Well, the Ontario government has done it again. Implementing something which costs millions of dollars in taxpayers money and they still don't realize it's pointless.
I had to take it all morning Thursday and Friday, it was the first year where it actually counted towards students marks. You don't pass, you retake till you do, THEN you can graduate. All it is, is a bunch of booklets and sheets for multiple answers which the grade 10s have 2 days to write (half days). The precautions put into this test though is unreal, that's probably the reason why they cost so much! EVERY teacher is sworn to secrecy, they're written by people who I wouldn't be surprised if they were under gunpoint, all the tests are kept in triple and quadruple locked vaults, they're all double wrapped in plastic and don't see the light of day till test day and once they've been written, they're sealed with confidentiality seals. And if anyone gets their hands on one before the scheduled testing days?!? Every one of those tests is burned, and another 4 months is taken to rewrite new ones. This time with armed guards.
I don't see what the big deal is though. One thing we had to do to test our "writing skills" is write 3 full pages (every line) about why clothing choices are so important to teenagers. If the 3 pages aren't filled, it isn't even looked at. Another paragraph about why t-shirts are stupid and should be banned, a paragraph about the Rideau Canal, a question: "Why have bicycle thefts gone down in the past 10 years?" and "Why do people not report them to their insurance companies?"
I don't know, maybe I'm just whining because it was a waste of 2 precious mornings, but what does everyone else think about it?
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06:19 PM
PFF
System Bot
Heretic Member
Posts: 1102 From: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. Registered: Aug 2001
We had the grade 9 provincial math test this year. The teacher said it was harder than the other classes because we were in Academic but , the test was like something I would have done in grade 7 or 8. Was TOO easy and a complete waste of time.
It was the only math test I passed all semester.
Later, Chris
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06:26 PM
REDHOTT88 Member
Posts: 2809 From: Berwick, Me Registered: Nov 2001
Originally posted by stimpy: "Your score was 20 out of 30. That is a very good score, you would have a good chance of passing the Mensa test."
Woo-hoo! Did it in 14 minutes. Give me the full half hour and I'd be dangerous!
For more information, Stimpy & others replying, go to http://www.mensa.org/info.html Note you have to be in the top 98 percentile of all those taking the test to be cinsidered for entrance into the Mensa Society. (note also, this test is not THE test, just a sample of what it may be like. There is at least one Mensan as a member of PFF. Care to guess who it is? I'll not reveal his/her name, but he/she may choose to do so. Obviously it is not me. I prefer to be percieved as a fool, rather than to take the test and remove any doubt.
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07:34 PM
GTFiero1 Member
Posts: 6508 From: Camden County NJ Registered: Sep 2001
HAHAHA Im in 10th grade and dont have to take that crap. we get stiffed in other ways. Lkie just this year they changed it so now all grades (except 11 and 12) have to take 3 years of a Lab science instead for 2. But i missed the new language rule. Now starting in 8th grade you HAVE to take 2 years of a language. Its not optional as it was before. My school is located to what is now beleived to be one of the OLDEST forest ( just what we refer to as the woods) in the contry, maybe the world
------------------ Adam J. B. The search for a GT will never end! IM AOL: GTFiero & Rumpdetective (dont ask)
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07:44 PM
Jaygee79 Member
Posts: 4259 From: Dartmouth, MA Registered: Mar 2000
we have one of those in Massachusetts. it's called MCAS. LOTS of controversy over it. half the teachers can't even pass it. just came into effect a year or 2 ago.
btw, 21 out of 30
[This message has been edited by Jaygee79 (edited 02-17-2002).]
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08:27 PM
LZeitgeist Member
Posts: 5662 From: Raleigh, NC, U.S.A. Registered: Dec 2000
There is at least one Mensan as a member of PFF. Care to guess who it is?
If that's true, then there are at least two.
------------------ Patrick W. Heinske -- LZeitgeist@aol.com 1988 Red Fiero Formula - 1st Place - Stock Coupe - FOCOSEVA 2000 - 3rd Place - Stock Formula - FOCOA Nat'l 2001 - Class Winner - 1982 to Present - Tarheel Tigers All-Pontiac Show 2001
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08:31 PM
Cliff Pennock Administrator
Posts: 11883 From: Zandvoort, The Netherlands Registered: Jan 99
Originally posted by Cliff Pennock: <i>"Your score was 29 out of 30. That is an excellent score, you would have a very strong chance of passing the Mensa test and joining Mensa."</i>
Very strong chance? How much do I need? 31 out of 30?
I couldn't answer question 19. Hey, it's 3:20am here. Cut me some slack.
I've always heard the very intelligent do their best work while the rest of us are dreamin. Also notice, after you posted your score, no one else has bothered 'I' won't even take it.
yo_sweet's_babe, they have those type tests here also. Basically, it is to see if you have retained what your passing grades indicate. There were too any people passing each year, then graduating, but could not come close to keeping up in College classes, or would go to job interviews and not have the basic math, science, or communication skill to get job placement, even tho they had graduated. The clothing essays and t-shirt thing are just to verify those basic writing & comunication skills, which you will definitly need later. Read some of my posts, & you can tell I graduated long before these new procedures were implemented.
ANYWAYZ, the tests still seem pretty dumb but I guess I can see how they'd be useful. even the teachers were grumbling and complaining because they had to sit there for hours and not do anything.
[This message has been edited by ShootingStar (edited 02-19-2002).]
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09:57 AM
Patrick's Dad Member
Posts: 5154 From: Weymouth MA USA Registered: Feb 2000
We have standardized testing here in Oregon. The State legislature tells the schools that everyone has to meet these basic requirements, then they cut the school budget and wonder what the problem is.
------------------ "Wise man say, when in doubt, mumble."
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05:24 PM
Feb 19th, 2002
artherd Member
Posts: 4159 From: Petaluma, CA. USA Registered: Apr 2001
27/30. Some of those mathematical series questions are silly. Some have several valid solutions. The word ones I can't solve, but I could write a few lines of perl to solve pretty fast
In all, I'd needs updating.
The pattern questions were intresting, unexpected.
Best! Ben.
------------------ Ben Cannon 88 Formula, T-top, Metalic Red. "Every Man Dies, not every man really Lives" 88 Formula, Northstar, Silver, In-Progreess. -Mel Gibson, "Braveheart"
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05:59 AM
jbigie Member
Posts: 429 From: Corvallis, OR USA Registered: Jan 2002