What standardized tests to expect in HS? PARRC? HSA? Others?
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Anonymous
| DC will be starting HS next year. What can we expect as far as testing, standardized tests, PARRC, HSAs, MAP-R, MAP-M, etc. Do they do as much testing in HS as they do in elementary and middle school? |
Anonymous
| Can someone with a HS student weigh in? I'm curious to know if there will be a similar amount of testing in HS. |
Anonymous
|
In our experience, there isn't as much state testing.
My kids have taken the PSAT (every year except 12 -and in 9 it was a practice exam, not the real thing). They also took 4 HSA tests, which are spread out - you take the test as you finish the relevant course. As I understand, PARCC tests are replacing HSAs in English and Algebra, but I could be wrong. My youngest isn't in high school yet, and my older 2 did all of their state testing pre-PARCC. Of course, for many kids AP and IB add another big chunk of testing this time of year. |
Anonymous
|
Mother of HS student.
4 tests required for graduation. PARCC tests this year for English 10 and Algebra 1; HSA for Biology and Government PSAT for 9, 10th, 11th. AP and IB exams are in May also |
Anonymous
Finals in January too for semester-long courses. The bell schedule changes during finals and for PARCC, so be prepared for that. Although I believe they're doing away with finals in HS next year? |
Anonymous
| Yes delayed opening for 4 days when PARCC and HSA is given for kids that are not taking them. Busses run at regular time though. Kids can be in study hall if they do not have a way to get to school late. |
Anonymous
My understanding is that they are doing away with finals starting next year, but I don't know what will replace them (not sure the schools know either), and I don't know if that will mean the end of "finals week." The thing that caught me by surprise when my oldest entered high school was that finals weeks was really treated like college--if you don't have an exam, you don't show up at school that day. |
Anonymous
| It was my understanding that they drop finals only when there is a state exam for that course, e.g. no final in Algebra because there is the Algebra PARRC. For other courses, I thought there still would be finals. But that's just how I understood it last time I read something about it. |
Anonymous
| What about MAP-R and MAP-M? Also, if a student is taking AP Government, do they have to take the MSA as well as the AP exam? |
Anonymous
| Yes..MSA as well as AP and a project at the end of the year that is worth the 20% that the exam used to be. |
Anonymous
No, you will never hear these terms again in high school. |
Anonymous
| Thanks for the info! |
Anonymous
Mine did not have to take the Gov HSA - the AP covered it. I assume you have to get a 3 or higher on the AP test? DC got a 5 so we didn't worry about the cutoff. Not sure if it's different for the PARCC but most kids took the Algebra HSA in middle school. So DC only took 2 HSAs in high school - Biology and English. Biology was in 9th grade and English in 10th grade. The rest of the testing is AP/PSAT testing which is no different than any other school and depends on course selection. I'm not even sure the 11th grade PSATs are mandatory since we pay for those. |
Anonymous
| My son is taking AP GOV now and must take the HSA as well. I assume that is a county decision. |
Anonymous
| Do you just have to pass the HSA to graduate? Are they difficult to pass? Or does the HSA count for the grade as well? Do kids study for these? How long are they? Several days? Just want to know for my very text-anxious kid. |