High School Exit Exam

[bjbj1991]

What do you think of it? Do you think it should be allowed? What do you think of the court declaring the test this year void?

 

 

 

The highschool exit exam is a test that is being taken in California. 12th graders have have an education of 8th grade math and 10th grade english. The test can be taken 4 times starting at 10th grade and the students receave the answers to their tests so they know what to study the next time. A lawsuit has been filed that has declared the test invalid this year due to the fact some idiots couldnt pass it.

[Necromagus]

Ehrm, I might be a bit confused about the American high school system here, but what about exit exams on the 12th grade level? Over here (The Netherlands) all major subjects have exit exams on the same level as the year you exit in (which depends on your level of high school). These exams are 50% of your final grade, the other 50% is calculated from tests taken over the last two or three year, again depending on level. The final grades are rounded up. A 6 or higher is a passing grade. You can fail two courses, although failing certain combinations of courses mean you fail entirely anyway.

 

 

 

Why shouldn't you be examined on your own level anyway? What's the point of having a 12th grade if you're not going to examine the students at that level?

[punk4ever]

In Arizona we have the same sort of thing called the AIMS which is pretty easy. I support it fully because it is, first of all, not a difficult test at all to pass. In Arizona, as far as I know, when you go to middle school (7th & 8th grade) teachers are required to pass you onto the high school level no matter what your grades were or what you have done. However, in high school, they do not want that same "easy pass" for students and, thus, the exit exam was created to "weed out" the ones who truly do not care to learn anything at all.

 

 

 

The test itself is first taken as a Sophomore and has a Reading, Writing and Mathematical section (Science section soon to be added) which include pretty simple Freshman/Sophomore concepts. If you fail it the first time you can take it again and again throughout the next two years (it is offered twice or three times per year) and they even offer tutors to help you pass. The test also offers a good scholarship here in Arizona which, if applicable, can cover your tuition for all four years to an in-state university.

 

 

 

Comparing the education here to other countries seems kinda shameful. Other countries have much tougher exit exams such as France where you have le bac which pretty much determines whether you will go on to have a career and what you will study in the years to come. It's a huge test which students prepare the entire year for.

[Giordano]

It is being removed becasue idiots could'nt pass it?????

 

Passing school is NOT an right, but a prilvage. Those kids should just be put into the new McDonalds on the street and work there for the rest of their lifes. Oh wait, they can count money!

[weezcake]

Sorry, but I've got to jump in here.

 

 

 

The high school exit exam was removed because a huge portion of the student population here in California are ESL students (English Second Language) and therefore, the English portion would be unfair for them. I studied Mandarin in high school for four years, and I doubt I don't think I would be able to pass an exit exam in Chinese.

 

 

 

The math part is fair, since it requires only calculation; there are no language barriers involved.

 

 

 

I personally thought it was a waste of state funds. Bump the level of the test to a more appropriate level (mmm, maybe 11th grade? :roll:). It was a simple test; if it were not for the huge population of ESL students here, it probably would still be given. It was a good idea. It just needs some tweaking.

[nvw08]

Sorry, but I've got to jump in here.

 

 

 

The high school exit exam was removed because a huge portion of the student population here in California are ESL students (English Second Language) and therefore, the English portion would be unfair for them. I studied Mandarin in high school for four years, and I doubt I don't think I would be able to pass an exit exam in Chinese.

 

 

 

The math part is fair, since it requires only calculation; there are no language barriers involved.

 

 

 

I personally thought it was a waste of state funds. Bump the level of the test to a more appropriate level (mmm, maybe 11th grade? :roll:). It was a simple test; if it were not for the huge population of ESL students here, it probably would still be given. It was a good idea. It just needs some tweaking.

 

 

 

You beat me to it... Take a different language and try to learn it, don't speak it at home, don't use it with your friends and don't voulnteer to use it in class. Only use it when absolutely necessary then take a test on it involving grammar and other high level concepts (english grammar is a pain in the rear btw) and see how hard it is.... Then see why it is unfair.

[bjbj1991]

It is more dificult for second language students, however, this is for passing the 12th grade with a 10th grade education. If they can not pass the test in English then they need to receve extra classes for it so they do pass it.

 

 

 

Most kids in California do not take any college and so when they leave school, they wont try to exspand their education. Most of my friends at my school feel that they dont need anything else other than a highschool degree in life.

 

 

 

California is already ranked as one of the lowest states in America education wise. If this test fails then California would be known as the only state to give kids highschool graduation degrees even if they cant finish 10th grade.

[____]

(english grammar is a pain in the rear btw)

Better than Dutch. Unless I'm wrong, there is no sentence structure for that one...

 

 

 

It just kind of slots together depending on the words :-?

[Giordano]

Sorry, but I've got to jump in here.

 

 

 

The high school exit exam was removed because a huge portion of the student population here in California are ESL students (English Second Language) and therefore, the English portion would be unfair for them. I studied Mandarin in high school for four years, and I doubt I don't think I would be able to pass an exit exam in Chinese.

 

 

 

The math part is fair, since it requires only calculation; there are no language barriers involved.

 

 

 

I personally thought it was a waste of state funds. Bump the level of the test to a more appropriate level (mmm, maybe 11th grade? :roll:). It was a simple test; if it were not for the huge population of ESL students here, it probably would still be given. It was a good idea. It just needs some tweaking.

 

You live in an English-spoke country, you got to learn English. At least some, because you can't go to a American Company to find work and speak Spanish.

 

 

 

( I am NOT offending Spanish people, I am one as well. Argentina FTW)

 

 

 

P.S. I go to one of the highest grade middle school in CA.

[weezcake]

You live in an English-spoke country, you got to learn English. At least some, because you can't go to a American Company to find work and speak Spanish.

 

 

 

( I am NOT offending Spanish people, I am one as well. Argentina FTW)

 

 

 

P.S. I go to one of the highest grade middle school in CA.

 

 

 

Okay, put yourself in the shoes of my cousins.

 

 

 

You moved here at 16 years of age from China. You learn English because it's required, and hey, you want to fit in and want to be able to speak to other people. You are just as good as your peers academically, but you're just learning English as a second language.

 

 

 

Will you pass the High School Exit Exam? Probably not, given the short amount of time you've had to learn the language. This means no graduation. I'm sure you will pass it eventually, given an appropriate amount of time to learn the language and its rules.

 

 

 

It just needs some tweaking.

[nvw08]

(english grammar is a pain in the rear btw)

Better than Dutch. Unless I'm wrong, there is no sentence structure for that one...

 

 

 

It just kind of slots together depending on the words :-?

 

 

 

 

 

Never saiid it was the hardest but there are sooo many stupid rules that make no sence....

[Guest GhostRanger]

(english grammar is a pain in the rear btw)

Better than Dutch. Unless I'm wrong, there is no sentence structure for that one...

 

 

 

It just kind of slots together depending on the words :-?

 

 

 

 

 

Never saiid it was the hardest but there are sooo many stupid rules that make no sence....

 

 

 

I before E except after C...

 

 

 

Is that one of those weird rules you're referring to? :P

[unknownmasterofnothing]

I have a senior exit project that you do a project on whatever topic you want and have a presentation and if you fail, you have to keep presenting until you pass, which isn't that hard.

 

 

 

Also second language students in a good school would pass that test. I know all of the people I know would pass the test. However schools vary and some schools don't have the same quality schools, which makes it unfair.

[runesmithie]

(english grammar is a pain in the rear btw)

Better than Dutch. Unless I'm wrong, there is no sentence structure for that one...

 

 

 

It just kind of slots together depending on the words :-?

 

 

 

 

 

Never saiid it was the hardest but there are sooo many stupid rules that make no sence....

 

 

 

I before E except after C...

 

 

 

Is that one of those weird rules you're referring to? :P

 

 

 

Psh, you have to memorize the whole thing!

 

 

I before E except after C...

 

 

 

And in some really messed up cases

[Bmms]

well we have mid terms and finals, mid terms are in the middle of the year and finals are the last 3 days of school

 

 

 

but i really dont have a problem with them since there never really hard and there ussally a 20% curve on all them

 

 

 

~Bmms

[andyrules89]

You live in an English-spoke country, you got to learn English. At least some, because you can't go to a American Company to find work and speak Spanish.

 

 

 

( I am NOT offending Spanish people, I am one as well. Argentina FTW)

 

 

 

P.S. I go to one of the highest grade middle school in CA.

 

 

 

Okay, put yourself in the shoes of my cousins.

 

 

 

You moved here at 16 years of age from China. You learn English because it's required, and hey, you want to fit in and want to be able to speak to other people. You are just as good as your peers academically, but you're just learning English as a second language.

 

 

 

Will you pass the High School Exit Exam? Probably not, given the short amount of time you've had to learn the language. This means no graduation. I'm sure you will pass it eventually, given an appropriate amount of time to learn the language and its rules.

 

 

 

It just needs some tweaking.

 

 

 

Yup I know how you feel. Language is always the hardest thing to absorb especially the idioms for non-native speakers. Moved here at the age of 4 from China, so not much of a problem, but I've helped those who recently arrived. They just have to make a separate test in my opinion. One for those who are dominant in english and one for those who have limited knowledge. I'm not saying that the latter test should be easier either.