SOL test is becoming harder and harder now ?

[Anonymous]

Did every parent find the SOL test is becoming harder in recent years ? Especially Reading and Math. At first, the SOL test is easy very much. but now the SOL test is very difficult. at the same time. School teachers are teaching the same material. So, are the students becoming smarter now than before ? I am just wondering this phenomenon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did every parent find the SOL test is becoming harder in recent years ? Especially Reading and Math. At first, the SOL test is easy very much. but now the SOL test is very difficult. at the same time. School teachers are teaching the same material. So, are the students becoming smarter now than before ? I am just wondering this phenomenon.

How do you know that the SOL test is getting harder?

[Anonymous]

Do you mean the same grade level test is becoming harder and harder, or as your child gets older your child finds the grade-level SOL more difficult?

If it's the latter, talk to your school about what kind of intervention or remediation your child might need. Maybe there's an unaddressed learning gap?

[Anonymous]

of course, it is the same grade level to compare . you can research the past year SOL Tests released by VA Education Department.

[Anonymous]

By researching SOL tests from 2001 to 2016, you can find the same grade level test is becoming harder and harder. That is why it is more difficult to advanced past SOL reading and math now. Especially recent years math SOL, each question may have several right answers that all must be selected, otherwise you get the question wrong. This kind of questions are the hardest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By researching SOL tests from 2001 to 2016, you can find the same grade level test is becoming harder and harder. That is why it is more difficult to advanced past SOL reading and math now. Especially recent years math SOL, each question may have several right answers that all must be selected, otherwise you get the question wrong. This kind of questions are the hardest.

Could it be that the test in 2001 was too easy? Multiple choice questions with only one answer are proven to be lower end questions. And response to the OP up above, teachers do cover these types of questions and thought process during the school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:of course, it is the same grade level to compare . you can research the past year SOL Tests released by VA Education Department.

There's only been a couple tests released in that time frame so you're comparing two tests. In addition, the standards have changed in that time frame (especially in math) which is why you will see different concepts.

[Anonymous]

I read that they were concerned that the original test was too easy, too many kids were getting passed advanced and perfect scores. They have made the exam more difficult to get a better feel for where kids really are.

The tests are suppose to reflect what the kids are learning in the classroom so they should be passable by the students.

[Anonymous]

They also have CAT tests now where the kids get harder questions if they get correct responses. I don’t understand how they grade uniformly when kids have different tests. But I think it’s just me who doesn’t understand that!

I do know the reading tests were made more challenging several years back and the goal was to do that with all subjects.

[Anonymous]

I only researched 3rd,4th,5th,6th 7th, 8th grade reading and math SOL, each grade SOL from 2001-2016, I find the SOL test really becoming harder. So , maybe the students are studying harder than before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I only researched 3rd,4th,5th,6th 7th, 8th grade reading and math SOL, each grade SOL from 2001-2016, I find the SOL test really becoming harder. So , maybe the students are studying harder than before.

Is it a problem that we are expecting our kids to learn more? It sounds like the original test pointed out that the class work was not challenging enough for many of the students so they adjusted the curriculum and the exams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They also have CAT tests now where the kids get harder questions if they get correct responses. I don’t understand how they grade uniformly when kids have different tests. But I think it’s just me who doesn’t understand that!

I do know the reading tests were made more challenging several years back and the goal was to do that with all subjects.

+1

There were so many complaints that the SOLs were too easy so they've made them harder. You got what you asked for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They also have CAT tests now where the kids get harder questions if they get correct responses. I don’t understand how they grade uniformly when kids have different tests. But I think it’s just me who doesn’t understand that!

I do know the reading tests were made more challenging several years back and the goal was to do that with all subjects.

+1

There were so many complaints that the SOLs were too easy so they've made them harder. You got what you asked for.

The SOLs are useless either way. They mean nothing, especially with the reduction in the number of verified credits needed for graduation.

[Anonymous]

I thought it was supposed to get harder in order to increase rigor in teaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They also have CAT tests now where the kids get harder questions if they get correct responses. I don’t understand how they grade uniformly when kids have different tests. But I think it’s just me who doesn’t understand that!

I do know the reading tests were made more challenging several years back and the goal was to do that with all subjects.

+1

There were so many complaints that the SOLs were too easy so they've made them harder. You got what you asked for.

The SOLs are useless either way. They mean nothing, especially with the reduction in the number of verified credits needed for graduation.

Some parents find them useful to see how our students/teachers are doing.