is helpful for the community. But more importantly, so I could receive feedback. Bluebook and hybrid testing are new to all of us and I’m eager to hear ideas for adapting this very early draft.
*You’re welcome to use this test however you’d like. I’m pretty sure that all 3 questions from the test bank I wrote for SMW5 to help with CED alignment. These questions remain open to any teacher at this site.