32-221-2002
In my opinion the TAAS test was a good way to judge the basic skills
of high school students. It shows their writing abilities gives teachers a general
idea of their knowledge and shows their writing level in comparison to others.
It helped me realize how advanced I was in my writing skills and whether I
should take an advanced English my junoir year in high school. I took the
plunge and enrolled in English III AP which I earned college credit through my
AP test score of 4. I suggest teachers integrate the TAAS testing skills in the
lesson plans with their students and take the time to help them develop better
writing and analyzing skills. This will prepare them for more advanced English
courses in their junior and senior year.
32-222-2002
In my years at high school I thought that TAAS was a very unuseful
test that was way too easy. The test itself was very easy and took up a lot of
time. That is good a good thing since you get a break from high school but it
was also a very big waste of time. It took away time that I could have used to
learn more about stuff I will need to know later in life I choose to be
succesful. Standardrized tests are a not a good thing. They test on how well
you know how to take those kind of tests and not on how much you know with your
basic IQ. Personaly I think they should do away with the tests and leave
college addmissions up to your GPA and other school events like sports
community service distinguished student efforts.
32-223-2002
In our english classes we would prepare for them by taking older
versions of TAAS. I took the exit level TAAS in 10th grade. To me it didnt seem
like a big deal. In my opinion I don t think the TAAS was a good enducational
experience because a lot of the questions on the test were logical type
questions. Another thing I remember is with the reading portion of the TAAS all
you had to do was look at the answers first then look at the reading itself
becuase the questions went in sequence with the reading. Also the sample
questions on the reading portion were ALWAYS the same. it was a joke. Also TAAS
was NOT a good way to prepare students for the SATs. when I wasnt taking the
TAAS in 9th 11th and 12th grade it was great because we didnt have to be at
school until 10:30. That was one of the things about TAAS most of the students
would look forward to.
32-224-2002
In tenth grade we had to take the TAAS test. This test was our ticket
out of high school if we passed. Other people were really scared to fail and
went through the practice booklet many times. I on the other hand don't get
scared or nervouse when it comes to tests. I don't know why but the fear of
failing doesn't come to my mind unless I am sure I don't know any of the
material on a given test. TAAS didn't scare me because I had been through so
many TAAS practice sessions in class I knew what kinds of things would be on
there. At my school every Tuesday, we would have a twenty minute session called
“Mac Attack” which was a booklet of random qestions from teachers around
campus. They put in questions that they toought would be vital for TAAS. When I
acutally took the test I finished fairly quickly and that was that. No, I
didn't make the best scores but I made average scores. I know it is an
important test but it shouldn't be made out to be the hardest thing to pass.
32-225-2002
It has been a while since we took the TAAS test so I dont remember
much. I do remember that my school focused a lot on this test and gave us
handouts in each class everyday. They did this to prepare us for the test. I
did work though I'd have to say. Our school's grades over all were exemplary.
The test seemed simple to me and I dont think that it had much to show about
the things that we actually studied during school. That is why they had to give
us seperate handouts each day. I don't know if it is just my school that
doesn't teach the material that is on TAAS daily or if it is everyones. The
test was simple though so they must have done something right.
32-226-2002
It was really hectic. All the teachers wanted was for us to do good.
All we ever did was assignments to help us get ready for the TAAS. I got sick
of it after a while, but it payed off at the end. The only thing that I didn't
like about the TAAS is that the writing wasn't the same as the writing that we
are doing in college. Essay form is totally different and our teachers
explained to us that we could not write like we did on the TAAS in college. They
said to get our minds out of “TAAS mode", whatever that meant. I think it
would have been more affective if the writing was the same as college writing,
so we would know more in college.
32-227-2002
it was to easy. no work for it was required. the school had some
concerns for our class but never really worried about us. Personally I think
that the test was a waste of time. never really tried and past it with
outstanding grades. I never had to take the tasp because it was so easy. so
thats about it. hope this helps
32-228-2002
I've not taken the TASP or TAAS or anything. But I've taken the SAT1
and 3 SAT2s. So I'm going to write about the SAT1. I didn't give it without any
preparation like most people here do. I learned like 300 words of English that
appear most on the test, and I also took 10 pratice tests. This test is
supposed to be an aptituse test as its name “SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST”
suggests. But; I incresed 80 points on my SAT1 by practicing for a month. And I
know lots of people who are really good in studies get all A's but still do vey
bad on standardized tests. Whereas some people like me get really good scores
even if we get lesser grades than those guys because we don't work as hard as those
guys. So I think SAT is trash. Total and complete trash.
32-229-2002
Most students complain about standardized testing but in all my years
of standardized testing I have had great experiences. I had trouble in
classrooms with collecting the material and translating it into means I can
understand. TAAS gave me an opportunity to convey my knowledge to teachers and
my parents.
32-230-2002
My english class is totally different than my high school english
classes because I was told to write about and if I got a little off subject I
either had to write it all over or go back and put it I there or just get a
very bad grade. Then I come here and my teacher gives us a topic but we pick
what we wan to write about on that subject. Thats good because I get to pour my
heart into what I write because its something I want to write about!!! Cool
Huh!!