Starting with the class of 2012, the state

will begin its efforts to phase out the

TAKS tests and replace them with exams

that will come at the end of certain required

English, math, science and social studies

classes.

“For the most part, there won’t be much

difference between TAKS and end-of-course

exams,” Science Department Head Denise

Shupe said. “There will be higher level questions

though. Instead of Physics and Chemistry

questions coming from Integrated Physics and

Chemistry (IPC), the exams will cover material

from the high school classes.”

In addition to the more difficult questions,

students will need to score 60 percent on an

end-of-course test to avoid retaking the exam

until they meet the standard. In order to

graduate, students must average 70 percent over

the three tests from the particular subject area.

“With TAKS, juniors would be tested over

the biology material they learned freshman

year,” Ms. Shupe said. “In the future, they will

have an even better chance to pass since the

information will be fresher in their minds.”

But students won’t be the only ones to benefit

from the test changes.

“Previously, students would get tested every

year over what they learned the year before,”

Math Department Head Melinda Crook said.

“With end-of-course testing, the school will

get a better gage of what they learned in that

class.”

Despite the more specific questions, the

scores for the new exams may be higher than

those on TAKS because of their influence on

the final grades of courses.

“There’s more incentive to pass now,” Physics

Teacher Jeff Chandler said. “The end-of-course

exam will count for 15 percent of that class’s

final grade, so if students fail the test, they

might not pass the class.”

Even though many changes outlined in the

bill, much work remains before the details of

end-of-course exams are finalized and the tests

are put into use.

“A lot of things about the tests are still up in

the air,” Assistant Principal Brandy Schneider

said. “The state decided on what it wanted, so

the task is now developing and implementing

it.”