ELA AP Mock Exams

This year, students will be taking AP English exams in a digital format, introducing a change to the way our students engage with AP exams. To prepare for the digital AP tests in May, students will also take AP mock exams in a digital setting. As this process is new for our district, we anticipate that there may be many questions. This resource outlines the testing plan and provides helpful materials to assist campuses in preparing for the testing day. We encourage you to reach out with any questions you may have. Additionally, we will continue to update this resource as we learn more about this new process to ensure everyone is well-informed and prepared.

Students will complete the multiple-choice portion of the AP mock exam in AP Classroom. According to the College Board, the testing experience offered in AP Classroom closely matches that of Bluebook, the digital AP Exam application. This means students will have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the test-taking tools and features that will be available to them on test day.

Students will complete the free-response portion of the AP mock exam in Mastery Connect (accessible through Canvas). While this platform does not replicate the testing experience in Bluebook, Mastery Connect will allow students to practice an essay exam in a digital setting and enable the printing of student responses for scoring and instructional purposes.

Approved accommodations from the College Board must be provided during the mock exam. ELA CCSs will work with teachers to identify students with College Board-approved AP exam accommodations.

• Testing Timer: An embedded timer will display the remaining time for each part of the test. While the timer can be hidden, it will reappear during the last five minutes of the exam.

• Highlights & Notes: Students can use this tool to highlight text from questions or type notes.

• Mark for Review: Students may utilize the bookmark icon to flag any questions they wish to revisit.

• Line Reader: This tool helps students focus as they read the test content.

• Option Eliminator: Students can cross out answer choices they believe are incorrect.

• Question Menu: This allows students to see which questions they have skipped or marked for review, enabling easy navigation to any question in the section.

• Zoom: Students can use keyboard shortcuts on laptops or pinch and zoom on tablets to closely examine any part of the question.

Many of the tools offered to students in AP Classroom and Bluebook are also offered in Mastery Connect. During the free-response section of the exam students will have access to:

• Highlights
• Mark for Review
• Line Reader
• Question Menu
• Zoom

In Mastery Connect, students will have access to the cut, copy, and paste tools, as shown below. Although the Mastery Connect text editor differs from the text editor in AP Classroom and the Bluebook testing application (see below), this difference is not expected to significantly impact the testing experience.

In AP Classroom and the Bluebook testing application, students will have access to the editing tools displayed below. The cut, copy, and paste functions enable students to rearrange text within their essay drafts; however, these tools cannot be used to cut, copy, or paste text from the passage or other external sources.

Check back here one week before the test to access the test administrator script.

Click on the links below to access step-by-step instructions for assigning the multiple-choice portion of the test in AP Classroom.

The Tech CCS team will set up teachers' mastery trackers and the student testing tools/accommodations in Mastery Connect. They will also provide training for teachers on how to assign the free-response portion of the test in Mastery Connect. Teachers are encouraged to schedule time with the Tech CCS at least one week before the test to ensure they are familiar with this process.

Tech CCSs, please assign the following standards to the mastery trackers:

• AP English Language and Composition (2019) - the first one that appears
• AP English Literature and Composition (2019)

Teachers have two options available for test security: LockDown Browser and Lightspeed Classroom.

If campuses opt to use the LockDown Browser for the exam, teachers will need to set it up in both AP Classroom and Mastery Connect. Instructions for enabling the LockDown Browser in AP Classroom are provided in the section titled Assigning the MC Section in AP Classroom (see above). Teachers should collaborate with the campus Tech CCS to set up the LockDown Browser in Mastery Connect.

Lightspeed Classroom, available in the PISD portal, is another option for monitoring students during the assessment. Click on the link below to access instructions for setting up and using Lightspeed Classroom. While the two-hour e-course is recommended, it is not mandatory. Additionally, you may disregard the Lab Set Up Instructions, as students' devices are already configured for Lightspeed Classroom."

✔️ Set up Lightspeed Classroom or LockDown Browser and practice using it with your students.
✔️ Contact the ELA Campus Content Specialist to identify which AP students have approved College Board accommodations.
✔️ Ensure your AP students are enrolled in your AP Classroom sections.
✔️ Review the instructions for assigning the multiple-choice section of the test and student accommodations in AP Classroom. If you have questions, schedule time with the English CCS for assistance.
✔️ Arrange time with the Tech CCS to learn how to assign the free-response section of the test in Mastery Tracker.

What happens if a student's tablet dies during the exam? Will the student's work be saved?

• AP Classroom: If a student’s tablet dies during the exam, their progress should be saved automatically; however, the timer may continue to run. Once the timer expires, the student's saved work will be submitted automatically.

• Mastery Connect: Student work autosaves in Mastery Connect. If a student needs to reenter the test, all of their work should be saved.

• College Board AP Services will only allow teachers or students to contact them regarding tech support issues. In the event of a major issue, teachers or students should use the information provided below to seek assistance.

• AP Services for Students and Parents
• Contact Form: Email Contact Form
• Phone: 888-225-5427
• Hours: M-F, 9 am - 6 pm ET

• AP Services for K-12 Educators
• Contact Form: Email Contact Form
• Phone: 877-274-6474
• Hours: M-F, 9 am - 6 pm ET

Who is the contact for Mastery Connect Tech Support on the day of mock testing?

• The campus Tech CCS should be the first point of contact for support. If additional assistance is needed, Rebekka Allen (70896) and Lauren Aragon (70901) can assist.

What if AP Classroom is not working when the test begins?

• If AP Classroom is experiencing difficulties at the start of the exam, direct your students to the FRQ portion of the test in Mastery Connect. This will allow time for any issues with AP Classroom to be resolved.

How should teachers handle make-up exams for students who are absent for the mock exam?

• AP Classroom: Each campus should develop a plan that enables students to complete the exam in an appropriate testing environment. Please keep the following points in mind:

  • The multiple-choice portion of the test will close at 3:00 PM on February 12. After this time, students will no longer have access to it.

  • When a student opens the exam, a sixty-minute timer will begin. Once the timer ends, the exam will be automatically submitted.

  • AP Classroom tracks student usage of the platform. Students should not work on the exam outside of the campus's designated timeframes.

  
  

• Mastery Connect: Teachers should collaborate with the CCSs to determine the most effective way to assign the FRQ portion of the assessment to students who were absent on the day of the mock exam

May students use scratch paper on the exam?

• Yes, students are welcome to use scratch paper. Test administrators should pick up all scratch paper at the end of the testing session.