For the first time in history, all College Board exams went fully online — and no, it wasn’t because of technological innovation or convenience. It was because students took “closed-note” a little too loosely.
After years of paper exam leaks, TikToks selling answer keys, and a suspiciously high number of students suddenly becoming experts in quantum mechanics, the College Board had finally had enough.
Yes, AP exams were allegedly being sold on TikTok, and students were swiping through answers between Molly Long dance tutorials and Italian brain rot. And honestly, this doesn’t sound as insane as you might think. AP students are under enough pressure to power a small nation. They’re overachieving, energy drink-fueled masterminds who will write a five-paragraph essay in 15 minutes and still have time to cheat creatively. They’re the smartest — and wildest — cheaters on the planet.
Let’s take a tour through the craziest AP exam scandals of the year, ranked from mildly concerning to outright calamitous.
International High School — Caught in 4K: APUSH Edition
More than 22 students were caught cheating during the AP U.S. History exam thanks to hidden cameras placed in the gym. Offenses ranged from texting under desks to whispering and using AirPods. They thought they’d pulled it off. Turns out, the real exam was happening after the test — when the footage was reviewed.
New York — The Calculator Scheme
One student managed to cheat on the AP Statistics exam by taping her phone inside the lid of a second calculator, which seemed like a legit backup. She pulled it off flawlessly — until a “friend” turned her in, conveniently someone applying to the same college. Brutal.
Texas — Identity Swap in Physics
In a uniquely Texas move, a senior took the AP Physics exam for her junior boyfriend. Since IDs weren’t checked, no one noticed — until the laptops were collected. The romance may have survived, but the academic record did not.
Illinois — Tech in the Hair
A student smuggled a phone into the AP English Language exam by hiding it in her hair. She used ChatGPT during the test while the proctor napped. It might have worked — except she dropped the phone. Honestly, this one might have been iconic if she’d pulled it off.
Texas — Bee Emergency
During the AP U.S. Government exam, a swarm of bees invaded the testing room. They were apparently attracted by something in the connected kitchen. The proctor asked students to “keep going,” which they did — for about two seconds, until panic set in. Eventually, the exam was halted. As it should be.
Ohio — Mario Takes Over
An AP Statistics student hacked into the test system and forced every screen to display a Mario game during Section 2. The proctor tried to recover by projecting a paper test on a screen, but the damage was done. The only stats that mattered at that point were video game lives remaining.
California — Calculus Fireworks
During the AP Calculus AB and BC exams, someone set off fireworks in the bathroom, triggering a fire alarm and full evacuation. No one knows who did it, but odds are it was the friend of someone who realized derivatives weren’t going to save them now.
New York — Braille Excuse
A student brought in a Braille-covered cheat sheet for the AP Precalculus exam and claimed it was full of “religious symbols” meant to calm him. He left the exam before Part 2. No one’s really sure what to do with that one.
New Jersey — The Bio Impersonator
A girl paid a 24-year-old look-alike to take the AP Biology exam for her. She made it through the whole test — until a teacher recognized her from a part-time job. Nothing says “exposed” like bumping into your biology imposter in the staff bathroom.
Florida — The Paralysis Plot
And finally, in a move that no one saw coming, a student faked left-leg paralysis during the AP Chemistry exam to get sent to the counselor’s office. Once there, she started texting FRQ answers to friends on the West Coast. She was caught when the counselor got suspicious. Understandably.
So, as AP season ends, one thing’s clear: The College Board may have gone digital, but students’ commitment to chaos is still very much analog.
Information credit: Brandon (@tineocollegeprep) on TikTok
