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U.S. high school math scores lag significantly behind other countries, even though scores in reading and science are above average How much of this math gap is

by ern 3y ago

U.S. high school math scores lag significantly behind other countries, even though scores in reading and science are above average How much of this math gap is because other countries focus heavily on test prep and exam performance?

t8sr 3y ago
Optimizing for test scores is an American phenomenon. AFAIK schools in most of the rest of the developed world are not worrying about these metrics. (They do worry about how many pupils go on to graduate college, for example.) (Although of course nobody on here likely knows anything about more than a handful of countries’ systems at most.)
- strix_varius 3y ago
  This is blatantly wrong. https://www.npr.org/2010/12/29/132416889/chinese-top-in-tests-but-still-have-lots-to-learn https://www.npr.org/2010/12/29/132416889/chinese-top-in-test...
  - t8sr 3y ago
    I mean, I did say developed world, but the link you're giving me is about China. I guess it's up to debate whether you consider that a developed country, but the IMF for example doesn't. Being more concrete, test in Europe scores are generally not a factor in university admissions* or school funding. I love being told I'm blatantly wrong about the world by confident Americans on the internet but, like, I did go through three of the systems in Europe for a total of 18 years and not once did the topic of test scores even come up. *: How could they be? How do you use Swiss Matura grades to apply to an Italian university?
    - strix_varius 3y ago
      I've gone to school in the US, Germany, and Australia. Tests were a major factor in all three places. But if you'd like to restrict candidates to the IMF's "developed" list, then other countries with well-documented testing cultures include Japan, South Korea, and the UK.
      - t8sr 3y ago
        I mean, there are tests, sure. But at German schools for example, what do they really determine? Not your chance to get into university. For one thing, they're not standardized, except for Matura (AFAIK?). They don't influence the school's funding. Mostly not even whether parents send their kids to this school - you just go to whatever school is near you, as they're all pretty good. They are signal for your teachers and parents. Matura might influence your choice of German schools, but that's about the only one, and even then, it's not really an important factor these days, is it?
- Loocid 3y ago
  >Optimizing for test scores is an American phenomenon. Completely false. Look at the culture around standardised testing in places like Japan and South Korea. I'm Australian and optimizing for test scores is absolutely a thing here too, though I admit probably less so than the US.

by ern 3y ago

t8sr 3y ago

Optimizing for test scores is an American phenomenon. AFAIK schools in most of the rest of the developed world are not worrying about these metrics. (They do worry about how many pupils go on to graduate college, for example.) (Although of course nobody on here likely knows anything about more than a handful of countries’ systems at most.)

strix_varius 3y ago
This is blatantly wrong. https://www.npr.org/2010/12/29/132416889/chinese-top-in-tests-but-still-have-lots-to-learn https://www.npr.org/2010/12/29/132416889/chinese-top-in-test...
- t8sr 3y ago
  I mean, I did say developed world, but the link you're giving me is about China. I guess it's up to debate whether you consider that a developed country, but the IMF for example doesn't. Being more concrete, test in Europe scores are generally not a factor in university admissions* or school funding. I love being told I'm blatantly wrong about the world by confident Americans on the internet but, like, I did go through three of the systems in Europe for a total of 18 years and not once did the topic of test scores even come up. *: How could they be? How do you use Swiss Matura grades to apply to an Italian university?
  - strix_varius 3y ago
    I've gone to school in the US, Germany, and Australia. Tests were a major factor in all three places. But if you'd like to restrict candidates to the IMF's "developed" list, then other countries with well-documented testing cultures include Japan, South Korea, and the UK.
    - t8sr 3y ago
      I mean, there are tests, sure. But at German schools for example, what do they really determine? Not your chance to get into university. For one thing, they're not standardized, except for Matura (AFAIK?). They don't influence the school's funding. Mostly not even whether parents send their kids to this school - you just go to whatever school is near you, as they're all pretty good. They are signal for your teachers and parents. Matura might influence your choice of German schools, but that's about the only one, and even then, it's not really an important factor these days, is it?
Loocid 3y ago
>Optimizing for test scores is an American phenomenon. Completely false. Look at the culture around standardised testing in places like Japan and South Korea. I'm Australian and optimizing for test scores is absolutely a thing here too, though I admit probably less so than the US.