President thinks kids spend too
much school time on big tests
By Associated Press, adapted by Newsela staff on 10.29.15
Word Count 402
Eleventh-grade students at Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School in Los Angeles, California, take a
practice test in February 2015 for the new state standardized tests. Photo: Anne Cusack/Los Angeles
Times/TNS
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Students spend much time taking tests. Just how many
hours do they spend?
A. Between 10 and 15 hours.
B. Between 20 and 25 hours.
C. Between 30 and 35 hours.
If you chose "B," you are right. A new study looked at how much time students
take tests. It found that eighth-graders spend between 20 and 25 hours a year
taking tests.
Between preschool and 12th grade, students take 112 exams. The government
and states make students take some of the tests. School districts require others.
Tests Mostly At End Of School Year
The study counted only big tests. They are mostly taken at the end of the school
year. It did not include quizzes or smaller tests.
The Council of the Great City Schools did the study. The council is a group of
the biggest city school systems in the United States. The study looked at the
number of tests in 66 large districts. More than 7 million students go to schools
in these districts.
President Barack Obama spoke about the study. Students spend too much time
on testing, he said. He thinks schools should limit testing. Students should
spend a little less time taking tests.
Obama made a video, too. There are other more important things than getting
the right answer, he said. Learning is more important. People should not worry
so much about testing, he said. Obama's video was posted on Facebook.
Tests Make Sure Students Are Learning
The government still says yearly tests are important. The tests make sure that
schools are doing good work. They also make sure that students are learning.
People wonder how much testing is too much. It is a hard question to answer,
said Michael Casserly. He is the head of the council, which did the study.
The government's Education Department said kids take many tests. Some of
them are not important. The department came up with a plan. It will work with
states and schools. The goal will be to limit time spent on testing.
The council also discovered several important facts. Students in 8th and 10th
grades took the most tests. Preschoolers, kindergartners and first-graders took
the fewest tests.
Many schools had to wait a long time to get test results. Sometimes it took four
months. By that time, the next school year already started. Teachers did not
know in time if a student had a problem.
Quiz
1
Read this sentence from the section "Tests Mostly At End Of School Year."
He thinks schools should limit testing.
Which of these words or phrases means the SAME as "limit" in the sentence above?
2
(A)
add to
(B)
have fewer
(C)
study
(D)
stop
Read these sentences from the section "Tests Make Sure Students Are Learning."
It is a hard question to answer, said Michael Casserly. He is
the head of the council, which did the study.
Which answer choice BEST describes the role of the "head of the council"?
3
4
(A)
leads the meetings
(B)
does the study
(C)
writes the tests
(D)
teaches the students
Look at the graph. In what grade does the average student spend the MOST time
taking tests?
(A)
5th grade
(B)
8th grade
(C)
10th grade
(D)
12th grade
Look at the graph "Average number of mandated tests given per year, by grade
level."
In what grade level do students take the most tests per year?
(A)
kindergarten
(B)
5th grade
(C)
10th grade
(D)
12th grade
Answer Key
1
Read this sentence from the section "Tests Mostly At End Of School Year."
He thinks schools should limit testing.
Which of these words or phrases means the SAME as "limit" in the sentence above?
2
(A)
add to
(B)
have fewer
(C)
study
(D)
stop
Read these sentences from the section "Tests Make Sure Students Are Learning."
It is a hard question to answer, said Michael Casserly. He is
the head of the council, which did the study.
Which answer choice BEST describes the role of the "head of the council"?
3
4
(A)
leads the meetings
(B)
does the study
(C)
writes the tests
(D)
teaches the students
Look at the graph. In what grade does the average student spend the MOST time
taking tests?
(A)
5th grade
(B)
8th grade
(C)
10th grade
(D)
12th grade
Look at the graph "Average number of mandated tests given per year, by grade
level."
In what grade level do students take the most tests per year?
(A)
kindergarten
(B)
5th grade
(C)
10th grade
(D)
12th grade