what is the purpose of the taks test?

Question

If you pass all your classes and do not pass the taks you don't get to graduate,my son has done well all through school and is now a senior and for some reason cannot pass the taks,and because of this ,I see him given up ,he says what is the reason to pass school if he can't graduate anyways.HELP

Answer 1

The TAKS Test evaluates students' performances statewide, which in turn when scores are averaged up, assesses the districts' and individual schools' performances among different grades and ethnic groups. Which is solely dependent upon school funding. IPoorer school districts don't always perform well due to lack of proper funding for certified teachers and learning materials necessary for acedemic success. All in all, a lack of resources. The state has created cirriculumns for each grade level on what is expected of the student to learn for the TAKS.

Anyway, I do understand your son's reasoning. I was personally affected by the TAKS Test, and being two years into college, the affects of this test remain. The TAKS does not prepare students from the future, much less college. Most of the material covered won't be used again. And your son is not the first case of being an exceptional student but not testing well. This is partly due to the immense pressure placed upon him and his fellow peers to perform well on the test. Please encourage him not to give up. Remind him that the average adult working part time with a diploma earns about $20,000.00 a year at most, and without a diploma, on average about $15,000.00. And introduce him to what new financial responsibilities he'll acquire once he's on his own (i.e. health insurance, car insurance, rent, ultilities, food, miscelaneous, etc.). I've done budget assignments in my college courses on both these budgets, and they're very effective.

Some things that could help your son in regards to testing, would be to take a break when frustrated, and clear his mind. If the answer isn't clear, then move on to the next question and come back to it later. Do the easier questions first, and tackle the harder ones after. This will keep his mind flowing and ready to deal with the harder set of questions. In doing so, he might come to realize that most the questions that seemed ridiculous are really easy questions worded differently to provoke a certain thought process.

Also, there are materials available to help prepare for the TAKS Test. But the most important piece of advice I can give you, is to let him know that no matter what you love him and are proud of him. Also, that this his last year of dealing with the TAKS - and to make the most if it. If he doesn't pass this spring don't worry, he has ample chances to retake and pass it.

Answer 2

The state is using it just as a standard for all students to test what they think are basics that students should know. I would suggest talking with the teachers and asking them for help and even perhaps his friends. I was part of the TAAS era which was apprently considerably easier. It could also be that your son is just not good at standarized testing. I'm not saying that he isn't smart and that he is not retaining the information he's learning, just that there's something about the test that messes him up. I've heard of it before. Perhaps a talk with the counselors could yield a solution. They're more in charge of the the whole standarized testing issues. I wish I could tell you more and good luck.