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The article doesn't even say what state the gentleman comes from, and the tests still vary state-to-state. That's changing, with PARCC[1], but that's not really

by pflats 15y ago

The article doesn't even say what state the gentleman comes from, and the tests still vary state-to-state. That's changing, with PARCC[1], but that's not really relevant to this article. [1]http://parcconline.org/about-parcc http://parcconline.org/about-parcc Virgina releases their tests every year (most states don't; it's expensive), and since this is the WaPo, it could be a VA test. Here's a link to their 2010 exam: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/released_tests/2010/released_tests2010.shtml http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/released_tests/2010/... edit: It's unlikely he's from VA, though, because VA doesn't do a standardized 10th grade math test. They give End-of-Course tests instead; statewide finals, essentially.

keithpeter 15y ago
Thanks very much for this link. I find these tests really interesting. I work as a Maths teacher in the UK. The 8th Grade Maths test, question 34, caused a lot of debate in the evening Maths class I have just taught (we had some of the questions up on the projector as a novelty). How old would most 8th Grade students be? And how long would they have to complete the test? Multiple choice questions are not widely used within the exam system in the UK. There are 'Skills for Life' qualifications aimed at adults who missed out at school in Literacy and Numeracy that are MCQ based. The link below will take you to some practice tests (both pdf paper based and tests designed to be completed on screen). What do you think of those? http://www.move-on.org.uk/practicetestsResults.asp http://www.move-on.org.uk/practicetestsResults.asp
- pflats 15y ago
  8th grade students are 13-14. Students generally start in Kindergarten at 5; Americans don't enjoy 0-indecies, but Kindergarten is Grade 0. You can extrapolate from there for the other years. I don't teach in VA, but according to the implementer's guide[1], it's un-timed. From my experience, I'd say probably 2 or 3 hours for the 50 math questions, depending on the student's skill. [1]http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/test_administration/manuals/examiners/2011-12/nonwriting_grades6_7_8.pdf http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/test_administration/manu... I haven't worked enough (at all) in adult ed to comment in depth on these, but they look like they'd cover a lot of the important stuff for a basic job and your general day-to-day numeracy and literacy.

by pflats 15y ago

keithpeter 15y ago

Thanks very much for this link. I find these tests really interesting. I work as a Maths teacher in the UK. The 8th Grade Maths test, question 34, caused a lot of debate in the evening Maths class I have just taught (we had some of the questions up on the projector as a novelty). How old would most 8th Grade students be? And how long would they have to complete the test? Multiple choice questions are not widely used within the exam system in the UK. There are 'Skills for Life' qualifications aimed at adults who missed out at school in Literacy and Numeracy that are MCQ based. The link below will take you to some practice tests (both pdf paper based and tests designed to be completed on screen). What do you think of those? http://www.move-on.org.uk/practicetestsResults.asp http://www.move-on.org.uk/practicetestsResults.asp

pflats 15y ago
8th grade students are 13-14. Students generally start in Kindergarten at 5; Americans don't enjoy 0-indecies, but Kindergarten is Grade 0. You can extrapolate from there for the other years. I don't teach in VA, but according to the implementer's guide[1], it's un-timed. From my experience, I'd say probably 2 or 3 hours for the 50 math questions, depending on the student's skill. [1]http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/test_administration/manuals/examiners/2011-12/nonwriting_grades6_7_8.pdf http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/test_administration/manu... I haven't worked enough (at all) in adult ed to comment in depth on these, but they look like they'd cover a lot of the important stuff for a basic job and your general day-to-day numeracy and literacy.