To the Editor:
In the article 鈥�Here鈥檚 Why More Students Have Passed AP Exams in Recent Years鈥� (Aug. 2, 2024), the reporter raises an important question: 鈥淸The College Board鈥檚 scoring adjustments] led some educators and researchers to question whether AP exams have become easier or whether the College Board purposefully sought to boost the percentage of students receiving passing scores to compete against dual-credit programs.鈥�
The article quotes Trevor Packer, the head of the College Board鈥檚 Advanced Placement program, who states neither one of those scenarios is true and denies having an agenda to make AP exams harder or easier. As the article correctly points out, higher passing rates could inspire more students to take AP courses. This, I believe, will look better in the College Board鈥檚 AP reports and positively affect the AP program鈥檚 bottom line.
I disagree with Mr. Packer鈥檚 statements, at least as far as one important subject area is concerned: computer science. As a co-author of AP Computer Science textbooks and AP exam review books since 1998, I have been closely following this subject. Just to mention a few 鈥渁djustments鈥�: After the 2008-09 academic year, the College Board eliminated the more advanced 鈥淎B鈥� exam. In my opinion, stronger students would have to take the easier 鈥淎鈥� exam, which would then raise passing rates. Later, the 鈥渃ase study鈥� section of the exam was discontinued. In 2010, it would end the penalty for wrong answers to multiple-choice questions on all AP exams. The list of concerning revisions goes on.
A of AP Computer Science A is in the works that I believe will water down the course even further.
Gary Litvin
Textbook Author & Publisher
Skylight Publishing
Andover, Mass.
