CyberPlainsman
Journalists comment on standardized tests: Reactions mixed on WyCas, Terra NovaSunday, April 25, 2004 By LHS Journalism and Newspaper Students
(Stories compiled by Paige Courtney) Recently LHS journalism students took time to reflect on their own WyCAS testing experience or to find the opinion of sophomores who took the Terra Nova test during testing at LHS March 23-25. These reflections and stories follow. Sophomores: A mixed reaction to testing LHS sophomores have completed their Terra Nova testing and had a few things to say about the three mornings of testing. Kirsten Gardner had this to say, "For me the Terra Nova testing is just another way to see how dumb or smart we are. We already have standards for that, so we don’t need a reminder." Ross Orpet seemed to like the testing saying, "I loved the testing and I loved not getting up until 9:30 a.m. The tests were easy and the lunch was 80 minutes long, I wish I could do that everyday of the school year." Aaron Johnson agreed with Orpet on the 9:30 a.m. start and the long lunch. The only thing he thought could help with the testing would be to "liven it up a bit." Katie Heath thought this about the three days of testing, "The Terra Nova test for me was pretty easy, but it took a long time. I felt like I was just wasting time and three mornings of my life." In conclusion to the testing, according to a few sophomores, they enjoyed coming in at a later time and getting a longer lunch hour. The tests seemed to bore and "waste time," but I as a senior I have news for you sophomores…have fun next year when you get to do it all over again! --- by Shelby Johnson Mascarenas: "Relived to be done" Juniors at LHS were required to take both the WYCAS tests March 23-25. Sophomores only had to take the Terra Nova tests and seniors didn’t have to take any tests at all. For juniors this seemed unfair but knowing that it’s our last year ever testing made it a little more bearable. The WYCAS tests given this year seemed generally simple. The English section is longest section because it seems that you will never get a break. We were asked to write about all types of different issues. Though these were simple tests they were just time consuming. In the math section of the WYCAS tests students were asked to answer multiple choice questions as well as story problems and written problems. These were also very simple and the amount of time given was very generous. The Terra Nova test was very easy and they weren’t challenging at all. All the areas of the tests had been covered in all my classes making them very simple. I’m relived to say that I am completely done with my high school standardized testing! --by Tenae Mascarenas Martin: ‘Tests long and grueling’ Juniors at LHS were given the WyCAS and Terra Nova March 23 –25. The students were placed in classes alphabetically by last name, and teachers were assigned to each class. The test included information on reading, writing compositions, and math. The test is used by Wyoming’s school board to see what subjects students have improved in individually and as a class. Juniors arrived at school at the regular time, and began testing at 8 a.m. every morning. Lunch was made at different times throughout the week as well since the sophomores and juniors had different testing schedules. Seniors didn’t even have to come to school until after lunch, and then finished out their classes for the rest of the day. All classes were attended in the 1-4 blocks and the 5-8 blocks, except for SEB at block 7. Testing was a long and grueling time for, who I would think would be, all juniors. Although the tests weren’t too difficult, they took a long time and like all tests, weren’t too exciting to take. The WyCAS test does not change the grades of the students who take them, so often times, from personal experience, taking the test seems like a waste of time since it doesn’t really benefit me. But, today I was told that it is important for the state school board to know the information on the test because it makes a difference in the curriculum that they choose for that class or year. It is also good to eat breakfast before you take the tests. That information also comes from personal experience, because believe it or not, energy is used in the test-taking process, so having some sort of energy food is very beneficial. Overall, WyCAS and Terra Nova testing was not too hard, and was bearable, but only if you grabbed a bite to eat before starting. Next year’s juniors don’t have too much to look forward to, since they have to get up early to go testing, while next year’s seniors have a lot to look forward to, such as sleeping in until lunch time. To all you juniors out there…only one more year! --Stephanie Martin Courtney: ‘School standardized tests now history’ The Wyoming Compressive Assessment System (WyCAS) testing is finally over for the Junior Class. Since as far back as we all can remember we’ve been taking standardized tests. As the years went by the tests got harder. Eighth grade was the first time our paths crossed with the WyCAS tests. Every other year in between eighth and eleventh we took Terra Nova tests. The WyCAS are longer and have essay questions and showing of your work instead of all multiple choice. After a nice spring break and week free from school what better to come back to than testing. Not! The juniors dreaded the week after spring break due to the fact that they had to be at school everyday at normal time while fellow under and upperclassmen got to sleep in and come later. The testing was long but many classes got out early for a whole five minutes more of the already short lunch. In my opinion the tests were not too complicated. Everyone from my class finished each section of the test with time to spare. I have a feeling most of the other classes were the same way. Many kids even had time to do some homework in between tests. After all that dreading and complaining it’s now just a thing of our pasts. We never again in our lives will have to take another school-standardized test. Now we can all look forward to beginning hated next year by all the upcoming juniors. As they take the tests we will still be deep in dreamland, dreaming about the days when we had to wake up to take tests. --Paige Courtney Bray: ‘A tale of two tests’ As a junior, it was a tale of two tests for me. As we all know, WyCAS testing began bright and early on the morning of March 23. The first day was filled with reading comprehension and essay writing and the second day was filled with algebra and geometry. I can tell you right now I struggled with the math. After the first day of testing I felt good about myself because the tests were very remedial. But that confidence came crashing down when we lifted our pencils for the math comprehension. Problems were left blank, confusion ruled, and I found myself just trying to finish the test before time expired. To put it in simple terms, I was put to shame. I asked myself, did anybody else think that this test was written in a completely different language? I'm sure a lot of people aced some of the tests without even thinking twice about it but a lot of people in my class who shall remain nameless struggled every bit as much as I did. Unlike the Terra Nova tests the WyCAS tests offered a section for students to show their work and write out their problems. These problems, however, were very challenging. The comforting fact about multiple-choice questions is that even if a student is not sure of the answer, they still have a chance to get it right. When I came to the problems where I had to show my work, I was all alone in the dark, I had nothing to cling on to and I had no idea where to start. I did not do well at all on these problems. The good thing for me and for all juniors is that we will never have to see the WyCAS or the Terra Nova tests ever again. They are out of our lives forever. This presents a new kind of relief, and I will be looking forward to sleeping in when the tests roll around next year. --Jake Bray |