When the AP English Language and Composition exam was given to students last Wednesday, May 13, it set a record for the largest AP exam administration in Homestead’s history, with more than 160 test-takers according to Mr. Brett Bowers, principal.

The record number of test-takers, however, is not the only aspect about this exam that set it apart from others.

In what Mrs. Angelina Cicero, AP English Language and Composition teacher, calls a “test administration error…[in] the way tests were interpreted” by the proctor, students in one of the two test-taking rooms were shorted 15 minutes on the essay portion of the exam.

Although the College Board allots 15 minutes for reading source materials for the synthesis essay and 120 minutes for writing three essays, students in that room were only given the time to write the essays, not to review source materials.

According to Mari Duckler, junior, “I had to cut my first essay short.  I was mostly confused and panicked momentarily because I can usually pace myself really well.”

After the College Board was made aware of the issue, it offered students in that room a choice once the test was finished: to accept their scores from the essays or to take an alternate version of the essay test free of charge, canceling out their previous exams.

Out of the 89 students in the room where the processing error occurred, seven chose to take advantage of the alternate test option, offered Wednesday, May 20.

Duckler, who was among the majority to accept their scores, said,  “I think I wrote solid essays the first time regardless, and I didn’t really prepare to take the test twice.”

Justifying his reasons for choosing to take the alternate essay exam, Matt Gresham, junior, said, “When I proofread my writing in the last 30 seconds, I did not at all feel confident it was the best that I could do. Given any sort of opportunity to improve my score for college credit, it just makes sense to take that.”

Despite the unlikely circumstances that changed what this particular exam might be remembered for, Mrs. Cicero remains optimistic. “Our students were well prepared for the test,” Mrs. Cicero said.  “It’s disappointing that some had less time to demonstrate the skills they mastered than they deserved; however, we still anticipate strong scores. We are proud of our students’ work.”