Studying for a Test-The Texan Way

Pariochial · Post by **Pariochial** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 2:14 am

Right now, I'm a bit annoyed how the school system is working here in Texas. Basically, there are a few big tests that you have to pass to graduate. This means that all the schools teach very specific things on how to take the test, and they actually take time out of our classes and run drills on how to do I finished with a year ago. Then, there are the AP tests which you basically study for to skip a class in college. The highest level classes in my school teach for those. Also, you have to learn how to take the SAT, and understand what they do to make it tick, and how they trick you with later questions and so on.

When I was taking English Pre AP, a good half of the time in the first semester was being used to teach us to write these short little blurbs of writing about 6 lines long to summarize a short story. The funny thing is, everyone in the school takes it, so that means they probably spent even longer teaching it in the lower classes. Also, if you don't understand it at all, it is ridicoulously easy to fail it. This means the teachers are teaching their hardest to teach people to write 6 lines of text. I'm sorry, but I somehow think that 6 lines of text mean that much in my life.

Then, since I'm in Pre AP, of course the teacher wants to teach me how to write essays, and how I should put in references to things like "similies" or "parallel syntax" so the graders will be all happy and pleased about what I'm writing. Nevermind the fact that writing a short essay on a book will only help me if I'm write these for a career, or that I'd be better off only studying how to use "similies" and "parallel syntax" themselves.

And naturally, the big grandaddy of them all, the SAT. Unfortunately, the people who make this test don't actually design it for people to "pass." They actually design it to make sure as few people suceed as possible. Of course, they still try to make it "possible" because as far as I can tell, what they do is take really simple stuff I learned before and put very confusing wording with it. Since it's so complicated, teachers don't bother trying to teach it to anyone, so you have to take a SAT class to learn HOW to take the SAT. Nope, studying your physics or practicing your essays won't help nearly as much as taking a class to learn the makers are sadistic and only want the very best to pass the test.

Well, technically, you don't have to pass the SAT; you can also be in the top tenth percentile of your school, and you get to pick any college you want in Texas. Too bad I'm in a school of about 2600 students in a school with only two grades and there are alot of overachievers that I simply don't have to will to beat, and they will fill up the colleges before anyone else. Then, I have to contest with the other 90% of the school population of Texas in order to actually do what I want... by taking really long, incredibly boring, and otherwise pointless tests.

Now if only I could remember exactly what "parallel syntax" was...

NorthernComfort · Post by **NorthernComfort** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 2:17 am

They are boring and they are long, but they are also very easy. Don't worry about studying for them. Anybody with half a brain will be in the 90th percentile.

Pout · Post by **Pout** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 2:19 am

You bring up an interesting point about the problems with standardized tests. As a teacher, I can tell you that they're a pain to prepare for us too. Thing is that theory asks us to be coherent between teaching methods and evaluations but then we get slapped by exams that are far from the exercises we gave to our students.

Anybody with half a brain will be in the 90th percentile.

That...makes no sense.

Imperator Severn · Post by **Imperator Severn** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 2:24 am

I made a "4" on the English Literature AP test (Or perhaps it was a 5. I've gone a week or two without sleep since then.) I never took an AP English class, nor did I study for the test. I think maybe the fact that I actually picked up a book that wasn't assigned to me every once in a while in my life may have helped. Granted, I would not have made "5s" in Calculus and Chemistry without study, but Liberal arts are not something you learn by rote.

The SAT and the ACT test one thing: The ability to take Multiple-Choice tests. Luckily for me, I am fairly good at them, scoring 1380 (660 Math, 720 Verbal) and 32, respectively. But they have no real bearing on actual intelligence or knowledge. I would propose we throw high school graduates into a pit and have them fight until but 10% is left. But then, I don't like children.

EDIT: Dear God, tell me Pout isn't an English teacher.

EDITX2:

That...makes no sense.

He's saying that 90% of people do not half half a brain. He's speaking figuratively, implying that 90% of people are half-wits. He is correct.

silverwolf01 · Post by **silverwolf01** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 2:29 am

I didn't do good on the SAT even tho I did the Princeton Review for about 3 months straight. So that is why I am attending a Jr. college right up the road and kicking basics out of the way before I go to a Uni for my major and minor.

Imperator Severn · Post by **Imperator Severn** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 2:33 am

I didn't do good on the SAT even tho I did the Princeton Review for about 3 months straight. So that is why I am attending a Jr. college right up the road and kicking basics out of the way before I go to a Uni for my major and minor.

I hear that they lyke it win you can express you're self cleerlie in righting at the sat those bastards you shood cill thim al.

NorthernComfort · Post by **NorthernComfort** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 2:37 am

AP tests are incredibly overhyped. The classes themselves can be difficult, but the tests are nothing. I got a 5 at the end of Junior year with zero prep, and not taking the class. AP English Composition.

silverwolf01 · Post by **silverwolf01** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 2:43 am

[quote="Imperator Severn";p="388133"]

I didn't do good on the SAT even tho I did the Princeton Review for about 3 months straight. So that is why I am attending a Jr. college right up the road and kicking basics out of the way before I go to a Uni for my major and minor.

I hear that they lyke it win you can express you're self cleerlie in righting at the sat those bastards you shood cill thim al.[/quote]

I'm pretty good at reading typos and funky spelling of words but towards the end there just went over my head. Mind retyping it or are you going to continue to mock?

Pariochial · Post by **Pariochial** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 5:42 am

Yes, these kinds of tests are easy. If they weren't, I would have said so. The main thing that pisses me off is the fact it screws up normal curriculum and forces teachers and students to follow learning things for tests.

I took Pre AP and such more for the difficulty anyways. If I get to skip a class because I pass a test, I'm happy. The only thing I'm not happy about is the very name of the class says "This class is mostly for getting you through a test. Everything else is secondary."

*Pariochial is happy because he is above the 90th percentile on most large tests he takes, even ones he's not suppose to do as well on because he's in a lower level class, and the people in the higher level should naturally know more about it then him, but Pariochial somehow shows a greater understanding of the subject than his supposedly superior peers.

I'll never understand why they wouldn't let me take geometry that year....

Imperator Severn · Post by **Imperator Severn** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 5:45 am

I'm pretty good at reading typos and funky spelling of words but towards the end there just went over my head. Mind retyping it or are you going to continue to mock?

If you were a non-native speaker, I might have some sympathy. Being as you are a Houstonite, I prefer to mock you.

RaxeLamb · Post by **RaxeLamb** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 9:30 pm

Well, my high school is currently a 'D' school. In Florida we have a standardized test called "FCAT". It's very simple and most states have their own versions of it.

That test gives an overall 'grade' for the school, I already mentioned our grade was a D. Half of the school fails the test. Which means most of the kids are stupid. Which is true, but a lot of them are from Cuba, and can't speak english yet.

But, for the most part though it's the stupidity that runs rampant through here. What's the problem? No one reads anymore. In my school, no one reads for pleasure anymore. It's glued to your T.V. all day wasting away.

But for a 'D' school we have a pretty strong reputation in Math. Recently took home 10th in the nation at the MAO National Convention.

About the AP tests, I was a sophmore last year and only took one class, AP Computer Science, the class was A LOT harder than the test. The teacher even had a day to study at his house to make sure we were all ready. I got a 5.

This year I decided to take C.S. AB since it's mostly the same stuff. I've heard that the hard AP classes are the History classes. My friend got a 2 on his AP Art History test, so I guess it depends.

Pout · Post by **Pout** » Tue Aug 24, 2004 2:42 am

Dear God, tell me Pout isn't an English teacher.

Hehe...euh...no. Worry not. English isn't even my native tongue.

He's saying that 90% of people do not half half a brain. He's speaking figuratively, implying that 90% of people are half-wits. He is correct.

I know I got it. I just delievered my reaction to it wrong.

Real Life Forums

Studying for a Test-The Texan Way

Studying for a Test-The Texan Way

Re: Studying for a Test-The Texan Way

Who is online