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I believe that while students in high school we were forced to take tests such as TAAS, they were very easy to pass. In English class were not preparing for TASP or TAAS but rather reading about the exciting adventures of Robinson Crusoe. If we did begin practicing we started to study maybe two weeks before. The tests to me weren’t important and the same feeling were felt by my classmates. Not many students study for these tests, since TAAS is so easy, and TASP is just as easy as TAAS. They’re both the same test but one lets you out of high school the other lets you out of remedial. Both are rather easy and it’s sad when someone fails the a section of either tests. TAAS was a waste of three days, and TASP was a waste of a Saturday. These tests are pointless and a waste of money. I believe the school you are going to be going to should tests you. After all different schools have different standards. When I came to this university I had to take more tests, then I was advised what to take. Makes more sense that way. I think English class in high school does not prepare you for those tests for English classes in college. TAAS and TASP are both useless and pointless to everyone who takes them. I’m sure an elementary student can pass them.
I can not stress enoght the amount of pressure that its put into children from a very young age with standerize tests, and its not the fact that its a test but the fact that all the focus is put into this type of test to determine the childs achademic skills. For me personally the TAAS was a nightmare because of the fact that I was so bad at math it made me think that I was forced to score at a “normal” level, because if I scored lower they would put me in a special ed. class and I was. As I look back I now realize that it was the pressure of performing to everyones expectations was why I would perform so badly. I want to make it every clear to everyone that I am not at all against testing, but I am certainly against the amount of pressure it puts on young students. When I say young I mean elementry students, because this is the time when they are put in a place that practacly makes them decided their entire educational future; please people they are only babies.
I did not have a very good experience with the TAAS tests in English from first grade until when we took the exit level test, we were taught one basic form of writing. You had a set way to construct your paper. I was never taught any different until my senior english class. I made good scores on the writing part, however, I struggled through my senior english class because my teacher did not want anything that resembled TAAS writing. Because of her, I am a better writer. When I took the exit level TAAS exam, I felt like I was only retaking the TAAS test that I took in 8th grade. All through my years, my teachers have always taught for the TAAS test. I think teachers should not do this because it only hurts the students in the long run.
I did not have the opportunity to take the TAAS test, as it was not available when I was in school. However, I did take the ACT, the SAT and the TASP. I don’t remember much about studying for either the ACT or the SAT. I don’t even remember the teachers going over much of it, although I am sure they did. It was just “go to the designated school and take the test.” It was really no big deal. The results didn’t mean a whole lot to me either, as I did not go to college.
However, 17 years later, I decided to go to college. Boy, was I in for a major task of preparing. I hoped that my ACT and SAT scores were high enough to be exempt, but no luck there. I really worried about the TASP, in fact, I would not even set up the test, my best friend had to do it for me because she knew I would not do it. The date was set for 5 weeks away. I had been a homemaker for most of the last 17 years and was only recently re-introduced to school subjects, mainly math. I had quite a bit of help for the math portions; I was not worried about the other two portions. I found a book with practice TASP questions and that became my Bible for the next 5 weeks.
I have never been so exhausted as I was when I left the testing site. I put a lot of pressure on myself to pass the entire test, because if I didn’t, I didn’t believe I would go to college, I thought I would be to dumb if I didn’t pass it. I am glad to say that I passed it by great margins.
Standardized testing can be good because it does determine what knowledge you have before placing you. However, I am not sure that it is the perfect solution to that problem. There is too much pressure on the individual and I believe that can hamper the effectiveness of the test. It is a very nerve-wracking experience. I honestly believe I would not be here in college if I had not passed all three portions the first time.
I did not see any point in the Taas testing at all. I really wasn’t able to do a good job because I was so aggrivated with all the prepreation steps. My freshman year we had to take the Pre-Taas, and I don’t know why but the pre-taas is somewhat easier than the acual taas test. My teacher didn’t go over any of the things we did in taas my sophmore year. My freshman year teacher and my Junior year teacher did teach me what was on the taas. I guess it really wasn’t so bad but the prepreation for this test wasn’t the best.
I did not take the TAAS exam. The most recent standardized test I took was the AP English Literature test. The test was multiple choice poem and article comprehension/analysis, and 2-3 essay questions, I can not precisely recall. To prepare for the test, my class was drilled on both aspects. To practice for the multiple choice portion, we reviewed Exams from previous years. After reading and answering independently, we went over the questions as a class and gave reasons why we chose what we did, right or wrong. I enjoyed this kind of studying and I think I did benefit in that it honed my critical thinking skills. As for the essay portion, once again we practiced from past tests. We practiced with less time than would be allowed at the actual exam. As our teacher had AP Exam grading experience, all our papers were graded according to the same criteria. We went over this in class as well. We presented what we took from the passage and how we discussed that in our answers. This, too, was beneficial. I became accustomed to timed writing as well as being able to pull important information from the provided works. When I did take the exam I was fully prepared and did very well. As for the exam itself, I have nothing but praise for it. It was what I expected, and the college credit was an obvious bonus. Also, I think I gained confidence because I did much better than I thought I would.
I did not take the TAAS test, but I took the SAT and TASP test. Standardized testing has never been something I have liked. I do farely well on them, but I don’t think can show my full potential through a basic test. No critical thinking is involved within a test like these. These test compile basic learning techniques of basic subjects, and my true interests can’t be tested throughout the test. As far as the English aspect of the tests, I do not like the fact that I am forced and limited to a certain topic to write about.
I did take the TAAS test my sophomore year in high school. We basically read every story that could possibly come up on the test. Our teacher had us read the stories outside of class, in class together (out loud), and then we would have discussions to better understand what was going on in the story and with the characters. Every once in a while we would take breaks and write essays so we could brush up on our writing skills. This was the hardest part of the class because we had to learn to write in a certain way. She taught us how to analyze famous person’s quotes so we could better understand what the person was actually saying. We spent a whole semester working on TAAS, from the first day of school up to a couple of days before the actual test. They even coached us on ways to relieve tension when we were beginning to get frustrated and tired. It was fun in a way because we experienced a new way of learning with our teacher, but it was a lot of hard work to build up the skills we needed to write a grade four essay.
I did’nt think TAAS was such a big deal. It was so easy that I didn’t even study and I scored high enough to be exempt from the TASP test. The writing section was the hardest part of the hole thing, but I guess I was smart that day because I think I constructed a good paper. All the practice test, and the papers we had to write helped out a little bit. We practiced the TAAS in every class. Even basketball class we had a practice test. The best part of TAAS is not taking it so you can go to the beach and hangout with friends.
I didn’t enjoy my TAAS class at all. We really didn’t review or cover any material in my english class because we had TAAS classes that everyone had to be in. We did a little pretests and small group activities. I think that it did help me do well on the TAAS. I think it was good that they made us take it but the TAAS to me was basic knowledge. I was very pleased with the results though I don’t quit remember what they were. I was very nervous going into the test but after the first day I was comfortable with it. I believe now that it was a good experience for me. I wouldn’t want to go through it again but it was good for me.
I didn’t like having to take the TAAS test. I took it every year from third grade to my sophomore year, and I don’t think it helped me to learn anything. It was always very easy because it was over material that we should have learned in previous years. Teachers would spend way too much time trying to teach us things that we should already know, and if we didn’t already know it, we probably never would. TAAS preparation took a lot of time away from regular class activities and the chance to learn new, useful material. I think the only reason schools spend so much time on getting students prepared to take the TAAS test is because our results give the school their academic reputation. However, I don’t believe that putting such an emphasis on this preparation helps the students to get a better score. It didn’t help me. I think that it took away from valuable learning time when I could have learned something new.
I didn’t really like TAAS preparation or testing. From my experiences I believe they were not teaching us to think outside the box. I understand that we have to learn the format for most writing, but once you learn that and you decide that you want to do something a little different, I think that it should be encouraged. We were taught to write I in the five-paragraph format: Introduction, three descriptive paragraphs and a conclusion. I guess they were just trying make it easier for us as writers to have a format to follow, but I got sick of it really fast. I always did really well on the TAAS. I think almost any one who went through all the preparation like our classes did, would have done pretty good. The other part of the English section was picking out grammar, and spelling error, and looking for run on sentences and stuff like that. I think that was a lot of help, it taught more about writing. I am glad that they placed a lot of emphasis on the test because the state would not have received such high grades if it weren’t placed as a priority. I think it could have been a little more challenging, the pre-tests were harder than the actual test. The preparation for the test was also important for us so that we would get used to taking test in the future, such as the SAT. Overall I think it was a good thing because it prepared it for other harder tests.
I do think that the students should take some sort of test like the TAAS, but there should be more ways to get exempt. The TAAS is a joke to some people because it is so easy, but the state needs some sort of assessment test, just to be sure high school students learned something before graduating. One must remember that some students get all the way to college without even being able to read, so I’ve heard. But for other students it is a waste of time it is so easy, that is why I think that some should be exempt. I think that the SAT’s should be incorporated into high school just like the TAAS is, in other words, I think they should have the students take a test almost exactly like the SAT’s but a little simpler, the SAT’s are some of the only tests that matter anyway. In my opinion, the SAT’s are far more important than the TAAS and they cover more material that is useful. My personnel belief is that the TAAS are made to milk more money out of the students because this test is mandatory, but not important. This sort of coincides with the freshman seminar class; it’s not a necessity nor does it teach a skill that you have to have in the real world. It is made to milk more money out of the younger group of students who actually care about getting an education.
I don’t really remember that much about taking the TAAS, but I do know that the focus in my English class was around the grammatical portion of the TAAS, and the differences between a great, good, fair, and poor paper. My activities were generally going through packets of practice material, as well as practice papers for the exams, prior to the test. And taking the test was, well just taking another test for me. It wasn’t that stress-inducing to me as maybe other students. The results did not surprise me either. I do not mean to sound condescending to others, but I did not find the TAAS all that difficult. The material constituting the exam was by far not sophomore level material, and seemed more to me like junior high. I definitely not as anxious as others might have been. I wouldn’t say that it was a good educational experience for me, but I wouldn’t say that it was bad for me, either. For myself, it was a hiatus from regular classes, and I guess you can take that for what it’s worth. That’s pretty much all I have to say about the TAAS
I feel like the TAAS test was a waste of time to the extreme. We spent what felt like decades working on the same remedial problems in all the major subjects. Then we actually took the TAAS and all those major subjects that were so repetative took on a new pace to make up for “lost time” as the teachers called it. Most students began getting lost about now, because the teachers were going through serious lessons at a rapid pace. To go from TAAS questions to class questions was a rude awakening. I think TAAS was a waste of time and merely caused the class lessons to be compacted into crude and quick learning sessions.
I feel, like the TAAS test is a big waste of time. Our studies focused too much on the TAAS on not enough on our other studies. We always did very well on the TAAS overall, but I feel as thought we should have been practicing and learning other ways of writing besides TAAS.
I took the TAAS test consecutively from the 3rd to the 8th grade and every year it was the same thing over and over, TAAS English, TAAS math practice. We should have been learning and doing things not the TAAS way. All the years we took the test all we ever did was TAAS practice. The reason behind this is the school is so worried about how they are going to measure up with other schools but the reality is just because you have kids who do bad on the TAAS test doesn’t mean they are bad in other subjects. In other words I also think the TAAS is a misrepresentation of a child’s capabilities in some cases. In fact the valedictorian of my graduating class did very poorly on TAAS testing and look at where he is now. After the TAAS published the the scores, the teachers would either put you in remedial or move you up to the next math class. Many people were held back because of this test when they were really very bright.
I felt like the TAAS test was a totally pointless test that was given in high school. You are required to take either an ACT or SAT for college and I think you should start preparing for that in high school and not have your entire sophomore year wasted on the TAAS prepping. When you are required to take the TAAS test sophomore year it is incredibly easy because it was stuff you learned in middle school, but you also had forgotten most of it. The state of Texas requires that you take this test in order to graduate, but what is the point if you can graduate high school by passing all of your classes. Why do they feel that there is a need to have all students take this test in order to graduate? Also in high school you have so much stuff going on, you are required to take the TAAS test, SAT or ACT, most students take both. Also if you do not make a certain grade on these test you have to take the TASP test in order to start a college level class. I feel that sophomore year could have been used better, it could have been a time to prep for SAT or ACT testing.
I felt prepared for the TAAS because of my English teachers in high school. I didn’t really feel so nervous about the test but more stressed. The schools basically stopped teaching what they were suppose to and basically worked on the TAAS. I guess it kind of effected my education a little bit. I think I would have had a better education if I wasn’t studying for the TAAS.
I felt that preparing for the TAAS test was a waste of time. I was in advanced placement classes. The teachers would have to prepare us as part of the schools curriculum. Every year we went through basically the same thing over and over again, not letting us learn new things. It was a year to year review of what we already knew. My school pushed the TAAS test to its limits and I felt that it kept us behind on things that we should have been doing. The TAAS test was an extremely easy test. The school focused on the TAAS and not on other test, which seemed to have more importance, like the SAT, ACT, etc. I don’t feel that the TAAS test was a good educational experience for me. I feel that it took away from my learning. I went to a AAA school, and it was very hard for people to pass the test. The first time that we had taken the TAAS test I was one of ten people that passed. It is a little upsetting because we were a class of fiftyfive students. Some students did not graduate with me this year because they couldn’t pass the TAAS. I know none of the teachers at the school felt that it was necessary to prepare as much for the TAAS. They, too, felt that it took away from class time. Especially, in the advanced placement courses. Overall, I think that I could have learned more, but preparation for the TAAS test kept me from that.
I found they general test taking tips very helpful later in both standardized and in class tests. However the review on how to read was boring and unneeded far me. Working in class and in computer labs there was too little personalization in the learning regimines. To this day I do not know the grammar rules, and writing was the only section that we barely studied for. The level of the test certainly does not reflect a high standard of education. Personally that is the work I would expect from a third grader or a high school student. The test should be harder and programs made to help prepare students in the areas they need. The test itself get very boring after a while and words, number, even questions begin to blur together. I was not even taught what a conjuction was before I took the test, yet I managed to miss only three paints total.