Success is the name of the game. We want the best score, and often, it doesn’t matter how it is achieved, as long as the grade comes back with a satisfactory number. But are those chances hurt because standardized tests are being switched to virtual?

Everything in general seems better virtually. The words “pencils down” or “times up” can send anyone into an internal frenzy. Our generation is both tech savvy and tech dependent. Just looking at screen time, it is apparent that a lot of people spend their time with their eyes glued to the phone. However, just because technology is the newest development does not mean that testing should be refashioned to fit our standards of modern times. 

With SAT, ACT, and AP transitioning to online testing, students are clear and vocal over their personal preferences for the testing design and whether they think it affects their scores. 

When taking an exam, focus is an extremely crucial factor to keep in mind for both finishing on time and, hopefully, achieving a good score. Having that physical piece of paper brings a sense of focus. Being able to mark up the paper is considerably easier than marking up a digital copy, if that is even possible. However, it is also important to factor in the subject that is being tested. 

“I prefer testing on paper because it’s easier for me to focus with paper and showing work is easier when it’s on paper especially for math,” North Penn Junior Kristina Liu stated. 

Paper seems to be an especially popular choice when it comes to math. Being able to do the problem handwritten rather than trying to complete it online usually is more helpful in avoiding mistakes and keeping things organized. 

“I prefer testing on paper because I like to have both my work and answer on the same paper in the same place rather than having a separate sheet of paper for a computer test,” North Penn Senior Emily Butler replied. 

On the contrary, paper tests also typically have a separate bubble sheet for answers. This could cause problems when double checking or filling in the answers. It’s often easy to miss a row which could throw off your entire exam. Online tests will not usually let you submit unless all questions have been answered. Therefore there is “protection” when taking an online test. They also usually reveal one question at a time, giving the mind less to handle in a given moment. 

“I like that there is one question at a time [on the screen] and that I can control going back and forth for just one question. The shorter questions allow me to focus more on each question rather than rushing,” North Penn Senior Ava Ratliff explained.

It is also important to recognize how the switch has affected SAT and ACT scores and format. For the SAT, the test itself is about forty-five minutes shorter and the English portion has smaller prompts. The College Board reveals that the changes to the test digitally are for the benefit of the students. There is no concrete information that reveals that the online scores are worse than the paper scores. The testing format of the digital SATs are specifically designed for each student. The more questions they get right, the harder the questions become. Therefore, trying to compare the scores of the two may be unfair.

While overall, North Penn doesn’t seem to be the biggest fan of digital testing due to the lack of tangibility, we cannot discredit one form of testing as opposed to another. Each student will feel and perform differently on these tests. Perhaps there should be more of an option on which type the student would prefer, however, that could easily get complicated. The decision is now up to the people, is digital or paper testing better?