Standardized Tests

Online PARCC Exams Produces Lower Scores

It has been revealed that the online PARCC exams produces lower scores than exams taken on paper. This is now raising questions about the validity of these scores as data that represents the state as a whole. Jeffrey Nellhaus, PARCC’s chief of assessment stated that although this pattern can clearly be seen, it is not indicative of the entire population and that it does not mean it occurred in every school district on every one of…

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APs, SATs, and ACTs: Exams

There’s a lot to consider when taking pre-college exams. Reference this material for your exam questions.   Advanced Placement Exams You should consider taking Advanced Placement Exams or CLEP tests in your Junior and Senior years. This allows you to test out of some college courses that can save you time and money. The exams are administered each year in the Spring with some preparation required prior to the exam. Check with your school for…

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Preparing for the SAT

I’ve been out of high school for a few years now, and even now I’m watching my younger friends prepare for taking the PSAT and the SAT. I’m having flashbacks to participating in after-school clubs and passing by my classmates huddled in corners in the library, reviewing vocabulary flashcards and scouring their prep textbooks for new material to study. Back in high school, I figured I was taking my school work just as seriously as…

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PARCC v. MCAS

Massachusetts school committees are still deciding whether they will continue to take the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Systems exam (MCAS) next year, or if they will go ahead with the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for Colleges and Careers exam (PARCC). Of the districts that have decided, so far 57 percent have selected PARCC and 41 percent have selected MCAS, according to Jacqueline Reis, spokeswoman for the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. If you’re…

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