This high school test retake policy is wild

[Anonymous]

I’m pretty sure the policy doesn’t allow a grade to go down woth a retake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the retakes - so now they already know the questions and go back and answer it and get everything right?

No, I have to write 4 versions of every test (different MC questions, different essay questions, different application problems, etc)

Version A/B for in class because kids are packed so tightly there is no way to prevent wandering eyeballs.

Version C as a retake/“I was absent on test day” version for anyone who does the retake within 2 weeks.

Version D for students who missed test day, took the retake as their first attempt, and now need a retake, or who decide in June they want to retake unit 1 (we have to let them). Version D is never handed back so I can use it for retakes the remainder of the year.

It is extraordinarily difficult in some units to write four exams of equal difficulty that aren’t just asking the same thing with different numbers.

Why are you making the retakes “equal difficulty”?

Save yourself the trouble and get a reputation for only giving retakes that are impossible. And announce that anyone who does a retake needs to accept that grade even if it’s lower. After a few hard lessons, no student will dare approach you for a retake. Then you do not need to ever create retakes.

Either this or just make your tests so easy that As are easy to achieve. Either way you need to stop doing so much or you will burn out before Halloween.

Nah, we've been doing it this way for years. This is the value of a good CT. We write version A together, and then divvy up versions B/C/D among the team. The last person writes the keys and adjusts difficulty level to try to keep it fair.

We (my subject team) believe in the value of retakes. I have seen students who struggle learn from their test mistakes, master the material, and prove they have learned the content down the road. That helps them in the next unit that builds on the prior one! I don't want to take that away from them by making retakes impossibly hard. That helps no one learn--and my job is to help kids learn.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My kid just got his first test back and did well, but said most kids are retaking anything under 97 so that they can be sure they are in good shape in case the final ends up being hard.

This seems like it is going to push the highly perfectionist crowd to insanity.

I hope the kids that really need the retakes are doing it too.

Interesting that the teachers even allow for retakes if the students get over a certain grade. None of my kid's teachers allow retakes if the original grade is a B or above unless it is a test near the end of the semester where scoring higher would bump their overall semester grade up a letter.

Several of her teachers also require anyone who scores below a C minus to automatically do the retake. A few others require the retake only if the first grade is a D+ or lower.

The current FCPS policy is to allow retakes for any test grade. If your kids are in FCPS, retakes are allowed this year.

This will drive more teachers to quit. A total waste of their time to re-grade exams in the 90s.

No one is retaking tests in the 90s after the first unit. Once work picks up and grades start to level out, kids realize real fast it's not worth their time.

I've been doing retakes to 100 for years (like, 12+) and i always have a ton of high achieving kids want to retake the first test and then it's crickets.

For my AP and Honors classes, about 70% of the student who got a 79% or below did a retake. I prepared two tests as a matter of course.

For my GE classes, retakes were rarely done.

Here’s how I am handling this new policy. The first test will be the regular difficulty. The second test will be incredibly difficult. It will be longer and impossible to finish even for kids with extended time.

I made time to help the kids who wanted to do retakes last year since it was reasonable and they generally seemed very motivated.

No longer. Any makeup tests will not help this year.

That's just f'd up and mean. There are a lot of kids who work really hard and who need more time to learn the concepts fully. But since high school classes are on such a rigid timeline (with tests paced out to the day and if you don't know it by then, you're SOL), those kids who could use an extra day or two interacting and learning the material will get screwed every single time with your petty vindictive policy which you put in place just to screw over the kids who are already scoring high who want to retake.

You're punishing the kids who genuinely need the opportunity. It's gross.

+1 it’s against the spirit of what the retakes are supposed to be for. The goal is to get the kids to learn the material, not screw then the second time around.

Or is the goal simply to inflate grades and ensure high graduation rates?

Shhh. This is supposed to be a secret

I think it will backfire. Classes are already falling behind as teachers need to give class time for retakes.

There is no class time for retakes.

Kids either do it during the remediation block, or stay after school with the teacher on their designated after school day (we are all required to stay after at least one day per week). The only time I would use class time for this is if the majority of the class failed and I needed to provide remediation to nearly everyone (this happened once on a quiz a few years ago, but that's literally 1/50 assessments). When it's a half dozen kids per class, there's no way I'm using class time for this. Those who want the retake can come after school or during remediation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid just got his first test back and did well, but said most kids are retaking anything under 97 so that they can be sure they are in good shape in case the final ends up being hard.

This seems like it is going to push the highly perfectionist crowd to insanity.

I hope the kids that really need the retakes are doing it too.

Interesting that the teachers even allow for retakes if the students get over a certain grade. None of my kid's teachers allow retakes if the original grade is a B or above unless it is a test near the end of the semester where scoring higher would bump their overall semester grade up a letter.

Several of her teachers also require anyone who scores below a C minus to automatically do the retake. A few others require the retake only if the first grade is a D+ or lower.

The current FCPS policy is to allow retakes for any test grade. If your kids are in FCPS, retakes are allowed this year.

This will drive more teachers to quit. A total waste of their time to re-grade exams in the 90s.

No one is retaking tests in the 90s after the first unit. Once work picks up and grades start to level out, kids realize real fast it's not worth their time.

I've been doing retakes to 100 for years (like, 12+) and i always have a ton of high achieving kids want to retake the first test and then it's crickets.

For my AP and Honors classes, about 70% of the student who got a 79% or below did a retake. I prepared two tests as a matter of course.

For my GE classes, retakes were rarely done.

Here’s how I am handling this new policy. The first test will be the regular difficulty. The second test will be incredibly difficult. It will be longer and impossible to finish even for kids with extended time.

I made time to help the kids who wanted to do retakes last year since it was reasonable and they generally seemed very motivated.

No longer. Any makeup tests will not help this year.

That's just f'd up and mean. There are a lot of kids who work really hard and who need more time to learn the concepts fully. But since high school classes are on such a rigid timeline (with tests paced out to the day and if you don't know it by then, you're SOL), those kids who could use an extra day or two interacting and learning the material will get screwed every single time with your petty vindictive policy which you put in place just to screw over the kids who are already scoring high who want to retake.

You're punishing the kids who genuinely need the opportunity. It's gross.

+1 it’s against the spirit of what the retakes are supposed to be for. The goal is to get the kids to learn the material, not screw then the second time around.

Or is the goal simply to inflate grades and ensure high graduation rates?

Shhh. This is supposed to be a secret

I think it will backfire. Classes are already falling behind as teachers need to give class time for retakes.

There is no class time for retakes.

Kids either do it during the remediation block, or stay after school with the teacher on their designated after school day (we are all required to stay after at least one day per week). The only time I would use class time for this is if the majority of the class failed and I needed to provide remediation to nearly everyone (this happened once on a quiz a few years ago, but that's literally 1/50 assessments). When it's a half dozen kids per class, there's no way I'm using class time for this. Those who want the retake can come after school or during remediation.

Langley is encouraging retakes during class time. Advisory is only 40 minutes, not 90

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m pretty sure the policy doesn’t allow a grade to go down woth a retake.

It is silent on the issue so teachers can adopt this if they choose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid just got his first test back and did well, but said most kids are retaking anything under 97 so that they can be sure they are in good shape in case the final ends up being hard.

This seems like it is going to push the highly perfectionist crowd to insanity.

I hope the kids that really need the retakes are doing it too.

Interesting that the teachers even allow for retakes if the students get over a certain grade. None of my kid's teachers allow retakes if the original grade is a B or above unless it is a test near the end of the semester where scoring higher would bump their overall semester grade up a letter.

Several of her teachers also require anyone who scores below a C minus to automatically do the retake. A few others require the retake only if the first grade is a D+ or lower.

The current FCPS policy is to allow retakes for any test grade. If your kids are in FCPS, retakes are allowed this year.

This will drive more teachers to quit. A total waste of their time to re-grade exams in the 90s.

No one is retaking tests in the 90s after the first unit. Once work picks up and grades start to level out, kids realize real fast it's not worth their time.

I've been doing retakes to 100 for years (like, 12+) and i always have a ton of high achieving kids want to retake the first test and then it's crickets.

For my AP and Honors classes, about 70% of the student who got a 79% or below did a retake. I prepared two tests as a matter of course.

For my GE classes, retakes were rarely done.

Here’s how I am handling this new policy. The first test will be the regular difficulty. The second test will be incredibly difficult. It will be longer and impossible to finish even for kids with extended time.

I made time to help the kids who wanted to do retakes last year since it was reasonable and they generally seemed very motivated.

No longer. Any makeup tests will not help this year.

That's just f'd up and mean. There are a lot of kids who work really hard and who need more time to learn the concepts fully. But since high school classes are on such a rigid timeline (with tests paced out to the day and if you don't know it by then, you're SOL), those kids who could use an extra day or two interacting and learning the material will get screwed every single time with your petty vindictive policy which you put in place just to screw over the kids who are already scoring high who want to retake.

You're punishing the kids who genuinely need the opportunity. It's gross.

+1 it’s against the spirit of what the retakes are supposed to be for. The goal is to get the kids to learn the material, not screw then the second time around.

Or is the goal simply to inflate grades and ensure high graduation rates?

Shhh. This is supposed to be a secret

I think it will backfire. Classes are already falling behind as teachers need to give class time for retakes.

There is no class time for retakes.

Kids either do it during the remediation block, or stay after school with the teacher on their designated after school day (we are all required to stay after at least one day per week). The only time I would use class time for this is if the majority of the class failed and I needed to provide remediation to nearly everyone (this happened once on a quiz a few years ago, but that's literally 1/50 assessments). When it's a half dozen kids per class, there's no way I'm using class time for this. Those who want the retake can come after school or during remediation.

Langley is encouraging retakes during class time. Advisory is only 40 minutes, not 90

I break my retakes into two parts. You can come for two advisories, advisory + after school, or do it all in one after school session. No class time is used.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m pretty sure the policy doesn’t allow a grade to go down woth a retake.

It is silent on the issue so teachers can adopt this if they choose.

My principal told us that the higher grade must count. We did not have a choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m pretty sure the policy doesn’t allow a grade to go down woth a retake.

It is silent on the issue so teachers can adopt this if they choose.

My principal told us that the higher grade must count. We did not have a choice.

That's kind of the point. I think it is largely left up to the school/content team/teacher.

[Anonymous]

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We (my subject team) believe in the value of retakes. I have seen students who struggle learn from their test mistakes, master the material, and prove they have learned the content down the road. That helps them in the next unit that builds on the prior one! I don't want to take that away from them by making retakes impossibly hard. That helps no one learn--and my job is to help kids learn.

What about if teachers are actively discouraging retakes unless below a certain %?

[Anonymous]

My DS is planning to retake a test during class today. It seems like a waste of time and I discouraged him. He got a 90% and had one of the best grades in the class where the average was 75%.

but he said that since most people would be doing the retake, he might as well do it. I’ll have to ask him about the policy in if retakes can harm a grade. I’m also worried about college recommendations since he’s a junior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is planning to retake a test during class today. It seems like a waste of time and I discouraged him. He got a 90% and had one of the best grades in the class where the average was 75%.

but he said that since most people would be doing the retake, he might as well do it. I’ll have to ask him about the policy in if retakes can harm a grade. I’m also worried about college recommendations since he’s a junior. I

Same my junior son's AP Calculus BC teacher said if kids who make B's ask for retakes they are not making friends with the teacher. The problem is my son wants to major in CS and really needs an A in the class. CS is one of the most competitive majors and colleges will quickly not admit B students so he is between a rock and a hard place. He is not a slacker who relies on retakes but sometimes he scores an 85 on a test. So does he risk getting a B in the class and not getting admitted to top schools or risk pissing of the teacher so even if he gets an A in the class he gets no recommendation from her. Applying to CS with no recommendation from a math teacher is also a kiss of death. It is a horrible spot to put a child in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m pretty sure the policy doesn’t allow a grade to go down woth a retake.

It is silent on the issue so teachers can adopt this if they choose.

My principal told us that the higher grade must count. We did not have a choice.

Same at my school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is planning to retake a test during class today. It seems like a waste of time and I discouraged him. He got a 90% and had one of the best grades in the class where the average was 75%.

but he said that since most people would be doing the retake, he might as well do it. I’ll have to ask him about the policy in if retakes can harm a grade. I’m also worried about college recommendations since he’s a junior. I

Same my junior son's AP Calculus BC teacher said if kids who make B's ask for retakes they are not making friends with the teacher. The problem is my son wants to major in CS and really needs an A in the class. CS is one of the most competitive majors and colleges will quickly not admit B students so he is between a rock and a hard place. He is not a slacker who relies on retakes but sometimes he scores an 85 on a test. So does he risk getting a B in the class and not getting admitted to top schools or risk pissing of the teacher so even if he gets an A in the class he gets no recommendation from her. Applying to CS with no recommendation from a math teacher is also a kiss of death. It is a horrible spot to put a child in.

1) He has other math teachers. How's his relationship with his sophomore year teacher? Now's the time to reach out to them and ask if he can help tutor students, etc.
2) If he truly needs a solid recommendation from his math teacher to get into the program, it is probably a pretty restrictive program and he should be getting As the first time around. If there were no retake policy in place, would he no longer apply to the school because he had a B? If so, maybe he shouldn't be applying. If he'd still apply with a B, then great! Keep the B and apply.

[Anonymous]

My student was told by 1 teacher (out of 7) that the retake grade stands - even if it is lower. The other 6 teachers in her day do not have this policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid just got his first test back and did well, but said most kids are retaking anything under 97 so that they can be sure they are in good shape in case the final ends up being hard.

This seems like it is going to push the highly perfectionist crowd to insanity.

I hope the kids that really need the retakes are doing it too.

My kid retook a 99 to get a half point. Some kids will do anything possible to bump their grade even it it's from a high A to a slightly higher A

To be fair I recall scenarios in both grade school and college where I missed a grade by a fraction of a point in the end (e.g. got a 92.4 average and was given an A-, whereas a 1/10th point increase in my average score for the class would have rounded up to an A)... getting that extra 1/2 point on a test no matter at the beginning or end of the grading period could potentially be the difference, and no matter how good the initial score was. Sometimes you bomb a test/project or are struggling with other issues at certain points in the year, and maximizing the amount of margin for error you can buy for yourself in the future is generally a wise strategy.