Standardized Blues- the MCAS report.

[SilverBellsAbove]

The MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Test) is a standardized exam that all sophomores have to take. Your graduation hinges on it.

To put things bluntly, I hate it.

Today I finished up the final section of the Reading Comprehension (English/Language Arts) portion of the exam. The math aspect comes in May.

Now, the Long Composition (essay) was easy. I don't find it hard to write things at all. The essay is usually at least 8 paragraphs long, answers a prompt and is checked for spelling and grammar.

Many kids griped about it. Mostly it was about they knew they would all fail because they had no idea what a semicolon was; It's too bad for them, really.

The second half (which I took today) was the Reading Compression part. It consists of analyzing passages and answering multiple choice and short-answer questions of around one to three paragraphs.

But these one to three paragraphs are not checked for spelling or grammar. In fact, they only care if you cite your evidence from the text. They are only failsafes to make sure you actually read and are not just blindly guessing answers.

So, what do you think about this? Should standardized tests, especially if they have written portions, be more watchful of spelling or grammar? What do you think about standardized tests in general?  

[Patron with a Mission]

I strongly believe that standardized tests as they are today are a total waste of time. Here in Texas, there is so much emphasis on merely passing the mininum standard TAKS test that the teachers forget to teach beyond that and the students get bored. While my peers in my hometown were writing pitiful essays, I was learning how to wire a breadboard. (It's loads of fun) There is more out there than the state tests.

Sorry for the rant. sweatdrop There's my two cents.

Oh...if they are going to be that careless about checking the grammar and such, just let them pass. The same result will occur. stare  

[ChibiStarlet]

I think standardized tests, when used properly and in moderation, can be a useful tool. I'm not even going to get started on how they're used in reality.

As for checking grammar on them, yes, I think if there's a written portion, how can you not factor grammar into it? The Pennsylvania tests (PSSAs) are the same way--the writing section looks at grammar. The reading section's written responses don't. Isn't that just saying that grammar isn't really important in all contexts...only on essays and English assignments?  

[SilverMaple]

Well, they should take grammar into account during the reading and question/answer parts, or else, it's a total waste of time.

On an irrelevant note, I have my SATs coming up next year. GAH! domokun  

[Lady Pica]

I hate standardized tests. They were always so mind-numbing by the end of them I was sitting in a catatonic state, drooling on my paper. It would be nice if they could at least break it up a little bit!