31-201-2002
I was lucky enough to be excempt from this exam. I went to school in
Chicago and in the surrounding schools we do not have the TASS. We do though have
a similar test called the Praire State Exam. For this exam all of our teachers
went over a basic review and lectured on the importance of the exam. This test
was designed to place our shool in ranks with others and to see where our level
of education lied. Becouse we had a Blue Ribbon school our image was important
and so accordingly the preperation of this test was on high priority. Each
subject had a review guide to go through and a sample test. Once finished with
those we would have to study on our own. By doing this we allowed ourselves to
take the responsibility of our test grade in our hands. This is what I liked to
do. As most students would want we controlled everything concerning the result
of the exam. I studied pretty hard and took the test pretty seriously. After
all of hard work I was pleased with my results. I ranked higher than average
and at a respectable level for myself. Our school also kept its image with a
better than average result. Overall this test was an example to me the way it was
going to be in college. We controlled the outcome and their was none standing
over my shoulders when I got home to make me study. It was a good experience
and I am using what I learned there to have high grades here.
31-202-2002
I was not required to take the TAAS through the school I attended
however I do have experience taking the SAT and TASP. Perparing for these exams
was no easy task. All through high school you are basically taught that the
SAT's are the key to your future, and you must “make the grade” to excede. This
puts too much unneeded pressure on students. I got so stressed over worring
about my grade and how it would reflect on me that I did not relax at all. Not
all students are “test takers” so why should those students who are not be expected
to not mind having their whole college carrer based on these tests. I do
understand that I am overdramatizing this to a certian point but thats
basically how it feels to the students taking this test. A good majority of
teachers who's students are required to take these test only teach for the
test. In class they learn how to think like the testand were taught only for
the test they never venture off into other learning. Overall I think these test
are good to a certain extent but I do believe to much other stuff is based on
them.
31-203-2002
I went to a private school so we didn't have to take the TAAS so when
I moved to a public school my senior year I had to take it. Because I was a
senior I didn't have any preparation for the TAAS.
The TAAS test was very easy for me. I was exempt from the TASP because
of my TAAS scores. I did not find the TAAS to be a good educational experience.
I don't feel like it measured my abilities very well at all.
31-204-2002
I went to high school in Oklahoma so I don't even know what the TAAS
is. All I know is that I was exempt from it due to my ACT scores. I took the
ACT three times once as a freshman once the summer after my junior year and the
last time as a senior. I recieved a 24 25 and a 28 respectively. My senior math
and English teachers took a whole week just to prepare us for the test. It
helped tremendously. I also used the ACT booklet I got when I registered to
help study for the ACT. I prepared for the last ACT I took more than any of the
others. I just went over the basic material I thought I would have to know for
the test. My math and English teachers gave us timed tests to help us get
ready. But you can't get a good score just from studying before the exam. It
tests what you have already learned.
31-205-2002
I would have to say that the TAAS what the easiest standardized test I
have ever taken. I think they should make it a little more challenging than it
is.
31-206-2002
I'm assuming that my TAAS experience was much like others'. We practiced
for it a year ahead of time to ensure excellent results. It was a very easy
test that seemed pointless for the most part. We wrote the same persuasive
papers over and over and the test overall did not reflect the catagories that
the students were being taught. the end
31-207-2002
In elementary through high school we had to take the TAAS test. Our
teachers always spent a ton of time trying to prepare us for the test we were
about to take. To me the TAAS test was seemed very simple. I never had any
trouble taking the test. It was just something that we had to do. I didn't
really mind taking the test but it took a long time. It seemed like my class
had to take the TAAS test a lot. I just think our teachers spent too much time
preparing us for the TAAS because it never helped us out in the long run. They
even had contests to make us try to make a good grade on the test. Like if our
class averaged a certain score then they would take everyone to
Schlitterbaughn. Of course some dumb people had to ruin it for everyone in my
grade. I think I would have been much better off if they would have prepared us
as much for the SAT. That was a test that colleges actually looked at. Nobody
cared about what you made on the TAAS.
31-208-2002
In English classes throughout my schooling we were always preparing
for the TAAS test. I never liked writing so I hated that part of the year. When
the TAAS arrived I saw no reason why we worked that hard because the TAAS was
easy. When I received the results I wasn't surprised. I aced it. It really
wasn't that good of an educational experience because it is a test that sees if
you have a average IQ of 60. At least we received candy. We had to stay in the
class for 3 hours even though I was done before then. The only part that was
remotely challenging was the math section.
31-209-2002
In high schol my TAAS experience was a good one. My teacher at the
time prepared us quite well by making us write papers one past topics and
helping us in anyway she could. The day I took the TAAS test I didnt feel the
pressure that most kids probubly had becaus ei felt like I was read and able to
take the test. Whenever I got my resullts bad it was what I expected because I
knew that I was ready and that passing them wouldnt be a big deal. I think that
the TAAS testing is a good eucational experience because I learned alot getting
ready for it. I had no problem with the test at all.
31-210-2002
In high school a lot of time was devoted to TAAS preparation. We spent
many years throughout our educational career. To some people TAAS was a very
hard test that took much time and thought to complete. In my experiences with
TAAS I never had to worry. I was always very good at school so the test was the
most easiest thing I have ever taken in my whole entire life. There is really
no point to the test but to make you sit there for five to six hours for three
days and make you suffer through boring material that you have learned since
fifth grade. My English teacher even told our class that the TAAS was written
on a fifth grade leve. This was given to high school sophmores. Is that really
fair? It is a waste of time in contrast to something that you really can be
learning. I give you prompts in writing that a two year old can talk about in
their sleep. TAAS is irrelevent to everything I do. Standardized tests serve no
purpose but to make a state or school look good. The people in our school
aren't exactly the smartest people in this country but we scored at 99 percent
pass rate. One of the best here in the Coastal Bend. Personally I got every
question right except for one. That is pretty impressive. So practically this
test served no purpose to me.