Imagine walking into your SAT testing room, nerves high, your iPad in hand. As the proctor says “Begin” and you take a deep breath, ready to start, your WiFi suddenly disconnects. The clock keeps ticking, yet the screen won’t load and the quiet hum of concentration around you only adds to the pressure.
This scenario is no longer rare; it reflects the new reality of standardized testing. As schools and testing institutions embrace digital exams, students must adjust to a process that may seem efficient on screen but introduces its own challenges. The push toward online testing has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the benefits of remote, scalable assessments.
On March 9, 2024, the SAT officially went digital for international students, marking a significant milestone in the shift from paper to online testing. College Board promised the change would make exams “shorter, more secure and more adaptive,” aiming to modernize assessments for a generation raised on technology. For the SAT and PSAT, section-level adaptive testing adjusts the difficulty of later modules based on a student’s performance, a new feature designed to more accurately measure individual ability.
Yet for many students, the transition has not been seamless. One of the biggest issues digital testing poses is technical problems. From WiFi drops to login errors, students face hurdles that go beyond academic preparation and these disruptions can significantly hinder performance.
“I was very paranoid that my iPad would lose Internet during the PSAT because that was a recurring issue with my device,” junior Elena Zhuang said. “Unfortunately, right before I started the test my WiFi disconnected and I wasted 10 minutes. When everyone else finished a module and took their break, the noisy distractions disrupted my concentration.”
Technical issues do not end with WiFi disruptions. The login process itself often delays testing, with students frequently encountering errors when signing into College Board accounts, adding another layer of stress.
“Midterms and tests are already hard enough without having to battle College Board to try to sign in,” junior Elizabeth Sheydina said. “For me personally, the AP U.S. History midterm was made a lot more stressful by College Board.”
Even students who successfully log in can face last-minute failures, such as problems loading the exam, which can prevent them entirely from taking a test they worked hard to prepare for.
“I ended up being unable to start the SAT on the start code screen,” senior Daniil Isarevich said. “I was unable to properly take the exam and tech support told me a few other people experienced the same obstacle.”
These experiences leave students feeling powerless against problems beyond their control, turning what should measure academic readiness into a test of technological luck.
The challenges are not limited to individual experiences either. Research from FutureEd indicates that students tend to perform worse on online tests compared with paper ones, particularly those who already score lower or have limited experience with technology. The study observed a “mode effect,” in which shifting to digital testing corresponded with decreased performance, even after students became familiar with the format. Other studies suggest that even minor technical disruptions, such as a lagging screen, can slightly lower overall scores, compounding inequities for students who already face academic challenges.
Similarly, a PublicSource investigation into the digital SAT found that while online exams promise faster results and adaptive questions, they also raise concerns about fairness. Students without reliable WiFi or up-to-date devices may face disadvantages before they even begin.
Digital testing undeniably streamlines logistics. Faster scoring, reduced printing costs and fewer misplaced papers are clear benefits. However, this efficiency may come at the expense of equity. The more technology influences outcomes, the more testing becomes a measure not only of knowledge but also of access.
For schools, this raises a difficult question: Does moving online truly make testing fairer, or does it amplify existing inequalities? For students, the question becomes equally personal: How do you prepare for a test when success may depend as much on your Internet as on your studying?
Luckily for North High, many AP classes require students to practice online exams, helping them adjust to the digital format ahead of the AP exams in May. By incorporating these adjustments, students can prepare academically and technologically, reducing stress while familiarizing themselves with the platform’s tools. Some students report that the practice exams help them gain confidence with the timing and tools, making the actual test experience less stressful.
These tools also offer advantages. Unlike paper tests, each student has a personal timer that begins when they start the exam. Highlighting and cross-out features allow for easy marking of answers and math exams include the Desmos calculator application. For many students, these features make the digital format more efficient and adaptable to individual needs.
As schools continue to adopt digital testing, the focus must remain on supporting students through technical challenges and ensuring access to reliable devices and Internet. Balancing efficiency with fairness will determine whether online exams truly measure what students know rather than how well they navigate technology.
