DC New to MCPS- Honors Algebra II MidTerm Exam

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting that my dd had the same (Algebra II county exam) last week. (I'd assume they'd schedule on the same week, county-wide.)

I think the idea is to ensure that teachers cover the relevant material so on this one exam, teachers can't write their own test.

You should have your dc study all of the material from this quarter -- the test will go all the way back to the beginning, which makes it difficult since they haven't seen that material in a few months.

My dd does very well in math, but this was her lowest grade this term. I think it's because she didn't study (since she has a high A and this couldn't compromise the grade). But I was surprised by her low score considering her strength in math, even if she didn't study. (So have your dc study!)

I wouldn't be so quick to say it was your daughter's fault. My middle school kid took a county math exam last semester and it was also his lowest score (also high A and does very well in math). The teacher told the kids that she didn't know what was on the test and it was a computer version. We asked to see my son's test in person and was surprised by how poorly the exam was written. My husband, a statistician, pointed out numerous mistakes in the wording of the questions and poorly applied math concepts. I wouldn't be surprised if the Alg II test was also a problem.

My daughter took the Precalc mid term recently and she also reported that the had trouble with the questions because she didn't understand what they were asking...they were unclear. And, she is an A student, too, and did not do well on this test. This seems to be a wider spread problem than just Honors Alg 2 with poorly written tests.

Same, DC didn't do well on the county pre-calc test. I think the thing is the classroom teachers sort of disown the county tests, they say it should be easier than what everyone's used to, but otherwise offer nothing specific. I don't know what these tests are called now, last year they were "required quarterly assessments," so more than the material for a unit test, but only half the semester's topics--a midterm as long as the "term" is a semester, not a final.

[Anonymous]

Frustratingly, they can't go over the test afterward to even see what they messed up on and how/why. I work hard on telling my kid who leans to perfectionism that grades/scores on assignments are all about showing what they know at that point. A low grade points to where they should study and that the important thing is learning the material (even if that learning happens after the "big test").

It is annoying that these tests give no opportunity to learn from them.

[Anonymous]

OP here my DD had an Algebra II Honors "quarterly assessment" last week from the county that counts as 11% of her grade. This week/ today she has a midterm from the "county" that counts 15% of her grade. I wrote 20% before but it appears these two county assessments are 25% of her second marking period grade.

[Anonymous]

OP again- it's frustrating without textbooks too. With a textbook- you can go back and find explanations to different problems and review concepts much more easily than looking at worksheets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting that my dd had the same (Algebra II county exam) last week. (I'd assume they'd schedule on the same week, county-wide.)

I think the idea is to ensure that teachers cover the relevant material so on this one exam, teachers can't write their own test.

You should have your dc study all of the material from this quarter -- the test will go all the way back to the beginning, which makes it difficult since they haven't seen that material in a few months.

My dd does very well in math, but this was her lowest grade this term. I think it's because she didn't study (since she has a high A and this couldn't compromise the grade). But I was surprised by her low score considering her strength in math, even if she didn't study. (So have your dc study!)

I wouldn't be so quick to say it was your daughter's fault. My middle school kid took a county math exam last semester and it was also his lowest score (also high A and does very well in math). The teacher told the kids that she didn't know what was on the test and it was a computer version. We asked to see my son's test in person and was surprised by how poorly the exam was written. My husband, a statistician, pointed out numerous mistakes in the wording of the questions and poorly applied math concepts. I wouldn't be surprised if the Alg II test was also a problem.

My daughter took the Precalc mid term recently and she also reported that the had trouble with the questions because she didn't understand what they were asking...they were unclear. And, she is an A student, too, and did not do well on this test. This seems to be a wider spread problem than just Honors Alg 2 with poorly written tests.

Same, DC didn't do well on the county pre-calc test. I think the thing is the classroom teachers sort of disown the county tests, they say it should be easier than what everyone's used to, but otherwise offer nothing specific. I don't know what these tests are called now, last year they were "required quarterly assessments," so more than the material for a unit test, but only half the semester's topics--a midterm as long as the "term" is a semester, not a final.

Would you mind sharing how your DC did on Pre-Cal county exam? B or C etc?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting that my dd had the same (Algebra II county exam) last week. (I'd assume they'd schedule on the same week, county-wide.)

I think the idea is to ensure that teachers cover the relevant material so on this one exam, teachers can't write their own test.

You should have your dc study all of the material from this quarter -- the test will go all the way back to the beginning, which makes it difficult since they haven't seen that material in a few months.

My dd does very well in math, but this was her lowest grade this term. I think it's because she didn't study (since she has a high A and this couldn't compromise the grade). But I was surprised by her low score considering her strength in math, even if she didn't study. (So have your dc study!)

I wouldn't be so quick to say it was your daughter's fault. My middle school kid took a county math exam last semester and it was also his lowest score (also high A and does very well in math). The teacher told the kids that she didn't know what was on the test and it was a computer version. We asked to see my son's test in person and was surprised by how poorly the exam was written. My husband, a statistician, pointed out numerous mistakes in the wording of the questions and poorly applied math concepts. I wouldn't be surprised if the Alg II test was also a problem.

My daughter took the Precalc mid term recently and she also reported that the had trouble with the questions because she didn't understand what they were asking...they were unclear. And, she is an A student, too, and did not do well on this test. This seems to be a wider spread problem than just Honors Alg 2 with poorly written tests.

Same, DC didn't do well on the county pre-calc test. I think the thing is the classroom teachers sort of disown the county tests, they say it should be easier than what everyone's used to, but otherwise offer nothing specific. I don't know what these tests are called now, last year they were "required quarterly assessments," so more than the material for a unit test, but only half the semester's topics--a midterm as long as the "term" is a semester, not a final.

Would you mind sharing how your DC did on Pre-Cal county exam? B or C etc?

A D, which is way off. It's 10 percent of the grade, but no score would have shifted his quarter grade anyway--given the 50 minimum the potential grade swing is 5% (I don't think he knew that going in so, not as if he didn't bother). I didn't ask him him anything about the content, but he wasn't expecting the grade. It's probably some slip due to winter break, but I'd like to see the test.

[Anonymous]

NP also new to MCPS.

Can one take NON]Honors Algebra II this year and still take pre-calc the following year?

DS has been recommended by his teacher to move into an honors class next semester, but isn't sure he wants to adjust his schedule.

[Anonymous]

OPP you have to take Honors Algebra 2 to be in Honors PreCal next at our school (Poolesville). If you take regular then you either take regular Pre Cal or Honors Algebra 2 the following year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OPP you have to take Honors Algebra 2 to be in Honors PreCal next at our school (Poolesville). If you take regular then you either take regular Pre Cal or Honors Algebra 2 the following year.

I don't think this is correct, the prerequisite is algebra 2 and teacher recommendation, if the teacher is recommending switching to honors mid year, odds are good the second semester alg 2 teacher would also recommend honors pre cacl. Check with the counselor. Anyway, no one would take honors algebra 2 after successfully completing algebra 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Frustratingly, they can't go over the test afterward to even see what they messed up on and how/why. I work hard on telling my kid who leans to perfectionism that grades/scores on assignments are all about showing what they know at that point. A low grade points to where they should study and that the important thing is learning the material (even if that learning happens after the "big test").

It is annoying that these tests give no opportunity to learn from them.

That’s my frustration, too. My son didn’t do as well on these tests as you usually does on math tests, and I pushed for him to see the test to go over what he got wrong so we could identify and work on gaps. The teacher said she couldn’t provide anything beyond the score. I don’t understand that. Ok if you can’t let him bring it home. But why can’t he come in and go over it in your classroom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I have a child with special needs who is allowed study guides/notes on his IEP. In his MCPS middle school, every core teacher works with study guides. Thanks for pointing out that in high school he may want to be proactive and explain his needs to every teacher at the beginning of the year.

Well I am explaining my child's science teacher as of today (I guess 10th time from the beginning of the year), that according to IEP by my child needs notes - this is HS. From the beginning of the year we got 10 pages of notes at most!
My child suppose to have study guide too. Has test tomorrow with 0 pages of notes for the chapter and no study guide. At least there is a textbook. Good luck...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OPP you have to take Honors Algebra 2 to be in Honors PreCal next at our school (Poolesville). If you take regular then you either take regular Pre Cal or Honors Algebra 2 the following year.

I don't think this is correct, the prerequisite is algebra 2 and teacher recommendation, if the teacher is recommending switching to honors mid year, odds are good the second semester alg 2 teacher would also recommend honors pre cacl. Check with the counselor. Anyway, no one would take honors algebra 2 after successfully completing algebra 2.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

At our school, anyone who has passed Alg II could sign up for Honors PreCalc. However, dd said teacher was discouraging it because Honors pre-calc is so much harder than Honors Alg II. Teacher said you should treat it as if it were an AP class. (doesn't count as one, but is the same work load).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OPP you have to take Honors Algebra 2 to be in Honors PreCal next at our school (Poolesville). If you take regular then you either take regular Pre Cal or Honors Algebra 2 the following year.

I don't think this is correct, the prerequisite is algebra 2 and teacher recommendation, if the teacher is recommending switching to honors mid year, odds are good the second semester alg 2 teacher would also recommend honors pre cacl. Check with the counselor. Anyway, no one would take honors algebra 2 after successfully completing algebra 2.

Thanks.

If you google PHS pathways... the recommended pathways are either non-honors pre-cal or honors algebra II- but maybe it's different at different schools.

[Anonymous]

Algebra II and honors Algebra II are largely the same class. The honors version usually has some extra projects added in to the curriculum.