The College Board, known for overseeing the SAT and Advanced Placement (AP) exams, is facing significant challenges despite its robust financial standing. In 2023, the organization’s CEO received a total compensation of $2.38 million, while the senior vice president for AP programs earned $694,662 and the senior vice president for Technology Strategy made $765,267.
These impressive figures might suggest that the transition to digital testing would proceed seamlessly. However, recent incidents have raised concerns about the reliability of this shift.
Last week, the AP Psychology exam experienced a nationwide disruption when many students were unable to access the “Bluebook” testing application required for the test. With 28 out of 36 AP courses now being offered exclusively in digital format, no paper-based alternatives were available, leaving students to wait in gymnasiums with no clear resolution in sight.
I can attest to the frustration of this situation; my child was directly affected, and I learned of the issue through an email from the school announcing a “nationwide Bluebook outage.” After an hour, some students managed to log in and begin their exams, while others faced scheduling conflicts and were directed to retake the test on a later date.
Within the online community, students vented their frustrations on the r/APStudents Reddit board, expressing disbelief over the technical shortcomings. One user articulated a common sentiment, lamenting the failure to prepare server capacity for a known event: “HOW DO U NOT PREPARE THE SERVERS FOR THE EXAM WHEN U KNOW WE’RE TAKING THE EXAM HELLO?????? BE SO FR.”
Many students, who had dedicated significant time to studying, reacted vehemently to the delays. One student exclaimed, “I CANT BELIEVE THEY DELAYED IT. I STUDIED FOR THR PAST WEEK EIGHT HOURS EVERYDAY AND RUINED MY SOCIAL LIFE FOR THIS. WHAT THE FREAK.”
Conversely, some less-prepared students appeared to welcome the postponement, commenting on how it unexpectedly benefited them. One user noted, “i studied for like 12 hrs the day before no f—ing joke,” admitting their lack of preparation made the delay advantageous for them.
In a statement released on the day of the AP Psychology exam, the College Board acknowledged the technical issue that hindered student access to the testing application and expressed regret for the disruptions. The organization highlighted that, overall, most students had positive testing experiences, with over 5 million exams successfully submitted to date.
Deeply and sincerely apologize
This year’s transition to all-digital AP testing is part of an ongoing modernization effort that began several years ago, but it is fraught with challenges. Many of these complications arise from the interplay of various technologies, including school networks and the College Board’s digital infrastructure. These elements create a more complex landscape than traditional paper examinations.
Issues plagued not only the AP Psychology exam but also affected the AP Statistics exam in my district, although it appeared tied to local Wi-Fi connectivity problems.
Additionally, when my oldest child took the digital SAT test at a different district last year, technical difficulties arose where students faced issues connecting to the school network.
The College Board has struggled to effectively manage the digital testing process under high-stress conditions. For example, during the SAT testing sessions on March 8–9, 2025, more than 250,000 students encountered problems, with some test-takers having their sessions automatically submitted prematurely.
The organization attributed the issue to an improperly configured security setting on the Bluebook application, affecting nearly 10,000 students. Furthermore, several thousand others may have lost valuable testing time due to device reboots instructed by room monitors during the test.
In light of these incidents, the College Board issued a heartfelt apology to affected students and their families and offered refunds along with free future SAT test vouchers.
The switch to digital testing brings numerous advantages, including enhanced security and simplified grading processes. However, organizations often underestimate the complexities involved in managing extensive digital infrastructure at scale, particularly under time constraints. The College Board’s ongoing challenges in both its major testing programs are concerning for students and parents alike.
Parents, who can accumulate costs exceeding $1,000 for College Board fees per student through multiple AP courses and SAT exams, are understandably frustrated. The situation is exacerbated by the perception that substantial executive salaries come at the expense of addressing persistent issues with the core examination process.
