I know, I know, it's Geometry.
I still pass.
Posted on 09/14/2009 9:26:35 AM PDT by reaganaut1
For many students, bungling more than half the questions on a test would mean an F and all that comes with it — months of remedial work, irksome teachers and, perhaps, a skimpy allowance. But on New York State’s math exam this year, seventh graders who correctly answered just 44 percent of questions were rewarded with a passing grade.
What gives?
Three years ago, the threshold for passing was 60 percent. In fact, students in every grade this year could slide by with fewer correct answers on the math test than in 2006.
In math this year, 86 percent of students statewide passed the test, scoring at least a Level 3 (of 4), and 82 percent passed in English, the highest percentages in many years. But the lower passing scores, especially for math, have provided fodder for skeptics who believe the state has made it easier for struggling students to pass.
In New York City, which saw some of the largest gains, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has used the scores as evidence of his successful leadership of the schools. The jump in passing rates also helped 97 percent of the city’s schools earn A’s or B’s on their Department of Education report cards this year.
The mayor also has repeatedly pledged to hold back students who fail the test and do not meet even Level 2, a minimal standard. But the number of right answers needed to reach Level 2 has also dropped, to the point that on some tests, a student could randomly guess and still stand a good chance of moving on to the next grade.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I wonder if the low raw scores are due to poor instruction or just reflect limits on intelligence. Probably both, but I suspect more the latter.
” Botched Most Answers on New York State Math Test? You Still Pass “
Pass, hell — you’re qualified to be a Government Economist!!
How dumb do you have to be to willing enter into slavery?
That is where a passing grade will eventually settle at.
My name be Ebineesha Li Hernandez, an African Hispanic
Asiatic-American Girl who just got an award for being the
bess speler in class. I got 67% on the speling test and 30
points being black, 5 points for not bringin drugs into
class, 5 points for not bringin guns into class, and 5
points for not gettin pregnut during the cemester. It be
hard to beat a score of 120%. White dude who sit nex to me
is McGee from Ocala. He got a 95% on the test but no extra points on acount of he have the same skin color as the opressirs of 150 years ago. Granny ax
me to thank all Dimocrafts and Liberuls for suportin
Afermative action. You be showin da way to true eqwallity. I
be gittin in medical skool nex an mabe I be yo doctor when
Barrac take over da healtcare in dis cuntry.
My daughter is a senior having spent years in a government school...she is woefully ignorant of American history...even though she passed social studies with flying colors...how can a senior about to graduate not know when WWII happened or why? Or why and when the Civil War occurred? I sat here one night (last year) with her and just asked her questions and was flabbergasted at what she didn’t know. After watching Fox and Friends about how the textbooks are lacking I now believe it! So I have taken it upon myself to educate her while she is still in my house.
Unfortunately I am not that great at math...so there is no help for her there...but I do know our history and so should she. I want her to be informed once she hits the world, so she can make good choices when she votes etc.
I haven’t looked at the test yet, but it might be that the 44% point is considered to be the “minimally acceptable” point with more hard questions than before to separate the adequate from the good from the really smart.
I know, I know, it's Geometry.
I still pass.
Sometimes tests are made more difficult, to avoid “ceiling effects”; whereby too many students get perfect marks.
If the “passing” mark one year is (say) 60%, and the next year it's only 45%; that doesn't prove a lowering of standards. Not if the second test is harder — such that a person getting 45% on it, would likely get 60% on the first one.
Coming soon to a school near you: GROUP TESTS.
To pass 12th grade Language Studies (note: it used to be called English), students must pass a 250 Greek and Latin root words test. Since too many were failing, the school’s solution is to have group tests. The teacher pairs up one student who can pass it with four students who can’t. My child watched as the other four worked on the test finishing about 50 of the answers. They then handed the test to her to finish. She erased 20 of the answers that were wrong, fixed them, and then completed the other 200 answers. The group received a score of 100%.
Go ahead and guess which state this happened in.
Some people have trouble with the metric system.
You answered your own question. She passed SOCIAL STUDIES not HISTORY.
As I was writing that...I thought the same thing!! LOL
Without reading the question, if the answers are 9, 18, 24, 32, there’s about a 50% chance the answer is 24. Multiple choice question writers often put one answer far from the others, it’s not that one, and have one answer a bit higher and one lower than the correct one.
TEACHING MATH IN 1950:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit?
TEACHING MATH IN 1960:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?
TEACHING MATH IN 1970:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit?
TEACHING MATH IN 1980:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20.
TEACHING MATH IN 1990:
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20.
What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers).
TEACHING MATH IN 2005:
Un hachero vende una carretada de Madera pare $100. ¡El costo de la producción es $80….
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