Beginning in May of 2025, many AP class exams started shifting from the traditional ‘paper and pencil test’ to digital or hybrid formatted exams. This year, the same is happening for Bioscience 2 Honors, more well known among Pine View students as Biotech.
The final exam changed immensely when the assessment shifted from a paper exam to a fully online test. Most students already have a dislike for computer-based tests, due to many years of Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) and other standardized tests.
What used to be a more flexible, teacher-created exam format was replaced by a stricter, state-mandated exam that every student has to take under FAST testing type environments. Another aspect that has changed is that the exam now counts for 30 percent of the final course grade, and no additional make up or retake exams will be allowed once the test is taken. This is very different from previous years, when teachers made the test for the students and got students’ input on the plans for the test.
The scheduling for the exam is also different, instead of teachers choosing their own testing days with input from students, the entire exam must follow the Florida standardized May testing window. This gives everyone the same fixed timeframe for multiple tests.
On top of that, one of the biggest changes was that the lab portion being removed completely since the entire assessment has become fully computer based. Pine View’s Biotech teacher, Angela Wilson, has been teaching this class for many years, and has recognized the most important changes to the test.
“Students will no longer be asked to demonstrate their lab skills directly and instead will be asked a series of multiple-choice questions,” Wilson said.
Many students, like senior Nathan De Souza, have concerns about this change, as the lab section was a great way for them to display what they learned as the year progressed.
“The labwork was my favorite part about the class,” De Souza said, “so it’s a bit of a bummer to see that students won’t have the opportunity to use those critical practical skills to obtain their certification at the end of the year.”
With significant changes to the final exam, some teachers across the state may be tempted to change their class progression from their usual lesson plans. However, Wilson said she will be approaching her class in the same way as years past.
“I still value the importance of direct lab skills and being able to evaluate the students’ progress,” Wilson said. “I will be including more of the UF Canvas assignments and quizzes towards the end of the year.”
The changes made to the Biotech class are in effect for all locations in 34 states. And, although many students are upset with the outcome, Wilson is looking forward to her students’ excelling on the exam this year.
“I feel confident that the strategies that I’m using will lead them to success,” Wilson said.