Why after the 4th grade do students in other developed countries score better than U.S. on standardized tests?

Question

US students typically score as well as, or better than, students in other industrialized countries until the 4th grade. I was told today that this is because students who are not college bound are tracked out of the testing beginning in the 4th grade and are placed in vocational training. Is this true?

Answer 1

Because American teachers have the IQ and intellectual skills of stock clerks and checkout counter cashiers.

Public school teaching in the USA is medieval guild socialism and never changes or gets better. Look at the "see/say" crazy way our teachers teach reading -- it takes years to understand our written language and the kids nevr git 2 lern 2 spel, dew day?

Answer 2

Yes, because those tests can be studied for, and studying is how you do well academically. If you can get good grades, you can probably do well on those tests. I don't think they can measure intelligence, though. I raised my score 5 points by studying, and I don't think my IQ increased when I did that. Those tests are equalizers, basically. At different schools GPA is calculated differently, and some schools are more difficult than others. But everyone, rich or poor, good school or not, takes the same ACT and SAT. I'm 16. I took the ACT last year and got a 33. I took the SAT two years ago and got a 1970. I graduate in 2014.

Answer 3

In the U.S.A., there are alot of distractions that cause the children to do the least in school at the age of 9. Maybe both parents work, the children have alot of things to do, like sports, or video games. Less time to focus on study. In some countries, because of the culture, they focus on their kids education like a fanatic. Most people there are educated and it is harder for them to find work. It is to competitive. So the parents make sure their kids are really striving hard in school. In some under developed countries, the poverty is so bad. Children want to get out of this life, so they may work harder in school, because they know that college is the only way for them to leave. But really it all starts in the home, what are parents focus on teaching the kids today? As for the testing scores, I'm unsure about the results.

Answer 4

It may be true in some countries but definately not all. I can speak to the elementary school systems in Korea, since I've attended them, as well as those here in the U.S.

The curriculum changes drastically after the 4th grade in Asian countries compared to those here, particularly in Math and Science. I think we set the bar too low for students here, we don't expect much of them and so they don't perform.

The hardest year of school I ever had, was 5th grade. We were stationed at Ft. Sill, OK and we went overseas to Korea, 3 months into the school year. I went from doing long division and just learning about percentages to algebra and geometry. It took extra lessons after school for the rest of that year for me to catch up. We eventually came back and I finished high school here in the states, when we came back I was well ahead of anyone else. I have relatives and friends who have attended schools in China, Japan, and Malaysia and they have the same stories.

We're testing badly because our public education system
sucks.

Answer 5

I'm not sure that what you are saying is factual. But, assuming you are correct, I would say the biggest reason would be extracurricular activities. People are sports crazy nowadays, and even in elementary school their children are allowed to focus on all sorts of team sports, and the coaches actually require daily practice!! This deprives the children of their basic education. High school sports are demanding enough. I think this stuff should be curtailed in earlier grades.

I♥♫→mia☼☺†

Answer 6

this is true, our educational system is pathetic. this is due to many reasons. poor teachers that can't be fired because they have tenure. the unions are powerful and to make changes in the system for improvement is fought figerously. socialism has taken its toll on our educational system, what is needed is competition. bring competition back to the educational system. of course if they put discipline back into the schools that would help, too.

Answer 7

its probably just that the kids realize that their family needs money and they want to get a good life in the future and decides to learn more, or its just that they get their @sses whooped if they don't get good grades, strict a

Answer 8

the others are not as strict on the curriculum

Answer 9

Cause we pay them to and pay thier others not to kill us.

Answer 10

none of this is true.