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News: Test Cancellations, Changes in AP Exam Curriculum, and Announcements by Colleges suggesting leniency for future applicants
News: Test Cancellations, Changes in AP Exam Curriculum, and Announcements by Colleges suggesting leniency for future applicants

Our team at Edbrand is tracking latest developments and hope to keep updating this page

Our team at Edbrand is tracking latest developments and hope to keep updating this page

Arjun Seth

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Source: ArborBridge newsletter

Links to Official Test Organizations' Coronavirus Pages

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SAT and SAT Subject Tests⁠

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ACT⁠

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AP⁠

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IB⁠

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TOEFL⁠

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IELTS⁠

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Information about changes in AP exams

The College Board announced that the 2020 AP exams will be administered online and students will be able to take the test from home. This is great news for students concerned about their opportunity to demonstrate their skills and earn college credit.

The College Board indicated that due to school closures, 2020 AP exams will only cover content covered by “most” classes in early March.

This is a massive relief for students. But there’s also confusion since every teacher moves at a different pace. You’re likely wondering, What do I actually need to know for my AP tests?

We’ve researched what’s excluded on the most popular AP tests. Take a look below to see what material you won’t have to worry about:

AP Calculus AB (Unit 8 excluded)

Unit 8: Applications of Integration

AP Calculus BC (Unit 9 excluded, Unit 10 partially excluded)

Unit 9: Parametric Equations, Polar Coordinates, And Vector-Valued Functions

Unit 10: Infinite Sequences and Series

Included: Working with Geometric Series; Harmonic Series and p-Series; Alternating Series for Convergence; Ratio Test for Convergence; Finding Taylor Polynomial Approximations of Functions

Excluded: Integral, Comparison and Alternating Series Tests for Convergence; Absolute vs. Conditional Convergence; Alternating Series Error Bound; Lagrange Error Bound; Radius and Interval of Convergence; Finding Taylor and Maclaurin Series for a Function; Representing Functions as a Power Series

AP Physics 1 (Units 8–10 excluded)

Unit 8: Electric Charge and Electric Force

Unit 9: DC Circuits

Unit 10: Mechanical Waves and Sound

AP Physics 2 (Units 6–7 excluded)

Unit 6: Geometric and Physical Optics

Unit 7: Quantum, Atomic, and Nuclear Physics

AP Physics C: Mechanics (Units 6–7 excluded)

Unit 6: Oscillation

Unit 7: Gravitation

AP Biology (Units 7–8 excluded)

Unit 7: Natural Selection

Unit 8: Ecology

AP Chemistry (Units 8–9 excluded)

Unit 8: Acids and Bases

Unit 9: Applications of Thermodynamics

AP English Language and Composition (Units 8–9 excluded)

Unit 7. Style: Reading — Explain how writers’ stylistic choices contribute to the purpose of an argument.

Unit 8. Style: Writing — Select words and use elements of composition to advance an argument.

AP English Literature and Composition (Units 8–9 excluded)

Unit 8: Poetry III — Analyze structural contrasts and ambiguities of poetic language to develop sophisticated arguments.

Unit 9: Longer Fiction or Drama III — Analyze the interwoven relationships/patterns among literary elements to develop sophisticated arguments.

AP European History (Units 8–9 excluded)

Unit 8: 20th-Century Global Conflicts

Unit 9: Cold War and Contemporary Europe

AP U.S. History (Units 8–9 excluded)

Unit 8: Period 8: 1945–1980

Unit 9: Period 9: 1980–Present

Multiple-Choice Questions (excluded) updated 3/22/20

The College Board tweeted that it will cut all multiple-choice questions for every AP exam this year. So no need to study multiple-choice strategies!

Major admissions updates from leading schools

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MIT⁠

, the last school to have formally required Subject Tests, not only dropped them the week of March 23 but noted that they will not even consider Subject Test scores from students who submit them.

Tufts introducing test-optional policies for the next 3 application cycles in response to students impacted by the coronavirus. Here is their official statement, "Tufts University is introducing a test-optional admissions policy for all undergraduate applicants for a 3-year period, beginning with applicants who apply for the Fall 2021 semester. Starting with our next admissions cycle, first-year and transfer applicants have a choice about whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores to be considered for undergraduate admission to Tufts."

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Harvard⁠

became the first school to release a formal statement to high school juniors regarding the impact of the coronavirus:

Harvard acknowledges that students will have fewer chances to retake the SAT and ACT and says they hope students “will not feel compelled” to take these exams multiple times.

Harvard claims students will not be disadvantaged if they are unable to submit Subject Test or AP scores, if some of their class marks are Pass/Fail only, or if their extracurricular activities are limited as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Harvard maintains that “our revolutionary financial aid program will not be compromised in any way.”

Need more individualized advice?

Our team at Edbrand is tracking the latest developments. We’ll be updating this post as new information, test dates, and cancellations are announced.

If you have specific questions or want a personalized college admissions plan,

reach us here⁠

. We’re happy to help in any way we can.

Best,